Demolition Laborer Job Description, Key Duties and Responsibilities

This post provides exhaustive information on the demolition laborer job description, including the key duties, tasks, and responsibilities that they commonly perform.

What Does a Demolition Laborer Do?

The demolition laborer job description involves demolition of old, dilapidated and unnecessary buildings, and removal of hazardous materials from construction sites.

It also entails carrying out site improvement work like earth work, leveling and grading of land to make it ready for new building structures or works.

Demolition laborers remove or dispose of all dangerous objects from construction sites before starting any new project or works.

They are in charge of OSHA safety training and supervision, to ensure the safety of all personnel on the site.

It is also their responsibility to clean up the site area after construction has been completed.

Their duties also include being in charge of all office work, such as purchase orders and invoicing.

This position supervises all office personnel in the field and at the depot to make sure that they are working safely and efficiently.

Undercutting, removing, and disposing of dangerous tree stumps, roots, or any other object that would hinder work operations on construction sites is among their duties.

The demolition laborer work description also involves removing asbestos containing materials when they are found in the construction site.

It also includes installing temporary utility lines and sprinklers before buildings being constructed.

A demolition laborer ensures that all underground utilities (wires, tubes, etc.) are marked for easy identification before demolition work starts.

They keep work areas clean and safe.

It is also their duty to conduct cleanup of hazardous materials as well as to properly dispose such materials to non-hazardous waste and other facilities authorized by the local agency.

Demolition Laborer Job Description Sample/Example/Template

The demolition laborer job description entails the following duties, tasks, and responsibilities:

• Removes, chops, and clears all the debris, including wood, concrete, gypsum board, pipes, etc.
• Sits on a bucket, lifts debris into the bucket; or uses a power hand tool to remove debris from buildings
• Removes all the wires and pipes in trenches and other tunnels of buildings being demolished
• Cleans the area of rubble that has already been cleared before filling to keep it off workers’ feet as they continue to work in the area
• Operates a jackhammer to break up large pieces of concrete
• Pulls nails from boards and pry apart removed objects to clear the area for use by others
• Clears debris from inside buildings, such as removing all of the material in order to gain access to walls and rafters so they can be removed
• Removes lath, plaster and lathing from inside the rafters after insulation has been removed with a crowbar or hand chisel; or props up floor or ceiling while other workers remove lath, plaster and lathing in areas where it is not possible to use a crowbar or hand chisel
• Follows demolition crew directions to ensure materials are placed where they will not interfere with other work or pose a safety hazard

More on Demolition Laborer Job Description Sample/Example/Template

• Installs beams and supports using hand and power tools of machinery
• Places material in a dumpster or other storage area after it has been cleared
• Removes building contents, such as furniture and fixtures, from the interior of buildings for disposal; or removes building contents from the interior of buildings for reuse
• Removes materials from structures to be demolished such as piles of debris and old material to be recycled or disposed, such as concrete blocks and bricks, after structures have been taken down enough to allow room for movement
• Cleans out basements and attics that have not been in use for a long time after demolition work has been completed there in order to restore them for use by others
• Mops and cleans work areas that may have debris in them, such as basements and attics
• Clears debris off floors after they have been completely demolished to make them safe for entry of other workers who will begin the next phase of demolition work or construction.

Demolition Laborer Job Description for Resume

If you are making a new resume or CV as someone who has worked before as a demolition laborer or are presently working in that role, then you can make a convincing Professional  Experience for your resume by applying the demolition laborer job description sample above.

You can highlight the demolition laborer duties and responsibilities from the above job description template in your resume’s Professional Experience to show that you have been successful working as a demolition laborer.

This piece of information in your resume can greatly influence the recruiter/employer to give you an interview, especially if the new position you are seeking requires someone with some demolition laborer work experience.

Demolition Laborer Requirements: Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities for Career Success

Here are major requirements you may be expected to fulfill to be hired for the demolition laborer role:

• Experience working with power tools, such as chisels and drills
• Ability to read and understand instructions, such as blueprints or plans
• Good communication skills
• Must be over the age of 18 in order to apply for the job
• Good foot and hand dexterity because the job involves heavy lifting, climbing onto roofs and dealing with some potentially dangerous situations (such as demolishing old buildings)
• Possess good eyesight and a valid driver’s license and vehicle for work-related purposes
• Excellent physical condition and the ability to perform assigned tasks for long periods of time with little or no breaks
• Good taste in clothing, as you will spend most of your time outside with no protective clothing
• Must be able to follow direction really well, because you will be working under the supervision of an experienced demolition laborer
• The ability to get along with other people cordially is important to this job.

Demolition Laborer Salary

The average annual salary of a demolition laborer is $38,509 (glassdoor.com) and $32,985 (zippia.com).

Zippia reports that the best paying states are Hawaii, $56,387; New Jersey, $52,696; New York, $57,168; Connecticut,    $51,702; and Rhode Island, $48,333.

In the United States, there are over 400,804 demolition workers as published by Zippia. 

Males predominate in demolition worker jobs. 92% of demolition workers are male and 7% are female, implying that there are more male demolition workers than female.

White is the most common ethnicity among demolition workers, accounting for 56.3% of all demolition workers.

In comparison, there are 26.6% Hispanic or Latino people and 11.4% Black or African American demolition workers.

Conclusion

This post is helpful to individuals interested in the demolition laborer career. They will be able to learn all they need to know about the duties and responsibilities associated with the demolition laborer’s job.

It is also useful to recruiters/employers in writing a detailed job description for the demolition laborer position in their companies.

They can apply the demolition laborer job description template provided above.