Demolition shifts column out of plumb…

Indianapolis demolition works knocks column out of true.

A demolition mishap moved a support column for Interstate 465 about six inches out of being level Tuesday morning on the city’s west side.

INDOT spokesman Harry Maginty tells 24-Hour news 8 everything is stable and the shift poses no danger to motorists or construction crews.

Maginty tells us workers were demolishing a steel girder on the I-70 bridge over I-465 when the girder didn’t break off as expected. Instead, it pushed a support column from Westbound 465 to Northbound 465 out of level approximately 6 inches.

INDOT’s district construction engineer was called to the scene to evaluate the situation. The displaced column is currently being support with three shoring towers.

Read more here.

Firms fined over worker’s facial burns…

Court hears case of worker injured when cutting underground cables.

Two firms were fined a total of £22,000 after a worker received facial burns when he cut through an underground electrical cable.

Miller Construction (UK) Limited and Lawrie (Demolition) Limited were each fined £11,000 after pleading guilty to charges under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

On 24 June 2008 Valentin Talijanov, an employee of Lawrie (Demolition) Limited, cut through a 415 volt electric cable at the City Wharf redevelopment site in Aberdeen.

Read more here.

Dear Santa…

Well the weather outside is frightful…so let’s help someone in need.

Earlier today, we posted on Twitter and Facebook that we were venturing out into the bleak and snowbound Epsom countryside clad in Caterpillar boots and a Komatsu hat. Since then, we have had replies, emails and text messages asking why we weren’t wearing items of equally fine clothing from a variety of equally fine equipment manufacturers.

And this set us thinking. Given that the season of goodwill to all men is almost upon us (and setting aside our own desperate need for warm clothing) we’re throwing open the doors of Demolition News Towers and inviting manufacturers, dealers and other equally worthy companies to send us hats, gloves, jackets, scarves and anything else they have lying about the place (and we’re not too bothered if they’re from last Year’s Spring collection either).

We will collect all of the contributions and donate them to homeless charity (Centrepointin time for Christmas.

So go raid your merchandise stocks and send us what you have; you get to have an early Spring clean and someone, somewhere might actually be a little warmer this Christmas.

Master Blaster blasts back…

Reaction to chimney blast that fell wrong way raises question over industry ethics.

We are rarely at a loss for words here at DemolitionNews.com, but we have spent the past six or seven hours trying (without success) to create a suitable introduction to what you’re about to read. Regardless of your take on why the recent Ohio smokestack implosion fell the wrong way, or the legitimacy of attempting to profit from it, there’s no doubt that Advanced Explosive Demolition’s Eric Kelly is wearing his heart on his sleeve in the following article he has written in response to criticism of him and his team.

And please, when you have finished reading what he has to say, hit the Comments button at the bottom and let us know what you think: Is it acceptable to profit from a competitor’s mishap? Is there any place for ethics in the modern demolition business? And is it any wonder that demolition contractors are portrayed as “work staved, beer drinking, trash-talking misfits…”

“…I always respected certain groups where they lift each other up and help, like the Amish. If your barn burns down they have a community “barn raising”…impressive!

Then we have the demo business…make a mistake and the entire industry pours gas on the fire and sees it as an opportunity to be like a pack of Hyenas.

I have had two of my competitors send my stack mistake, via e-mail, to clients and have AED terminated because of the stack falling the wrong way! Now these guys have never had anything go the wrong way! I am totally awestruck that people can be lower than whale shit. I wish they were more secure in their business dealings and had less time on their hands to be stooping so low.

Maybe it’s because they have had their share of bad shots they need to point the finger somewhere else…but wait…when you point one finger at someone else, there’s three pointing back at you. What these people don’t understand is the facts will come to light and then what?

I have had the blessing of having many people call and give words of encouragement, a whole lot more than the “negatives”. These people have been the ones who experienced things go wrong and were honest in saying so. They also explain that things do go wrong in this industry and the best way to go forward is to not worry about what others think.

I have also heard from people that things aren’t really that bad when compared to some of the mistakes of others. We can and must learn from them. The demo business has to learn to set boundaries on ethics and moralities. What does this teach our children? How does this reflect on businesses, the stoic togetherness in our industry… it doesn’t. That’s why the demo business is looked at like we’re a bunch of work staved, beer drinking, trash-talking misfits.

There are some very good demo guys out there who care about the image of our industry and the perception portrayed. They exercise diligence in success and failure. They tend their own garden and have been first in line to help others. These people know who they are! The people who operate on the wrong side of the fence know who they are also.

When our children are old enough to draw their conclusions, what kind of legacy will our industry leaders leave…food for thought..!”

