OHS in Demolition: Plan, Asbestos and Neighbouring Buildings

Safety in demolition work: which rules apply?

Demolition is not construction in reverse. The load-bearing system documented when the building was built may have changed over the years, been weakened by alterations or had asbestos-containing materials added to it. Safety in demolition work therefore begins with getting to know the building before work starts. In Bursa neighbourhoods where old housing is being demolished under urban renewal, the work is often done in terraced rows, on narrow streets and in the middle of pedestrian traffic.

The rules on demolition are set out in three separate texts:

The Regulation on the Demolition of Buildings entered into force on 1 July 2022 and was amended on 12 August 2026. The regulation expressly requires compliance with Law No. 6331 on Occupational Health and Safety and the Construction Works OHS Regulation at every stage of demolition, and requires workers to use PPE (Art. 13). The urban renewal provisions under Law No. 6306 are also reserved (Art. 5/13).

Pre-demolition building survey and asbestos identification

The first step in demolition is not the excavator but the survey. At this stage, three questions are answered: what was the building built with, have its utilities been disconnected, and does it contain hazardous materials?

An asbestos survey is mandatory. Under Art. 16 of the Regulation on the Demolition of Buildings, before demolition starts it is determined whether there is any asbestos-containing work and, if so, its type, quantity and location. Solid sampling and analysis are carried out by a laboratory authorised by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security to determine asbestos type in solid samples. Main demolition may not begin until work containing asbestos and similar hazardous chemicals has been removed and taken away and selective demolition has been carried out (Art. 5/7).

The Asbestos Regulation repeats the same principle from the worker's side: before starting removal and demolition work, the employer carries out a survey to identify materials that may contain asbestos (Art. 7/1). Asbestos-containing material is removed by an asbestos removal worker under the supervision of an asbestos removal expert (Art. 8). Before work starts, the employer prepares a work plan and notifies the provincial directorate of the Turkish Employment Agency (İŞKUR) (Art. 9). When removal is complete, a document including measurement results and showing that no risk of asbestos exposure remains is issued by an authorised laboratory. We explained the details of the removal process in our article on asbestos removal work.

Typical places where asbestos may be found in old buildings are: corrugated roof and facade sheets, boiler and pipe insulation, some floor coverings and adhesives, and chimneys and ventilation ducts. Decisions are not made from the appearance of the material; the laboratory result is what counts.

The other items in the survey:

• Utilities: Electricity, water, natural gas and telephone connections are disconnected; documents from the utility providers confirming disconnection are attached to the permit application (Demolition Regulation Art. 7/2; Construction Works Annex 4 B Art. 75-a).
• Vacating: It is documented that the building is not occupied or has been vacated. On the day of demolition, it is checked separately that nobody remains inside the building.
• Load-bearing system: Parts where columns have been cut, floors added or a fire has occurred are noted; temporary support is considered for places at risk of unplanned collapse (Art. 9/1).
• Other hazardous substances: Fuel tanks, chemical residues, old paint tins and fluorescent lamps are separated out before demolition.

What should a demolition plan include?

When applying for a demolition permit, the building owner submits the demolition plan to the authority along with the contracts made with the contractor and the technical supervisor (Art. 7/2). No demolition plan is prepared for the demolition of detached buildings with at most one storey excluding the basement, a height not exceeding 6 metres and a construction area not exceeding 250 m² (Art. 7/10); but this exception does not remove OHS measures.

This plan is the backbone of the measures to be taken in building demolition. A demolition plan and the risk assessment linked to it should include at least the following:

1. Method: Which of the techniques in standard TS 13633 has been chosen, and why. For adjoining buildings, the safety of the neighbouring building comes first; where possible, partial or full demolition by hand is used (Art. 11/1).
2. Sequence: Full demolition starts from the roof and proceeds from top to bottom. It may not start from the vertical load-bearing elements of the lower floors; floors must not be overloaded by piling debris on them; and no suspended blocks may be left when work is paused (Art. 11/2).
3. Machinery and operators: The machines to be used and the operators' vocational qualification certificates are written into the plan (Art. 12).
4. Waste management: Waste types, codes and quantities; separate collection of hazardous waste.
5. Dust measures: The measures to be taken for dust control are determined by an environmental officer holding an environmental management service competence certificate or an environmental engineer and added to the plan (Art. 18/1).
6. OHS organisation: Work is planned and carried out under the supervision of a competent person appointed by the employer (Construction Works Annex 4 B Art. 75-ç). Firefighting and emergency medical equipment and a reliable communication system are available on site (Art. 8/3).

