Winter Weather and Demolition

Our office has been receiving phone inquires over the past few weeks with regard to performing demolition during the winter months. The main question is, “do you guys work throughout the winter”? The follow up question is a simple “how”?

The first question is easy to respond to, yes; we embody a 365 – 24/7 mode of operation. That being said, there is extensive criteria that allows Champion Environmental Services, Inc. to maintain an industrious pace during wintery conditions. What follows is a cursory overview of how Champion Environmental Services, Inc. functions in unfavorable environs.

While most operations surrounding construction tend to slow during cold the weather months, advances in technology and safe guideline practices – tempered with experience, allows Champion Environmental Services, Inc. to perform demolition despite low temperatures and adverse conditions.

In general, working outside in cold temperatures equates with slow work and more frequent breaks. Champion Environmental Services, Inc. hedges against this assumption through proactive strategic planning that is job/site specific. Our workforce of operators, laborers, project managers, and filed superintendents are fitted with the finest cold weather construction gear which is comprised of warm, breathable materials that is conducive to safe, productive work. Additionally, project managers and field superintendents continually monitor weather and site conditions to determine a sensible approach to the task at hand.

So “how” do we get demolition done with snow on the ground or in icy conditions?

It is imperative that all the workers survey the site prior to starting operations to identify potential road blocks/challenges which may inhibit work or create hazardous situations. Attention to detail, however small or insignificant in appearance, must be noted. A laborer picking bricks who is unaware of a small patch of ice could easily loose his/her footing while sorting/stacking piles and slip. A fall on the sidewalk outside your house is bad enough, but falling on a construction site with debris scattered or while carrying heavy equipment could be serious, or worse, potentially deadly.

As I have noted before, a clean-operable site which utilizes a material segregation plan affords greater efficiency. A winter environment dictates that we sometimes, albeit briefly, use machines to move snow so that pathways are clear to get trucks in/out and keep areas open to separate recyclable items.

Dust suppression during demolition is a delicate issue to address. Freezing temperatures means freezing water; an encrusted citadel would preclude safe operations on any level. Experienced machine operators must be selective while razing a structure. A careful approach can mitigate dust – snowfall can be a beneficial, added deterrent to particulate disbursement.

Ultimately, weather does not determine our ability function, safety drives the decision making process.