Safety Performance KPIs in Demolition Projects in Dubai

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Safety Performance Indicators in Demolition Projects and How to Monitor Them Monthly

Demolition in Dubai is no longer a “break and remove” activity. It is a highly engineered operation. It is heavily regulated. The operation is conducted in a dense urban environment. This often occurs next to live roads, operating buildings, and critical infrastructure.

Dubai Municipality has issued a Code of Construction Safety Practice and a unified Dubai Building Code. These codes demand contractors to adopt systematic safety management. This includes risk assessments, method statements, protection of the public, and records of inspections and training. Dubai Municipality+2Dubai Municipality+2

For a serious client, consultant, or developer, it is not enough to hear “we care about safety.” They want numbers:

• How many incidents happened this month?
• How many hours were worked without a lost-time injury?
• What percentage of concrete cutting areas were scanned with GPR before coring?
• How many daily inspections were actually completed on site?

These numbers are Safety Performance Indicators (SPIs) or Safety KPIs. They are the backbone of a modern safety culture and a powerful differentiator between an ordinary demolition contractor and a high-end, engineered demolition specialist such as Stone Beam Demolition.

Stone Beam Demolition operates across Dubai and the UAE, delivering:

In this in-depth guide, we will show you:

• Engineered building demolition and selective demolition
• Concrete cutting, slab cutting, and core drilling
• GPR concrete scanning and non-destructive testing
• Robotic demolition and high-reach excavator demolition
• Hydrodemolition and specialist dismantling

• What demolition safety performance indicators are
• Which KPIs make sense specifically for demolition projects in Dubai
• How to build a monthly monitoring framework
• How Stone Beam Demolition can use safety KPIs to protect people, assets, and reputation—while giving clients real confidence in choosing the right demolition partner

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2. Demolition in Dubai: Risk Landscape and Regulatory Context

2.1 High-Risk Nature of Demolition in a Dense Urban Environment

Most demolition projects in Dubai and the UAE are located in heavily developed areas. These areas include towers, villas, schools, malls, and main roads. They also entail sensitive infrastructure like utilities corridors and metro routes.

Typical demolition risks include:

• Uncontrolled collapse of structural elements
• Flying debris and falling objects impacting workers or the public
• Dust, noise and vibration affecting nearby residents and businesses
• Striking live services (cables, water lines, gas pipes) during breaking, cutting or coring
• Working at height during facade stripping or floor-by-floor removal
• Handling hazardous materials, like asbestos or chemical residues, in older facilities

Because of this risk profile, demolition projects demand:

• Detailed method statements
• Sequenced engineered demolition plans
• Robust public protection and traffic management
• Strict control of concrete cutting and coring
• Continuous monitoring and supervision

All of these measures must be measured and tracked. That is where demolition safety performance indicators come in.

2.2 Dubai Municipality Requirements and Safety Codes

Dubai Municipality’s construction safety framework sets out clear obligations for contractors, including those involved in demolition works. The Code of Construction Safety Practice requires employers to provide safe working conditions, protective equipment, and effective control measures for construction and demolition operations. Dubai Municipality+1

The Dubai Building Code also ties design and execution to safety, including structural stability during construction, alteration, and demolition stages. Dubai Municipality

Practical implications for demolition contractors:

• You must have a demolition method statement and risk assessment approved by the consultant / client.
• You must implement site safety management, including inspections, permits to work, and toolbox talks.
• You should keep documented evidence (logs, records, reports) to show compliance.

Having a structured set of safety KPIs allows Stone Beam Demolition to:

• Prove compliance to Dubai Municipality, consultants, and clients
• Detect early warning signs before an incident happens
• Benchmark performance across multiple demolition projects in the UAE

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3. What Are Demolition Safety Performance Indicators (SPIs/KPIs)?

3.1 Simple Definition

A safety performance indicator in demolition is any measurable value that helps you understand how well your project or company is performing in terms of safety.

• If you can count it, track it, and compare it month-by-month, it can become a KPI.
• Safety KPIs turn vague statements like “we are safe” into clear performance numbers such as “0.8 incidents per 200,000 man-hours”.

3.2 Lagging vs Leading Indicators

Safety indicators in demolition can be grouped into two key categories:

A) Lagging Indicators

These measure events that have already happened:

• Number of recordable injuries
• Number of lost-time injuries (LTIs)
• Number of medical treatment cases
• Number of damage incidents (plant, equipment, structures)
• Number of environmental incidents (spills, illegal dumping, etc.)

Lagging indicators are important because they show the outcomes of your safety management system. However, they are reactive: they only change after something goes wrong.

