OSHA, National Demolition Association renew safety alliance

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the National Demolition Association have 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 also will 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.

Since the alliance signed its original agreement in July 2021, it has developed several products, including a document on managing predictable hazards when preparing for and implementing power plant demolition, guidelines for signage and door hanger use when notifying residential communities that will be impacted by demolition work and a podcast featuring OSHA Deputy Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health Jim Frederick.

Demolition work involves many of the hazards associated with construction, but includes additional hazards from unknown factors, according to OSHA, 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.

The National Demolition Association is a nonprofit trade association comprising nearly 400 member companies nationally and internationally. The association provides educational resources on structural demolition and dismantlement, industrial recovery, recycling, architectural salvage decontamination, asbestos abatement and nuclear cleanup.

Through its Alliance Program, OSHA works with organizations such as trade and professional associations, labor unions, educational institutions, community and faith-based groups and government agencies to share information about OSHA’s initiatives and compliance assistance resources with workers and employers, and educates workers and employers about their rights and responsibilities.