Selection and Oversight of Demolition Contractors and Consultants

On this page 

• Factors in selecting contractors and consultants
• Oversight of contractors and consultants
• Related publication​​​​​​

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Factors in selecting contractors and consultants

Experience

It is important to consider the amount and type of experience of the contractors and consultants that are being considered for work on a project. Here are some approaches:

• Get references from those who hired them for similar work in the past.
• Talk to those who used a particular contractor in the past.
• Find out how a contractor responded to complaints about their work, such as complaints from neighbors about noise or dust.
• Consider the level of experience, training and the certifications or licenses held by the contractor/consultant and their employees.
• Past experience doing work in a specific geographic area may be an important consideration because of the value of familiarity with:
  • Local conditions
  • Local building practices
  • Building materials commonly used in the local area
  • Local requirements

Compliance History 

Check on past performance with agencies such as the local pollution control agency, the agency responsible for worker safety, the agency that licenses or accredits contractors and workers (if applicable for the work being done). It may also be worthwhile to ask if the firm has been warned or cited for any health and safety or environmental issues or violations or if they have ever taken any other action against the contractor or consultant for those types of issues: Require bidders to have any required licenses or accreditation.

Subcontracting

If a selected contractor uses subcontractors it may be worth considering what controls are in place in the selection of subcontractors, the potential oversight controls for a subcontractors’ work, and if subcontracting is addressed in bid documents, contracts, or equivalent procurement documents. 

Conflict of interest

Avoid conflicts of interest (potential or actual). The contractor hired to assess an environmental issue (e.g. asbestos) should not be connected with the company that performs that remediation or abatement work. Using two different companies avoids conflict of interest. The person who assesses the environmental problem should not stand to benefit financially from any work done to resolve the problem.

Oversight of contractors and consultants

When a local government hires contractors to provide services, it is still liable for violations of environmental regulations. Oversight is important because it protects the public and the environment, it ensures that services paid for are completed, and that the work complies with regulatory requirements. 

Even if a local governments utilizes their own employees, oversight can be useful to determine if:

• Personnel on staff have the necessary skills to oversee work such as asbestos abatement or lead paint removal.
• Any specialized training and safety equipment they will need to enter enclosed spaces where the work is done.
• There are enough staff to oversee multiple demolition projects that are happening at the same time.

Oversight can be very broad. Residents and other interested parties may be concerned about work that contractors are performing. Responsible parties should oversee how contractors are working with the local community to prevent problems and address concerns. Community involvement is an important part in a project’s success. The community will look to local government or other responsible parties to be accountable for all aspects of a large-scale residential demolition project. An example of this is work site complaints, including noise and dust, and how contractors and others are held accountable. 

Responsible parties may choose to hire a third party (e.g. an industrial hygienist) to oversee work being done by contractors you've hired. To avoid conflict of interest, it's important that any third party be independent of the contractors whose work they're overseeing.

Related Publication

Managing your Environmental Responsibilities: A Planning Guide for Construction and Development (EPA-305-B-04-003, April 2005) contains lists of questions to ask before work begins about who will be responsible for various activities.