A demolition supervisor is a crucial role in overseeing and managing demolition projects, ensuring that they are carried out safely, efficiently, and according to project specifications. Demolition supervisors are responsible for leading and coordinating a team of demolition workers, overseeing the demolition process from start to finish. They play a key role in ensuring the proper execution of demolition techniques, adherence to safety protocols, and compliance with environmental regulations.
Demolition supervisors work in diverse environments, including construction sites, industrial facilities, commercial buildings, and residential areas. The work involves exposure to hazardous materials, noise, dust, and potentially unstable structures. They must follow strict safety protocols and wear appropriate personal protective equipment to mitigate risks. Demolition projects may require working at heights or in confined spaces, necessitating physical agility and adaptability. The role often involves working outdoors and may require extended hours, including weekends or evenings, to meet project deadlines.
The educational and professional requirements for a demolition supervisor can vary depending on the employer and the complexity of the projects. Typically, a high school diploma or equivalent is required. Relevant vocational training or certifications in demolition techniques, construction management, or occupational health and safety are beneficial. Extensive experience in demolition work, including hands-on experience as a demolition worker, is essential to develop the necessary skills and knowledge. Strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills are crucial for effectively supervising a demolition crew and ensuring the successful completion of projects.
ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:
the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.
Demolition supervisor is a Skill level 3 occupation.
These occupations require some skills and knowledge of demolition supervisor. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of demolition supervisor with a significant experience and/or extensive training.
This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of demolition supervisor.
Demolition techniques: Various 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 constraints, environment and expertise.
Mechanical tools: Understand machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
These skills are necessary for the role of demolition supervisor.
Manage health and safety standards: Oversee all personnel and processes to comply with health, safety and hygiene standards. Communicate and support alignment of these requirements with the company’s health and safety programmes.
Work in a construction team: Work 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 manner.
Prevent damage to utility infrastructure: Consult 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.
Ensure equipment availability: Ensure that the necessary equipment is provided, ready and available for use before start of procedures.
Plan resource allocation: Plan future needs of various resources such as time, money and specific process resources.
Plan shifts of employees: Plans shifts of employees to ensure completion of all customer orders and satisfactory completion of the production plan.
Evaluate employees work: Evaluate the need for labour for the work ahead. Evaluate the performance of the team of workers and inform superiors. Encourage and support the employees in learning, teach them techniques and check the application to ensure product quality and labour productivity.
Recognise the hazards of dangerous goods: Be aware of the threats posed by potentially dangerous goods such as polluting, toxic, corrosive, or explosive materials.
Supervise staff: Oversee the selection, training, performance and motivation of staff.
Process incoming construction supplies: Receive incoming construction supplies, handle the transaction and enter the supplies into any internal administration system.
Drive mobile heavy construction equipment: Drive movable heavy equipment used in construction. Load the equipment onto low loaders, or unload it. Judiciously drive equipment on public roads when required.
Use safety equipment in construction: Use 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 does occur.
Keep records of work progress: Maintain records of the progress of the work including time, defects, malfunctions, etc.
Guide operation of heavy construction equipment: Guide 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, agreed-upon gestures and whistles to signal the appropriate information to the operator.
Liaise with managers: Liaise with managers of other departments ensuring effective service and communication, i.e. sales, planning, purchasing, trading, distribution and technical.
Coordinate construction activities: Coordinate the activities of several construction workers or crews to make sure they do not interfere with each other and to ensure that the works are done in a timely manner. Keep up to date on the progress of the teams and update the schedule if called for.
This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of demolition supervisor. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.
Explosives: Behaviour of explosives, pyrotechnics and blasting techniques. Associated risks and legal requirements.
Construction product regulation: Regulations on construction products quality standards applied throughout the European Union.
Physics: The natural science involving the study of matter, motion, energy, force and related notions.
Cost management: The process of planning, monitoring and adjusting the expenses and revenues of a business in order to achieve cost efficiency and capability.
Nuclear energy: The generation of electrical energy through the use of nuclear reactors, by converting the energy released from nuclei of atoms in reactors which generate heat. This heat subsequently generates steam which can power a steam turbine to generate electricity.
Asbestos removal regulations: The 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 contamination.
Excavation techniques: The methods to remove rock and soil, used in an excavation site and the associated risks.
Radiation protection: The measures and procedures used to protect people and the environment from the harmful effects of ionising radiation.
These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of demolition supervisor. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.
Operate wrecking ball: Use 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 the weight and momentum of the ball may destabilise the crane.
Sort waste: Manually or automatically sort waste by separating it into its different elements.
Work ergonomically: Apply ergonomy principles in the organisation of the workplace while manually handling equipment and materials.
Provide first aid: Administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation or first aid in order to provide help to a sick or injured person until they receive more complete medical treatment.
Demolish selectively: Demolish 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 them.
Dispose of hazardous waste: Dispose of dangerous materials such as chemical or radioactive substances according to environmental and to health and safety regulations.
Rig loads: Safely 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 materials, and the mass distribution of the system. Communicate with the operator verbally or with gestures to ensure the safety and efficiency of the operation. Detach loads.
Operate laser cutting equipment: Focus 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.
Recruit employees: Hire new employees by scoping the job role, advertising, performing interviews and selecting staff in line with company policy and legislation.
Dispose of non-hazardous waste: Dispose of waste materials which pose no risk to health and safety in a manner which complies with recycling and waste management procedures.
Follow nuclear plant safety precautions: Comply with nuclear power plant safety procedures, policies and legislation to ensure a safe working environment for all employees, and to ensure the safety of the public.
Operate excavator: Operate excavators used to dig materials from the surface and load them onto dump trucks.
Operate jackhammer: Use a jackhammer, either manually or attached to a mobile piece of heavy equipment, to break up material.
Report defective manufacturing materials: Maintain required company records and forms in order to report any defective materials or questionable conditions of manufacturing machinery and equipment.
Demolish structures: Remove a structure in a safe and efficient manner and dispose of the debris in a correct and environmentally responsible manner. Use a variety of tools and methods to demolish the structure.
Provide technical expertise: Provide expert knowledge in a particular field, especially concerning mechanical or scientific subjects, to decision makers, engineers, technical staff or journalists.
Operate oxygen cutting torch: Operate 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 the right speed to allow the exothermic reaction to sustain itself through the thickness of the object to be cut.
Train employees: Lead and guide employees through a process in which they are taught the necessary skills for the perspective job. Organise activities aimed at introducing the work and systems or improving the performance of individuals and groups in organisational settings.
Operate plasma cutting torch: Use 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.
Follow safety procedures when working at heights: Take 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 and avoid falls from ladders, mobile scaffolding, fixed working bridges, single person lifts etc. since they may cause fatalities or major injuries.
