OSHA DEMOLITION SURVEYS
Consulting History
DEMOLITION MANAGEMENT AND ESTIMATING PROJECTS
MELLON ARENA, PITTSBURGH, PA
Retained by Oxford Development, Inc and the Pittsburgh Stadium & Convention Authority.
My work included helping develop specifications, suggest demolition methods, help conduct pre-bid walk-through of potential bidders.
Evaluate bids and interview the six lowest bidders and rank there abilities. Help with the contract award.
The Mellon Arena, also local known as the Igloo, was the home to the Pittsburgh Penguins’ national hockey team.
WESTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY, MACOMB, ILLINOIS
Retained by the University and Durrant Architects, Des Moines, Iowa to help prepare demolition specification for the implosion of the 15 story Wetzel Hall dormitory. My participation also included, cost estimating, developing bidders list, conducting bidder walk-through, meet with community to explain implosion procedure and what they should expect. Answering questions of concerned interests.
PITTSBURGH SPORTS & EXHIBITION AUTHORITY (SEA), PITTSBURGH, PA
Retained by this Authority and there developer Oxford Development Company to correct a failed demolition procedure.
The Authority hired a demolition contractor to demolish the former 10-story St. Francis Medical Center, which was on the site for the new Penguins Hockey Stadium.
The demolition contractor tried a method called "controlled collapse." This method uses cables to pull the main column supports from under the building. In this instance the cables snapped after pulling several cables leaving the building in an extremely dangerous condition. The City shut the project down.
My job was to get the project back on track. The first thing we did was get the building certified by structural engineers that workers' could enter the structure and prepare the building for new demolition methods.
Next we got the City to lift there prohibition on implosion, which they did. Three weeks later the building was imploded and the project was back on track and on budget.
BLACK & VEATCH, Los Angeles, California
Developed demolition costs and methods for Los Angeles Sewerage Treatment Plant clarifier
and aeration basins. This project included the demolition and removal of 57,000 cubic yards
of concrete.
RAS LAFFAN CITY, QATAR
Retained by URS Engineering, Doha, Qatar to develop demolition costs means, and methods for the demolition of a large ship conveyor system and storage silo. The conveyor feed sulfur pellets to dock side ships and the large pre-stressed concrete silo that stored the sulfur pellets.
Ras Laffan is the main industrial city of Qatar; it supplies 25% of the world's liquefied natural gas.
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, NEW YORK CITY
Provide assistance in the analysis and presentation of comments on the plans and specifications for the decontamination and deconstruction of the Deutsche Bank Building and 4 Albany St., Ground Zero, New York City
Advise the EPA whether industry standards for decontamination and deconstruction have been utilized in the plans and specifications and whether the plans and specifications ensure public and worker safety and environmental protection.
The Deutsche Bank Building was severely damaged as a result of the collapse of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. The building was struck by an extensive amount of falling and blown debris from the WTC collapse. And is considered the most contaminated office building in the United States.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, Defense Special Weapons Agency, Washington, D.C.
Estimate labor costs, time schedule and demolition methods for the dismantlement of former
Soviet Union biological weapons plant in Stepnogorsk, Kazakhstan. This project required a site
visit to this southern Siberian City to evaluate local conditions and meet with plant principals to
coordinate planning. The plant was used to manufacture Anthrax, and was the largest biological
weapons facility in the world.
Read the story...
BIBB AND ASSOCIATES, Lenexa, Kansas
Prepared cost, salvage, debris and labor estimates for the demolition of the massive
Ft. Leavenworth Army Prison. This prison is a large brick structure with several wings
and was built in 1916. Bibb & Associates is now known as the Kiewit Power Engineers Company.
BECHTEL CORPORATION, Providence, Rhode Island
Developed methods for interior demolition and cost estimates for the South Street Power
Station in Providence, R.I., owned by Narragansett Power Co.
METRO 25 KOREA, Seoul, Korea
Arranged to have section of the Haengju Bridge dynamited. Sections of this bridge collapsed
during construction and had to be cleared for the bridge to be rebuilt.
LOCKHEED CORPORATION, Burbank, California
Provide assistance in developing cost estimates, project planning, scheduling and preparing
detailed work plans for the demolition of Lockheed's Burbank manufacturing facility. This site
contained over 300 acres of building structures and at one time was one the largest aircraft plants
in the world.
AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, Washington, D.C.
Developed methods for demolition and site clearance of earthquake damage in
Nicaragua and Guatemala. This required trips to the area to evaluate local
conditions, damage, and evaluate clean up costs.