B) Leading Indicators

These measure preventive activities and how well your safety controls are being implemented:

• Number (and percentage) of daily safety inspections completed
• Percentage of workers trained and certified for demolition, working at height, etc.
• Number of toolbox talks and attendance ratio
• Percentage of GPR scanning done before cutting or coring
• Percentage of tasks started with a valid permit to work

Leading indicators are powerful because they give you a predictive picture. If leading indicators are weak (few inspections, low training coverage, poor PTW compliance), you know that lagging indicators (incidents) will likely get worse.

A robust demolition safety KPI system uses both:

• Lagging KPIs to understand outcomes
• Leading KPIs to manage proactive performance

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4. Core Lagging Safety KPIs for Demolition Projects

In demolition, certain lagging indicators are widely recognized and easily comparable between projects.

4.1 Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR) / Incident Frequency Rate (IFR)

Definition: Number of recordable incidents per standard unit of working hours (usually per 200,000 or 1,000,000 man-hours).

Formula (per 200,000 hours):

TRIR / IFR = (Number of recordable incidents × 200,000) ÷ Total hours worked

Where:

• Recordable incidents include all incidents that require at least medical treatment, restricted work or lost time (depending on your company’s definition).

Example (monthly):

• 3 recordable incidents
• 150,000 hours worked in the month

TRIR = (3 × 200,000) ÷ 150,000 = 4.0

The lower this number, the better. Stone Beam Demolition can set long-term targets (for example, TRIR < 1.0 over 12 months) and track progress per project.

4.2 Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate (LTIFR)

Definition: Number of injuries leading to at least one full shift lost, per 200,000 working hours.

Formula:

LTIFR = (Number of LTIs × 200,000) ÷ Total hours worked

This indicator is extremely important for clients and insurers, because it reflects incidents with a clear impact on productivity and cost.

4.3 Severity Rate

Definition: Total number of lost days due to injury, per 200,000 working hours.

Formula:

Severity Rate = (Lost days due to injuries × 200,000) ÷ Total hours worked

A company can have a relatively low number of incidents, but if each incident leads to long absences, the severity rate will show that the consequences are serious.

4.4 Number of Property Damage Incidents

In demolition projects, property damage can be expensive and reputationally damaging:

• Impact on neighbouring buildings
• Damage to façade, glass, fences, or landscaping
• Collapse of temporary supports or scaffolding
• Damage to client’s equipment or interior finishes

Tracking the number of property damage incidents per month gives a clear picture of how controlled the demolition process truly is.

4.5 Number of Service Strikes and Near Misses

For concrete cutting, core drilling, and GPR-related work, a critical KPI is:

• Number of utilities/service strikes (cables, pipes, ducts, etc.) per month

Combined with:

• Number of near misses involving services, i.e., where GPR scanning or a cautious trial opening prevented a strike at the last moment.

Service strikes are a major risk highlighted by concrete scanning and GPR scanning companies in the UAE; they emphasize non-destructive testing to prevent such costly errors. Prime Edge Technical Services LLC+4Demolition Dubai+4BrillScan+4

Stone Beam Demolition can use this KPI to prove to clients that its integration of GPR scanning and engineered concrete cutting provides real safety benefits.

4.6 Environmental and Public Complaints

At urban demolition sites, it is useful to track:

• Number of environmental incidents (e.g., spills, improper waste handling)
• Number of dust / noise / traffic complaints from neighbours or authorities

This helps demonstrate that demolition is being carried out responsibly and in line with Dubai’s broader environmental and urban development standards. Dubai Land Department+1

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5. Leading Safety KPIs Tailored to Demolition and Concrete Cutting

Leading KPIs are where a sophisticated demolition contractor can truly stand out. Below are key indicators that Stone Beam Demolition can track monthly.

5.1 Safety Inspections and Audit Compliance

KPIs:

• Number of planned site safety inspections (per month)
• Number actually completed
• Inspection completion rate (%) = (Completed ÷ Planned) × 100

Types of inspections:

• Daily pre-start checks by supervisors
• Weekly HSE inspections by the safety officer
• Monthly audits by project management or corporate HSE

Target for a professional demolition contractor like Stone Beam Demolition should be ≥ 95–100% completion.

5.2 Toolbox Talks and Safety Meeting Attendance

Toolbox talks (TBTs) are short, focused safety briefings given at the start of a shift or before a high-risk activity (e.g., starting a new demolition sequence, launching heavy concrete cutting works).

