National Demolition Association/Occupational Safety and Health Administration: Health and Safety Alliance Renewal Announced Addressing the Demolition Industry

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) issued a January 18th Trade Release stating that it renewed an alliance with the National Demolition Association (“NDA”) which addresses the safety and health of workers in the demolition industry.

Demolition work is described as involving hazards associated within construction but also includes:

. . . additional hazards from unknown factors, such as changes or modifications that alter the original design, materials hidden within structural components, and unknown strength or weaknesses of construction materials, as well as hazards created by the demolition methods used.

The OSHA Alliance Program (“Alliance Program”) involves the establishment of formal relationships wiith groups committed to workers’ safety and health. Such groups can include:

• Trade and professional organizations
• Labor unions
• Educational institutions
• Community and faith-based groups
• Government agencies

OSHA and Alliance Program participants enter into a written agreement and collaborate in providing workers and employers with information, guidance, and resources to promote workplace safety and health.

Note that Alliance Program participants do not receive exemptions from OSHA inspections or any other enforcement benefits.

The OSHA/NDA Alliance Program involves a five-year agreement that will focus on developing safety and health training resources and seminars that focus on deconstruction and selective dismantling of building components for reuse, repurposing, recycling, and waste management.

OSHA states that the Alliance Program will address topics such as:

• Fall and heat illness prevention
• Recognizing hazardous materials
• Construction safety
• Protecting temporary workers

OSHA and NDA executed an original agreement in 2021 and developed products such as:

• Power plant demolition guide
• Guidelines for signage and door hanger use when notifying residential communities that will be impacted by demolition work
• Podcasts featuring OSHA Deputy Assistant Secretary for Safety and Health

NDA is described as a non-profit trade association comprising nearly 400 member companies that provide educational resources on structural demolition and dismantlement, industrial recovery, recycling, architectural salvage decontamination, asbestos abatement, and nuclear clean-up.

A copy of the OSHA Trade Release can be downloaded here.