LOS ANGELES DEPARTMENT OF WATER & POWER / Intermountain Power Agency, Delta, Utah
Developed demolition costs for the Intermountain Power Plant, Delta, Utah. This is the largest
coal burning plant in North America, built at a cost of over $2 billion and finished in l987. This
plant supplies power to the City of Los Angeles.
Construction required moving 8 million cubic yards of earth; 500,000 cubic yards of concrete;
72,000 tons of structural steel; 500,000 tons of reinforcing steel; l3 million feet of cable and wire,
and 615,000 feet of piping.
BECHTEL INTERNATIONAL, Moscow, Russia
Prepared demolition report for equipment and labor requirements for the
demolition of fourteen-bunkers and ancillary buildings at a former Soviet facility.
INTERNATIONAL PAPER CO., Erie, PA
Perform background checks on bidders for the demolition of a large plant in this city. The checks
uncovered a serious criminal action against one of the bidders.
FLOUR DANIEL CO., Mt. Pleasant, Texas
Developed procedures for debris removal of a collapsed 600' chimney. Debris had to be
removed in such a way as not to hinder the investigation surrounding the cause of the collapse.
The chimney collapsed on the power station causing an estimated $200 million in damages.
RAYTHEON ENGINEERS & CONTRACTORS, Houston, Texas
Develop demolition methods and cost estimate for the partial removal of the Baytown Tunnel, Houston, TX. This was a two lane automobile tunnel under the Houston Channel. The tunnel was 32' below mean water level and was 36' in diameter. It was removed to deepen the channel to 40' to accommodate super tankers.
NEW ENGLAND POWER COMPANY, Westborough, Massachusetts
Developed cost estimates for the total demolition of the Manchester Street Power Plant, Providence, R.I.
AGWAY, CORPORATION, Syracuse, New York
Provided specifications, bid list and cost estimates for the demolition of their fertilizer
and blending plant in Caribou, Maine.
ATHENS GENERATING PLANT, Athens, New York
Develop demolition plan and cost estimates for this facility that went on line 2003.
This plan was required to meet specifications for they're licensing permit to go on
line. This was part of their decommissioning requirements.
U.S. WEST COMMUNICATIONS, Des Moines, Iowa
Provided cost estimates, specifications, bidder list, conducted bidder walk through and open
bids for the demolition of a micro-wave tower on the roof of their main switching facility
in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. This tower was 300' high, weighed 306 ton, and was located in
downtown Cedar Rapids. Also performed the same service for another tower owned by
them in Ames, Iowa.
CENTRAL ILLINOIS POWER COMPANY, Peoria, Illinois
Developed demolition cost estimates for the Wallace Power Station, Peoria. Also
worked on strategy for a lawsuit brought by the contractor who failed to complete
demolition work at the station.
CH2M HILL, Seattle, Washington
Developed cost estimate and demolition methods for the Bunker Hill Mine,
Kellogg, Idaho. This mine had been designated as a superfund site.
U.S. COAST GUARD, Washington, D.C.
Monitored demolition of Elizabeth, New Jersey Railroad Bridge. This was the
largest lift span bridge in the world.
CITY OF NEW YORK, CORRECTIONS DEPT., New York City
Developed costs and demolition method to remove two large concrete L.N.G.
tanks, Staten Island, site of a proposed new prison. These tanks and associated
equipment cost $200 million to build and was never used.
BARCLAYS' BANK, New York City
Developed demolition estimate and supplied contractor list to
finish project they financed for Cuyahoga Wrecking Co, at the
Bethlehem Steel Plant, Sparrow's Point, Maryland.
GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION, Washington, D.C.
Developed demolition costs and time frame for the former U.S.
Navy Headquarters, Constitution Avenue, Washington, D. C.
BAYFRONT ARENA, St. Petersburg, Florida
Worked with George F. Young, Inc. a Florida engineering firm to develop specifications, budget, plans, methods and conduct bidder's walk-through. This was an exhibition hall
used by the city for graduations, ice shows, etc.
We devised a plan to implode the roof of the structure and then demolish the walls in a conventional method.
MAECORP, Chicago, Illinois
Prepared demolition specifications and methods for a superfund site in
Cincinnati, Ohio. This project involved the demolition of two large buildings
contaminated with radioactive material.
AMAX CORP., Climax, Colorado
Developed demolition costs and methods for their mining facility, Climax,
Colorado. This included demolition of over 165 buildings.
TAMPA ELECTRIC COMPANY (TEMCO), Tampa, Florida
Evaluated potential demolition costs for the removal of environmental equipment
lnstalled in their three large Tampa area-generating plants. The installation cost
Of the equipment exceeded $400 million.
