R 408.42044 Manual removal of ceiling and floor systems.

Rule 2044. (1) A floor upon or above which an employee is working and which will be weakened by manual demolition shall be shored to support the intended load. (2) An opening that is cut into a floor for disposal of materials shall not be more than 25% of the total floor area, unless the lateral supports of the removed flooring remain in place. (3) An opening that is cut into a floor shall extend the full span of the floor between supports. (4) Before a floor is demolished, debris and other material shall be removed from the area and adjacent areas for a distance of not less than 20 feet. (5) Before demolishing a floor arch, debris and other material shall be removed from the arch and other adjacent floor area. Planks that are not less than 2 inches by 10 inches in cross section, full size undressed, shall be provided for, and used by, an employee to stand on while breaking down a floor arch between beams. The planks shall be located so as to provide a safe support for the workmen if the arch between the beams collapses. The open space between planks shall not be more than 16 inches. (6) A safe walkway, not less than 18 inches wide, formed of planks not less than 2 inches thick if wood, or of equivalent strength if metal, shall be provided for, and used by, employees when necessary to enable them to reach any point without walking upon exposed beams. (7) Planks shall be laid together over solid bearings with the ends overlapping at least 1 foot. (8) A floor arch to an elevation of not more than 25 feet above grade may be removed to provide storage area for debris, if the removal does not endanger the stability of the structure.