Plan the timetable too: demolition must start within one month of the permit date and be completed within three months including the start period; otherwise the permit becomes void (Art. 7/9). The contractor informs the technical supervisor, the relevant authority and the district governorate at least seven days before starting and finishing demolition (Art. 7/12).

Neighbouring building and pedestrian safety

In urban renewal demolitions, the most critical risk is often not inside the site but at its boundary. The regulation is specific on this:

• Hoarding: The site is enclosed with mobile or fixed hoarding whose height is set by the designer and is not less than 2.5 metres; entrances and exits are controlled, and signage complies with the Regulation on Health and Safety Signs (Art. 8/2).
• Falling and flying material: Facades of the building that create a hazard are secured so that material that could fall does not reach people and vehicle traffic outside the site (Art. 8/2). The external facade is protected with protective scaffolding suited to the demolition technique and tear-resistant catch netting (Art. 9/5).
• Notice to neighbours: At least three days before demolition starts, the relevant authority notifies the buildings on neighbouring plots (Art. 9/4).
• Adjoining walls: The load-bearing system of the neighbouring building must not be damaged at shared or adjoining walls. Recording existing cracks in the neighbouring building with photographs before demolition also prevents later disputes.

For pedestrian safety, the pavement crossing is handled with a protected tunnel or safe diversion. A banksman is assigned for manoeuvring debris lorries; lorry traffic is stopped at busy times such as school arrival and departure times.

Demolition dust and noise

Demolition dust is a problem for both workers and the surroundings. Concrete and brick dust may contain crystalline silica; this is also why the asbestos survey matters. The regulation makes the use of dust suppression systems complying with standard TS 13883 mandatory (Art. 18/3). The Construction Works OHS Regulation also requires measures to prevent dust being raised during demolition and to remove debris safely from the work area (Annex 4 B Art. 75-d).

In practice this means a continuous water spray or atomised water at the point of demolition, lowering debris via chutes or an enclosed system, covering lorry beds and keeping the operator's cab closed. Dust masks are used for the exposure remaining after these measures; for choosing the right class, see our article on FFP1, FFP2 and FFP3 dust masks. For noise and vibration, the regulations on protecting workers are complied with (Art. 17/3); if measurements are needed, we plan them with authorised laboratories.

Urban renewal example: a five-storey terraced building

Imagine an old five-storey apartment building in Bursa, adjoining other buildings on both sides, to be demolished under urban renewal. The street is narrow, and there is a primary school opposite.

In this job the risk assessment should have separate rows for each stage: working at height during hand demolition at the adjoining wall, protecting the operator from falling parts during machine demolition, lorry traffic during school hours, and so on. For the general organisation of the site see our article on the construction site OHS checklist, and for inspecting the facade scaffold see our article on scaffold inspection.

Preparing the risk assessment stage by stage for demolition work is the subject of our risk assessment service, and monitoring implementation on site is the subject of our OHS specialist service. Other topics specific to the construction sector are on our construction page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is asbestos analysis mandatory before demolition?

Yes. Under Art. 16 of the Regulation on the Demolition of Buildings, an asbestos survey is mandatory before demolition. Sample analysis is carried out by a laboratory authorised by the Ministry. Main demolition cannot start until asbestos-containing material has been removed.

Is a demolition plan required for every building?

No. No demolition plan is prepared for detached buildings with at most one storey excluding the basement, a height not exceeding 6 metres and a construction area not exceeding 250 m². However, a risk assessment and OHS measures are still required for these buildings.

How is an adjoining building demolished?

The regulation requires demolition of adjoining buildings to be carried out with the safety of the neighbouring building as the priority and, where possible, partial or full demolition by hand. Machine use is limited at the shared wall, and the condition of the neighbouring building is recorded in advance.

What is mandatory for dust on a demolition site?

Using a dust suppression system complying with standard TS 13883 is mandatory. Dust measures are determined by a competent environmental officer or environmental engineer and added to the demolition plan. Suitable respiratory protection is also assessed for workers.