DUTTON & VAUGHAN, Demolition Contractor, New Orleans, LA
Developed demolition bid for a chemical plant.
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, CINCINNATI, OHIO
Retained by the EPA to take part in a Peer Review Panel for suggested new regulation for asbestos abatement procedures in demolition operations. The regulation which did pass would have let contractors demolish small structure and houses leaving no friable asbestos in place during demolition.
The new methods proposed would have been much more expensive than present methods without any increase safety in methods.
CUH2A HILL, Atlanta, Georgia
Developed methods and costs for the demolition of seven building on the campus of the Center for Disease Control, Atlanta.
WRECKING CORPORATION OF AMERICA, Washington, D.C.
Monitored and developed demolition methods for large boiler plant located
Children's Hospital, Boston, MA.
WISCONSIN ELECTRIC, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Developed costs for the demolition of the large Lakeside Power Plant.
AMIS CONSTRUCTION, Phoenix, Arizona
Developed costs and demolition methods for a section of the Good
Samaritan Hospital, Phoenix.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, San Francisco, CA
Evaluated asbestos removal at the Kaiser Medical Center,
Honolulu, Hawaii.
TOWN OF BRAINTREE, MASSACHUSETTS
Developed demolition costs for the General Dynamics Shipyard.
AZCON, INC., Stone Mountain, Georgia
Prepared demolition bid for a large oil refinery in Kansas City.
DOLBEN APPRAISAL & CONSULTING CO., Boston, MA
Developed costs for the demolition of the Greyhound Bus Terminal,
Boston, MA.
ALGONQUIN GAS TRANSMISSION COMPANY, Boston, MA
Developed demolition costs for their Freetown, MA transmission facility.
AMAX CORP., Hartford, Connecticut
Developed demolition costs for the Union 76 mine facility, Questa, NM.
STRUCTURAL STEEL FABRICATORS, Linthicum Heights, Maryland
Developed demolition costs for extra work performed at the Springfield Mall.
SAINT ELIZABETH'S HOSPITAL, Boston, MA
Prepare the demolition specifications for a large church connected to the hospital.
IVAN BRICE ARCHITECTURE & URBANISM, New York City, N.Y.
Developed demolition methods and cost estimates for a 7 story concrete structure used
by Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center.
MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL, Boston, MA
Developed demolition costs for the Charles Street Jail, which they purchased for hospital development.
MCGINLEY & HART ASSOCIATES, Boston, Massachusetts
Develop selective demolition costs associated with the moving of large historic warehouse at the former Charlestown Navy Yard.
DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY, HOUSTON, TX
Develop demolition costs and methods for the demolition of there subsidiary Hampshire Chemical Co., Nashua, N.H.
VRW CONSTRUCTION CO., AUSTIN, TX
Developed OSHA Demolition Survey for an interior demolition project they had at Southwestern University.
BARGE WAGGONER SUMNER & CANNON, INC.
Develop estimated costs and quantities for the demolition of the
20-story Baptist Memorial Hospital, Memphis, TN. This building was
imploded in the fall of 2005.
This is largest hospital complex ever imploded in the United States.
OCI Chemical Co., Green River, Wyoming
Develop demolition methods and costs for soda ash mine and
plant. This project was undertaken so the facility would meet state
licensing requirements.
IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY, AMES, IOWA
Worked with the engineering firm, Howard R. Green, Cedar Rapids, Iowa to develop program
for the implosion of two 12-story residence halls.
This required preparation of specifications, cost estimates, demolition methods, disposal
requirements, out of state bidder list, and walk-through for bidders.
VETERANS MEDICAL CENTER, Memphis, TN
Develop budget estimates, demolition methods, time frame, and review specifications for this project. Worked with the architectural/engineering firm JMGR, Inc., Memphis. This project required removing nine stories from the fourteen story medical center. The medical center had to stay in operation while demolition was going on.
South Carolina Electric & Gas Co., Jenkinsville, SC
Develop costs and methods for the demolition of a 1958 atomic
reactor built for the United States Atoms for Peace Program.
LEGAL AND EXPERT WITNESS SERVICES
ANREWS KURTH, LLP, AUSTIN, TEXAS
Worked with consumer energy group in a case against utility company that was
going for a large rate increase. I evaluated the demolition costs for 13 power plants both fossil and gas.
USX CORPORATION, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Prepared defense in a lawsuit brought against USX for the demolition of three
large steel plants in Alabama, Pennsylvania and Illinois.
CITY OF OMAHA, NEBRASKA
Investigate the implosion of three buildings that when imploded caused the collapse of a nearby building that was not involved in the demolition project. My investigation determined the cause of the accident. Retained by the city law department.