KPIs:

• Number of TBTs conducted per month
• Average number of attendees per TBT
• Attendance rate (%) = Attendees ÷ Total workforce × 100

This KPI shows whether demolition crews are genuinely engaged and informed before starting work each day.

5.3 Training and Certification Coverage

In demolition, training is not optional. Operators of high-reach excavators, robotic demolition machines, core drilling rigs, and concrete cutting tools must be trained and certified. Leading demolition contractors in Dubai highlight qualified personnel and equipment in their marketing. Core Cutting Demolition UAE+3Orsu Demolition+3Wemts+3

KPIs:

• Overall training coverage (%)
  • = (Number of workers with valid HSE / demolition training ÷ Total workforce) × 100
• Specialist training coverage (%) for:
  • Working at height
  • Lifting operations
  • Confined spaces
  • Asbestos awareness (where relevant)
  • Concrete cutting and coring
  • GPR scanning equipment

Setting targets such as “100% of operators trained and certified for their equipment” sends a strong message to clients.

5.4 Permit to Work (PTW) Compliance

Activities such as:

• Demolition near live services
• Work at height
• Hot works (cutting, welding)
• Confined space entry
• Heavy lifting of beams and slabs

should all be controlled by a Permit to Work system.

KPIs:

• Number of PTW-controlled activities carried out in the month
• Number of valid permits issued and closed properly
• PTW compliance rate (%) = Valid permits ÷ PTW-activities × 100

Stone Beam Demolition can require 100% PTW compliance for high-risk demolition activities.

5.5 GPR Scanning Coverage Before Cutting and Coring

GPR concrete scanning has become a key differentiator for safe concrete cutting and coring services in Dubai. Multiple specialist providers highlight its importance to avoid cutting through reinforcement, post-tension cables, and hidden services. Lyca Survey+4Demolition Dubai+4BrillScan+4

Stone Beam Demolition already offers concrete scanning services using high-accuracy GPR to detect risks before cutting or drilling, reducing the chance of injuries and service strikes. SBDemolition

KPIs:

• Total area (m²) of slabs/walls where cutting or coring is planned
• Area scanned with GPR before cutting/coring
• GPR coverage (%) = Scanned area ÷ Planned cutting area × 100

Aim for 90–100% GPR coverage in sensitive zones (near services, PT-slabs, critical beams).

5.6 Equipment Pre-Start Checks and Defect Close-Out

Heavy demolition equipment—excavators, breakers, high-reach machines, robotic demolition units, and cutting rigs—must be inspected daily.

KPIs:

• Number of pre-start checklists submitted vs planned (completion %)
• Number of defects recorded
• Percentage of critical defects closed within 24 hours

This ensures that plant and equipment used in demolition are always fit for purpose, directly reducing the risk of mechanical failures and incidents.

5.7 Housekeeping and Site Orderliness

Demolition sites can easily become cluttered with debris, offcuts, cables, and hoses—creating trip hazards and blocking emergency routes.

KPIs:

• Monthly housekeeping score (using a standard checklist and rating system)
• Number of housekeeping non-conformities raised vs closed

Stone Beam Demolition can implement a scoring system (e.g., 0–100) and track the average monthly housekeeping score for each site.

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6. How to Build a Practical Monthly Safety KPI Monitoring Framework

A KPI is only useful if it can be measured easily, reviewed regularly, and acted upon. Here is a step-by-step framework that Stone Beam Demolition can apply on all its projects in Dubai and the UAE.

Step 1 – Define Safety Objectives with the Client and Consultant

At project start-up, during the kick-off meeting, agree on:

• Overall safety goals, e.g.:
  • Zero fatalities
  • Zero service strikes
  • TRIR < 1.0 across the project
• Project-specific priorities, such as:
  • Protection of nearby residences and traffic
  • Dust and noise control for live hotels or malls
  • Hazardous materials management in old industrial facilities
• Reporting format and frequency, e.g. safety KPIs included in monthly progress reports

Step 2 – Select the Right KPI Set for the Project Type

Not all demolition projects are the same:

• High-rise building demolition in a dense area
  • Strong focus on collapse control, debris containment, vibration, and public safety
• Selective demolition and strip-out inside a live building
  • Strong focus on noise, dust, and service protection
• Industrial demolition (factories, tanks, plants)
  • Strong focus on hazardous materials, confined spaces, and explosions

Stone Beam Demolition can create a core KPI set used in every project:

• TRIR / LTIFR / Severity rate
• Number of property damage incidents
• Number of service strikes
• Number of environmental incidents
• Inspection completion %
• Training coverage %
• PTW compliance %
• Toolbox talk attendance %