Spectrum demolition from the wrecking ball’s view…

Unique video captures stadium demolition from on-board the wrecking ball.

The long-awaited demolition of Philadelphia’s Spectrum Stadium admittedly went with a whimper rather than a bang. But this unusual video – shot in part from the wrecking ball itself – gives a unique insight into the demolition process.

New date set for bridge implosion…

US Coastguard hold key to implosion of remaining Seneca bridge spans.

Pearl Harbor Day could be the day the last two spans of the old Illinois River bridge came tumbling down. That is, if the U.S. Coast Guard goes along with the latest date to implode the two south spans of the early 1930s bridge.

The structure is being demolished since the recent opening of the new $24 million-replacement structure. A spokesman for Dykon Explosive Demolition of Tulsa, Okla., noted Wednesday the company was mobilizing the implosion for Tuesday, Dec. 7, depending on Coast Guard approval.

The center span of the aged bridge was imploded in a daybreak event watched by a couple hundred spectators on Thursday, Nov. 18. The second phase of the implosion was set for 7 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 23.
Instead, the north span was brought down in an unannounced implosion at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 21, which left the fate of the final two spans up in the air at the time.

Read more here.

Handygoddess video – So bad it’s good…

Part infomercial, part 70s porn script. Welcome to the world of the Handy Goddess.

OK, so we’re suckers for a pink hard hat, and that’s what attracted us to this Handy Goddess video.

But having now watched it through a few times, we’ve moved beyond the natty headgear and have started to notice other things like (a) her eyes are occasionally VERY scary; (b) the guy in this clip is apparently only teaching the poor defenceless woman so he can sit back and watch, and (c) the script was apparently written by a 14-year old boy asked to devise an original porn scenario.

The result is a strange, double-entendre laden video that is as informative as it is politically correct.

Downtown demolition damages employment centre…

Near miss for 140 people as wall collapses onto neighbouring building in Quebec.

The demolition of a King Ouest building on Monday resulted in a section of an old brick wall collapsing on to the neighbouring Centre local d’emploi (Local employment centre).

According to reports, the incident took place Monday afternoon at a time when the mechanical shovels were not even in the process of demolishing the building. Bricks flew through the employment centre windows and the adjacent wall was partially damaged.

Hearing and feeling the commotion, the 140 people located inside the building immediately began evacuating. Fortunately, no one was injured in the incident.

Authorities from Quebec’s Worker Health and Safety Commission (CSST) were on the scene Tuesday to assess the damage, which has been estimated at $200,000. The structure of the employment centre appears intact, however it remained closed today as a precautionary measure.

Demolition of Pittsburgh Penguins’ home delayed…

Preservationists call a halt to planned demolition of Pittsburgh Civic Arena.

Officials in Pittsburgh have approved plans to knock down the longtime home of the Pittsburgh Penguins but demolition is on hold while a petition to grant the arena historic status is reviewed.

The Pittsburgh Planning Commission voted unanimously Tuesday in favor of demolition for the Civic Arena. But immediately after the vote a resident filed a petition to have the 49-year-old structure designated as a historic building.

The petition is supported by two groups who want the arena left intact and reused. Pittsburgh’s Historic Review Commission and City Council would both have to approve the petition.

Read more here.

NDTG unveils foundation training course…

National Demolition Training Group responds to industry needs.

Sophie Francis - NDTG Group Training Manager
Sophie Francis - NDTG Group Training Manager
In response to industry demands, the following 4-day programme has been developed to assist company’s with the basic training of new operatives in the demolition industry.

The programme consists of the fundamental basic training that any new employee should have before commencing demolition works or in some instances, before entering site.

“On completion of the four training sessions, candidates will have gained basic knowledge of the demolition industry & awareness training in Key Health & Safety issues,” says training group manager Sophie Francis. “They will also be issued with a CCDO/CSCS Site Operative Card (Trainee) which is the industry recognised standard for new operatives on site.”

Francis reports that this is a four-day block programme that will commence on Tuesday 7 December 2010 and finish on Friday 10 December 2010. The following subjects will be covered.

• Asbestos & Demolition Awareness
• Working @ Height
• Working @ Low Levels- Low Access Equipment
• Abrasive Wheels
• Non-Licensed Asbestos Removal. Exc. Textured Coatings
• Manual Handling

The CSCS Health & Safety Touch Screen Test can also be taken as part of the course.

Course Costs start at £450 + VAT for NFDC and NDTG members, rising to £500 + VAT for non members.
The course will take place at The NDTG Training Centre which features top of the range facilities.