DOW CHEMICAL, Midland, Michigan
Review depositions of legal action against Dow for a demolition worker killed while cutting steel.
ROBINS, ZELLE, LARSON & KAPLAN, Minneapolis, MN
Analyzed demolition procedures used in the demolition of the
demolition of the Donaldson's Department Store, Minneapolis. This
store was destroyed by fire during demolition causing over $90 million
in damage to adjacent property. This was the largest fire in Minneapolis
history.
DAMES & MOORE, Consulting Engineers, San Francisco, California
Assisted in the development of the "Handbook for the Rapid Visual Screening
Of Earthquake Hazardous Buildings", for nation-wide use. The Federal
Emergency Management Agency, Washington, D.C., sponsored this project.
MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, Cambridge, MA
Developed a nation wide profile of demolition debris deposited in landfills
for Dr. David Gordon Wilson. This project was sponsored by the National
Science Foundation, Washington, D.C
CITY OF LOS ANGELES, CA
Assisted the office of the City Attorney in the case of Porter, Et al. V. City of
Los Angeles. This involved developing a defense against a suit by tenants of a
medical building that was condemned and demolished after the l994 earthquake.
This involved demolition and public safety issues.
GENERAL MOTORS and BIERLEIN INDUSTRIAL SERVICES COMPANY, Los Angeles, California
Preparation of defense brought against General Motors and Bierlein by a sub-
Contractor on the demolition of the General Motors Plant, Los Angeles. Counsel
For General Motors was Easton & Schiff.
KASDORF, LEWIS & SWIETLIK, S.C., MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN
Evaluated the demolition procedures used in the demolition of a plant building
that resulted in the fire and collapse of an adjacent building that was not
scheduled for demolition.
GOLDBERT, KOHN, BELL, BLACK, ROSENBLOOM, & MORTIZ, LTD., Chicago, Illinois
Helped to develop defense in a lawsuit brought against their client by a Chicago
demolition firm. This involved reconstructing their alleged potential demolition costs.
BUCKINGHAM, DOOLITTLE & BURROUGHS, Canton, Ohio
Evaluated the safety practices of a sub-contractor that resulted in one of his
employees falling from piping during the dismantling of equipment at the
Colgate Palmolive Power Plant.
BOSTON REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, Boston, Massachusetts
Analyzed contractor requisitions in legal action.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, San Francisco, CA
Reviewed asbestos material and consulted with Agency for Hazardous Waste
Investigation into the demolition of the Kaiser Steel Plant, Fontana, CA.
ERIC KNUNKES, NUSBAUM, STEIN, GOLDSTEIN, BRONSTEIN & COMPEAU, Succasunna, N.J.
Assisted in the development of legal defense in two demolition related workers
compensation cases.
RUTHERFORD, LAYE & JACOBS, San Antonio, Texas
Assisted in the development in a legal case for the collapse of a safety barricade
at a demolition site that resulted in the death of a pedestrian.
FISH & RICHARDSON, Washington, D.C.
Appeared as an expert witness in legal action concerning patent rights for debris
chute.
MARRONE, ROBINSON, FREDERICK & FOSTER, Burbank, California
Gary Young v. Bierlein Industries, Inc. Liability case concerning a worker that fell
through a debris chute while removing lead contaminated roofing material at the
Southgate, G.M. Plant, Southgate, Los Angeles.
FOWLER, SCHIMBERG & GOWMAN, Denver, Colorado
Helped prepare defense in legal action of Tasker v. Caterpillar, Inc., Wagner Equipment
Company, and Balderson, Inc. This case involved and equipment operator that lost part
of a limb in an unusual equipment accident.
ZACKS, LUPER & WOLINETZ, L.P.A., Columbus, Ohio
Brown & Amurri v. City of Columbus. Evaluated the demolition procedures of the former
Columbus Hotel. During the demolition damage was done to adjacent property
CNA INSURANCE CO., Brea, California
Evaluated insurance claim at Disneyland, Anaheim, California. This claim was the result
of a fire at the Lincoln Theater Building while certain selective demolition was in progress.
HEAFITZ & SULLIVAN, Newton, MA
Provide expert witness services in a legal action suit against the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts regarding the demolition of the Worcester State Hospital.
OSHAN DEMOLISHING COMPANY, Houston, Texas
Assisted Olshan's attorney's Stinson, Mag & Fizzel, Kansas City, Missouri. This was a
suit by Armco, Inc. v. Olshan for the demolition of the Armco Plant in Kansas City, MO.