Then add project-specific KPIs, for example:

• Vibration exceedances per month
• Dust exceedances or complaints
• GPR scanning % for structural modifications
• Number of asbestos/hazardous material incidents (target zero)

Step 3 – Define Data Sources and Data Owners

For each KPI, clearly identify:

• Where does the data come from?
  • Incident logs
  • Time sheets / manpower records
  • PTW register
  • Training matrix
  • GPR scanning reports
  • Daily inspection forms
  • Complaint and environmental logs
• Who is responsible for recording it?
  • Site engineer
  • HSE officer
  • Site supervisor
  • Project manager

Step 4 – Build a Simple Monthly Safety Dashboard

Even an Excel-based dashboard can be very powerful if used consistently. Typical elements:

• KPI name and definition
• Current month value
• Previous month value
• Year-to-date average
• Target value
• Traffic-light indicator (green / amber / red)

Stone Beam Demolition can maintain:

• A project-level dashboard, updated monthly
• A company-wide dashboard, comparing projects and identifying best practices

Step 5 – Run Monthly Safety Performance Review Meetings

At least once per month, Stone Beam Demolition should hold a Project Safety Performance Review Meeting involving:

• Project manager
• Site engineers and supervisors
• HSE officer / HSE manager
• Representative of the client or consultant (if appropriate)

Agenda:

1. Review of incidents and near misses
2. Review of lagging KPIs (TRIR, LTIFR, damages, etc.)
3. Review of leading KPIs (inspections, training, PTW, GPR coverage)
4. Discussion of trends (improving, stable, deteriorating)
5. Identification of root causes behind weak indicators
6. Agreement on corrective actions and deadlines

Actions should be tracked to closure; otherwise, the KPI system becomes a paper exercise.

Step 6 – Continual Improvement and Lessons Learned

A strong monitoring system is not static. Stone Beam Demolition can:

• Add new KPIs when new risks appear (e.g. new equipment or a new demolition method is introduced)
• Retire KPIs that are no longer relevant
• Use monthly KPI trends to fine-tune method statements and risk controls

This supports Dubai Municipality’s emphasis on continuous compliance and safe construction practices. Dubai Municipality+2Lexis Middle East+2

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7. Role-Based Responsibilities for Monthly Safety KPI Monitoring

7.1 Stone Beam Demolition Management

• Approve the company-wide list of safety KPIs
• Set minimum targets for all projects (TRIR, LTIFR, etc.)
• Allocate budget for training, equipment, and digital tools
• Review project safety dashboards at executive level

7.2 Project Manager

• Own the project’s overall safety performance
• Ensure accurate and timely data collection
• Include safety KPIs in monthly reports to the client and consultant
• Approve and prioritize corrective actions arising from KPI reviews

7.3 HSE Manager / HSE Officer

• Design and maintain KPI definitions and data collection tools
• Train site supervisors and engineers on how to record data
• Maintain incident logs and PTW registers
• Drive monthly safety review meetings
• Provide professional recommendations on improving weak indicators

7.4 Site Supervisors and Foremen

• Conduct daily inspections and record findings
• Ensure toolbox talks are held and attendance is captured
• Check that permits to work are in place before starting high-risk tasks
• Report all incidents and near misses promptly

7.5 Machine Operators and Site Workers

• Participate actively in toolbox talks and training
• Follow site rules and report unsafe conditions
• Use PPE and equipment as trained
• Report defects in demolition plant and tools immediately

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8. Practical Case Scenarios: How Stone Beam Demolition Uses Safety KPIs

To make this guide concrete, here are four realistic scenarios showing how Stone Beam Demolition might apply safety KPIs in Dubai projects.

Scenario 1 – High-Rise Building Demolition Near a Main Road

Project context:
A multi-storey commercial building must be demolished next to a busy arterial road with underground utilities. The client wants minimal disruption to traffic and zero incidents impacting road users.

Key KPIs selected:

• TRIR and LTIFR (monthly and cumulative)
• Number of property damage incidents
• Number of service strikes (target = 0)
• Vibration exceedances (if monitoring is installed)
• Daily inspection completion rate (%)
• Toolbox talk attendance rate (%)
• PTW compliance (%)

Monthly monitoring actions:

• Site supervisors submit daily inspection reports for scaffolds, barriers, and debris protection.
• HSE officer logs any near misses (e.g., object falling inside, but not outside, exclusion zones).
• GPR scanning is used before any breaking on slabs near underground utilities; scanning coverage (%) is tracked. Lyca Survey+3Demolition Dubai+3BrillScan+3
• All high-risk demolition phases (e.g., removal of large beams) require signed PTWs.

