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Built EnvironmentISCO 7119

Demolition worker

A demolition worker is a person who operates demolition equipment and safely takes buildings down and removes what is left of them, so that the site can be used for something else.

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Rate 5 of the 15 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.

keep heavy construction equipment in good condition

operate heavy construction machinery without supervision

dispose of non-hazardous waste

transport construction supplies

prevent damage to utility infrastructure

About demolition worker

The worker takes a structure down in a set order, because removing the wrong element first changes how the rest of the building carries its load. The worker operates the heavy equipment, maintains it in good condition, and transports construction materials and debris off the site.

The worker recognises the hazards associated with dangerous goods, since older buildings can contain asbestos, fuel oil, refrigerants, lead or stored chemicals, and prevents damage to utility infrastructure, meaning the buried cables, pipelines, water mains and gas lines around and under a structure.

The worker secures the work area so that other people stay out of reach of falling material. Health and safety procedures in construction are followed throughout, and the worker responds quickly to incidents. Ergonomic working methods are used when lifting and breaking heavy material. Formal requirements are set by the employer.

European Skills Framework

Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.

Essential (15)

mechanical toolsmechanical toolsVarious type of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.keep heavy construction equipment in good conditionkeep heavy construction equipment in good conditionInspect heavy equipment for construction projects before each use. Maintain the machine in good working order, taking care of small repairs and alerting the responsible person in case of serious defec...work ergonomicallywork ergonomicallyApply ergonomy principles in the organisation of the workplace while manually handling equipment and materials.operate heavy construction machinery without supervisionoperate heavy construction machinery without supervisionWork with heavy construction machinery independently without the intervention of a supervisor. Take responsibility for your decisions and actions.dispose of non-hazardous wastedispose of non-hazardous wasteDispose of waste materials which pose no risk to health and safety in a manner which complies with recycling and waste management procedures except for waste incineration.transport construction suppliestransport construction suppliesBring construction materials, tools and equipment to the construction site and store them properly taking various aspects into account such as the workers' safety and protection from deterioration.work in a construction teamwork in a construction teamWork as part of a team in a construction project. Communicate efficiently, sharing information with team members and reporting to supervisors. Follow instructions and adapt to changes in a flexible ma...prevent damage to utility infrastructureprevent damage to utility infrastructureConsult utility companies or plans on the location of any utility infrastructure that may interfere with a project or be damaged by it. Take the necessary steps to avoid damage.secure working areasecure working areaSecure the operation site fixing boundaries, restricting access, placing signs and taking other measures in order to guarantee public and staff safety.follow health and safety procedures in constructionfollow health and safety procedures in constructionApply the relevant health and safety procedures in construction in order to prevent accidents, pollution and other risks.recognise the hazards of dangerous goodsrecognise the hazards of dangerous goodsBe aware of the threats posed by potentially dangerous goods such as polluting, toxic, corrosive, or explosive materials.operate jackhammeroperate jackhammerUse a jackhammer, either manually or attached to a mobile piece of heavy equipment, to break up material.drive mobile heavy construction equipmentdrive mobile heavy construction equipmentDrive movable heavy equipment used in construction. Load the equipment onto low loaders, or unload it. Judiciously drive equipment on public roads when required.react to events in time-critical environmentsreact to events in time-critical environmentsMonitor the situation around you and anticipate. Be ready to take quick and appropriate action in case of unexpected events.use safety equipment in constructionuse safety equipment in constructionUse elements of protective clothing such as steel-tipped shoes, and gear such as protective goggles, in order to minimise risk of accidents in construction and to mitigate any injury if an accident do...
Optional (21) — show