It involved alleged work not completed by Olshan.
TEKELL, BOOK, MATHEWS & LIMMER, L.L.P., Houston, Texas
Analyzed demolition procedures used by Demolition Services, Inc. to demolish a
walkway at the Northline Mall, Houston, TX. The contractors actions resulted in the
death of three people
PEABODY & ARNOLD, BOSTON, MA
Consulted on the workmen's compensation case of a Mr. Jeffrey McNulty who
was injured when he fell through a wooden mezzanine he was demolishing.
SACHS, MAITLIN, FLEMING, GREENE, WILSON & MAROTTE, West Orange, NJ
Expert witness in a legal action concerning Commonwealth Demolition & Dismantling. The
contractor laid a fire hose across a street to wet down the demolition process and a cab drove over
it moving the hose in a violent action that caused serious injury to a person on the site.
ODE, STROUD & KLEIMAN , P.C., LANSING, MI
At a local mall under renovation a worker was seriously injured when a wall
fell on the worker. Sections of the exterior wall was previously demolished and
remaining wall, that fell, wasn't properly braced to with stand wind force.
PORTSMOUTH NAVAL HOSPITAL, PORTSMOUTH, VA
Develop demolition costs for the interior demolition of this hospital after the demolition
contractor refused to return to finish the project. This project was for AIG Insurance Co. and
Kellogg, LLC, Denver, Colorado. Also furnished bid list of contractors to finish project.
SPRIGGS & HOLLINGSWORTH, WASHINGTON, D.C.
Assisted in developing a legal action on behalf of Building One, a large cleaning
company with projects in New Hampshire. In the course of their activities they
started a demolition firm to do interior demolition with the name Interstate
Business Services. The firm lost over $10 million and sued their fidelity insurance
carrier under their coverage that afford protection against employee fraud. They
collected approximately $4 million from their carrier.
GRIMALDI, PEARSON & WEYAND, P.C., Saginaw, Michigan
Gary E. Hool, Deceased v William A. Kibbe & Associates. Mr. Hool was killed
while cleaning hot spots from a kiln. In removing the hot spots the interior brick liner
of the kiln collapsed burying Mr. Hool under heavy debris. The cause of the
accident was improper shoring.
WEINBERG, WHEELER, HUDGINS, GUNN & DIAL, LLC, Atlanta, Georgia
Expert witness, representing a defendant, in a legal action concerning the release
dust during demolition that allegedly caused damage to children in an adjacent
school building. The dust was later identified as containing asbestos.
MUNISTERI, SPROTT, RIGBY, NEWSON, & ROBBINS, Houston, Texas
This case involved a demolition contractor that attempted to topple a structure
in a chemical plant and when it collapsed it killed a worker who was cutting the
support from under the structure.
HOWD & LUDORF, Hartford, Connecticut
This case involved the demolition a garage. During the demolition the garage
collapsed on top of the contractor and one of his workers. One of the workers
sued the owner of the garage for compensation.
WEINBERG, WHEELER, HUDGINS, GUNN &DEAL, LLC., Atlanta, Georgia
Retonia Knott, et. all. v. The Detroit Board of Education. Helped develop defense
regarding the release of air borne asbestos during the demolition of a apartment
building next to a school. The work was done by Adamo Wrecking Co., Detroit.
LAW OFFICE OF PAUL D. STOCKLER, Anchorage, Alaska
Vicky Powell vs. Durango Services. Developed a defense for Durango Services
Ms. Powell who claimed that Durango Services during the demolition of the
Alaska Native Medical Center caused sever damage to her rental properties that
were around 300 ft. away from her property. Traveled to Alaska to testify.
MUNISTERI, SPROTT, RIGBY, NEWSOM, & ROBBINS, Houston, TX
Ivy v. Southern Ionics - Industrial accident where the plaintiff was cutting a vessel
in an industrial plant when it collapsed on top him. The collapse resulted in the
death of plaintiff.
GRIMALDI, PARSON & WEYAND, P.C., SAGINAW, MI
Gary E. Hool, deceased v. William Kibbe Associates. The plaintiff was repairing
cracks in a rotary kiln from the inside when the liner collapsed killed him. I was
An expert for the plaintiff.
Personal History
EMPLOYMENT
The Duane Corporation
President, 1968 to present
MEMBERSHIPS & ASSOCIATIONS
Founder & Former Executive Director
National Demolition Association
Fellow -Institute of Demolition Engineers, London, England
EDUCATION
Babson College, Wellesley, MA
B.S.B.A.
Wentworth Institute, Boston, MA
Construction courses
OTHER ACTIVITIES
Former Publisher