Result:
After six months, the project reports:

• Zero service strikes
• Zero recordable injuries
• Inspection completion consistently above 95%
• No property damage to adjoining structures

These numbers become a powerful line in Stone Beam Demolition’s future technical proposals.

Scenario 2 – Precision Concrete Cutting Inside an Occupied Tower

Project context:
Stone Beam Demolition is engaged to cut new openings in slabs and shear walls inside a live residential tower. Residents remain in place, and existing MEP services must not be interrupted.

Key KPIs:

• Number of concrete cutting / coring tasks completed
• GPR scanning coverage (%) for areas prior to cutting/coring
• Number of service strikes (target = 0)
• Number of dust / noise complaints from tenants
• PTW compliance (%) for all cutting and coring works

Monthly monitoring actions:

• GPR scanning performed for all structural elements where services may exist; robotic or track-mounted saws are then used for controlled cuts. Prime Edge Technical Services LLC+5Demolition Dubai+5BrillScan+5
• HSE officer logs each cutting task in a register, linking it to GPR reports and PTWs.
• Complaints from building management are logged, analysed, and used to adjust working hours or mitigation (noise blankets, additional dust control).

Result:

• GPR coverage reaches 100% for all structural cutting works
• No service strikes occur during the whole project
• Only minor, promptly resolved complaints are recorded

Again, these KPIs give objective evidence that Stone Beam Demolition delivers safe, precision demolition in live environments.

Scenario 3 – Industrial Demolition with Hazardous Materials

Project context:
Demolition of an old industrial facility, including tanks and process equipment with potential chemical residues.

Key KPIs:

• Number of hazardous material incidents (target = 0)
• Number of workers trained on hazardous materials and confined space entry
• PTW compliance (%) for hot work and confined spaces
• Environmental incident count and severity
• Waste segregation and disposal compliance rate

Monthly monitoring actions:

• Specialist surveys identify any hazardous materials before demolition.
• A strict PTW system is implemented for tank entry, cutting of pipelines, and hot works.
• Environmental KPIs are reviewed jointly with the client’s HSE team to ensure regulatory compliance in line with local orders relating to environmental protection. Dubai Land Department+1

Result:
The project achieves zero incidents involving hazardous substances and a clean environmental record, helping the client demonstrate compliance with local regulations and corporate ESG commitments.

Scenario 4 – Strip-Out Works Inside a Luxury Hotel

Project context:
Selective demolition (strip-out) of interiors within an operational luxury hotel in Dubai, with very low tolerance for noise and disruption.

Key KPIs:

• Number of dust/noise complaints from hotel management
• Compliance with agreed working hours (%)
• Housekeeping score (average monthly rating)
• Toolbox talk attendance (%)

Monthly monitoring actions:

• Daily briefings focus on controlling dust, noise, and protecting finishes.
• HSE officer uses a housekeeping checklist with a numeric score.
• Any complaint from hotel management is logged, investigated, and discussed during monthly KPI reviews.

Result:
Stone Beam Demolition completes the works with high client satisfaction, minimal disruption, and a strong KPI record that can be reused as a case study for similar high-end projects.

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9. Common Mistakes in Safety KPI Systems – and How to Avoid Them

1. Only tracking lagging indicators (injuries) and ignoring leading ones
   • Fix: Add proactive KPIs (inspections, training, PTW, GPR coverage) and give them equal weight in management review.
2. Over-complicating KPIs so the site team can’t understand them
   • Fix: Use plain language definitions and simple formulas. Provide a 1-page KPI guidance sheet.
3. Collecting data but not reviewing it monthly
   • Fix: Embed KPI review into existing monthly progress meetings; allocate 20–30 minutes specifically for safety performance.
4. Ignoring data quality
   • Fix: Spot-check logs and registers. Where figures look too perfect, verify with supervisors (to avoid under-reporting).
5. No clear corrective actions linked to weak indicators
   • Fix: For each KPI in the red zone, raise an action in the HSE action register with a responsible person and due date.
6. Not using KPIs in communication with clients and authorities
   • Fix: Include KPI summaries in monthly reports and final project close-out documents, showing trend charts and narrative analysis.

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10. FAQ – Safety Performance Indicators in Demolition Projects

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Related topic

1. Concrete cutting and drilling services in Dubai
2. GPR Concrete Scanning Services in UAE
3. CONTROLLED DEMOLITION
4. Dubai Demolition Permit and Safety Requirements