demolition techniquesdemolition techniquesVarious methods of demolishing structures, like controlled implosion, use of a wrecking ball or jackhammer, or selective demolition. Usage cases of these methods based on type of structure, time const...decontamination techniquesdecontamination techniquesThe methods and techniques used for the decontamination of waste by removing or neutralising the harmful substance.asbestos removal regulationsasbestos removal regulationsThe legislation and regulations surrounding the removal of asbestos contamination from buildings or structures, the safe removal of contaminated materials and the regulations to avoid and prevent cont...excavation techniquesexcavation techniquesThe methods to remove rock and soil, used in an excavation site and the associated risks.radiation protectionradiation protectionThe measures and procedures used to protect people and the environment from the harmful effects of ionising radiation.operate wrecking balloperate wrecking ballUse a wrecking ball to demolish a structure or parts of it. Hoist the wrecking ball into the air with a crane. Drop the ball or swing it in a controlled manner to hit the structure. Prevent misses as ...sort wastesort wasteManually or automatically sort waste by separating it into its different elements.perform selective demolitionperform selective demolitionDemolish a structure, or part of it, using selective demolition. Identify the different materials in the building and assess their reusability and value. Remove any reusable materials without damaging...dispose of hazardous wastedispose of hazardous wasteDispose of dangerous materials such as chemical or radioactive substances according to environmental and to health and safety regulations.rig loadsrig loadsSafely attach loads to different types of hooks and attachments, taking into account the weight of the load, the power available to move it, static and dynamic tolerances of all instruments and materi...operate laser cutting equipmentoperate laser cutting equipmentFocus a narrow beam of strong laser light onto a metal surface to evaporate the material and make a cut. Take the necessary safety precautions, including reflective safety wear and goggles.operate excavatoroperate excavatorOperate excavators used to dig materials from the surface and load them onto dump trucks.keep personal administrationkeep personal administrationFile and organise personal administration documents comprehensively.keep records of work progresskeep records of work progressMaintain records of the progress of the work including time, defects, malfunctions, etc.operate oxygen cutting torchoperate oxygen cutting torchOperate an oxygen cutting torch to cut metal, which uses an oxidation reaction combined with heat, allowing quick reaction with iron and steel but uneffective on other materials. Advance the flame at ...guide operation of heavy construction equipmentguide operation of heavy construction equipmentGuide a colleague in operating a piece of heavy construction equipment. Follow the operation closely and understand when feedback is called for. Use communication techniques like voice, two-way radio,...secure heavy construction equipmentsecure heavy construction equipmentSecure heavy equipment such as tower cranes or concrete pumps before, during, and after use to prevent damage to the machines, workforce or construction site. Take precautionary steps such as retracti...set up temporary construction site infrastructureset up temporary construction site infrastructureSet up a variety of temporary infrastructure used on building sites. Put up fences and signs. Set up any construction trailers and make sure that these are connected to electricity lines and water sup...operate plasma cutting torchoperate plasma cutting torchUse a plasma cutting torch, which forces a narrow stream of plasma through a nozzle to melt metal, and a gas jet to blow the molten metal away.tend asbestos blowertend asbestos blowerTend the blower used to dry asbestos and eliminate fumes from asbestos.follow safety procedures when working at heightsfollow safety procedures when working at heightsTake necessary precautions and follow a set of measures that assess, prevent and tackle risks when working at a high distance from the ground. Prevent endangering people working under these structures...

Related Occupations

Occupations that need many of the same essential skills, so the move between them is shortest.

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Frequently asked questions

What does a demolition worker do?

Demolition workers operate equipment to demolish structures. They safely destroy buildings and remove the debris to permit the site to be used for a different purpose.

What skills does a demolition worker need?

A demolition worker needs 15 essential skills, including mechanical tools, keep heavy construction equipment in good condition, work ergonomically, operate heavy construction machinery without supervision, dispose of non-hazardous waste.

Will AI replace demolition worker jobs?

The AI disruption score for demolition worker is 20/100 (low risk). Skills most exposed to automation: keep personal administration, keep records of work progress, asbestos removal regulations. Most resilient: use safety equipment in construction, operate heavy construction machinery without supervision, react to events in time-critical environments.

Quick Facts

SectorBuilt Environment
ISCO GroupBuilding and related trades workers
Essential Skills15

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