OSHA, National Demolition Association Renew Alliance to Protect Workers

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the National Demolition Association recently agreed to renew their alliance to improve the safety and health of workers in the demolition industry.

During the five-year agreement, the alliance will address industry hazards by developing safety and health training resources and seminars that focus on deconstruction and selective dismantlement of building components for reuse, repurposing, recycling and waste management. The alliance will also work with labor organizations, contractors and staffing associations, as needed, to share information in multiple languages and formats on a variety of topics including fall and heat illness prevention, recognizing hazardous materials, construction safety and protecting temporary workers.

Demolition work involves many of the hazards associated with construction, but includes additional hazards from unknown factors, such as changes or modifications that alter the original design, materials hidden within structural components, and unknown strengths or weaknesses of construction materials, as well as hazards created by the demolition methods used. Learn more about demolition hazards at osha.gov/demolition.