| In the construction industry, there is always going | | | | what more can we say? The first thing to worry |
| to be a time in which it becomes absolutely | | | | about are ladders, and OSHA requires that they |
| necessary to demolish a building. When it is | | | | be placed a certain distance away from walls |
| determined that this is a necessary step, there | | | | when in use. In other words you should not be |
| are a number of procedures that need to be | | | | doing a vertical climb during your demolition. |
| followed. They might seem annoying or irritating, | | | | Scaffolding is yet another important part, and is |
| but in truth they have been established and | | | | even more dangerous. You need to first of all |
| enforced by OSHA(Occupational Safety & | | | | make sure it is secured properly, and secondly |
| Health Administration) so as to keep us safe on | | | | make sure you have some sort of fall protection |
| the job at all times. In essence, the rules exists so | | | | in place. A harness of some sort would be |
| that we can go home to see our friends and | | | | acceptable so that if you do fall, you won't fall |
| families at the end of the day. | | | | very far. |
| It is impossible to cover every single regulation | | | | 4)Training-We cannot stress enough that you |
| set forth by OSHA, but we will try to cover a | | | | need to train your demolition workers. There are |
| few of the basics. By the time you are done | | | | many construction companies working under the |
| reading this you will have a basic idea of what | | | | table that don't bother to train their workers, and |
| OSHA expects of you, and you will be able to | | | | this is a growing problem. It is dangerous, and can |
| implement this in your next demolition job. Some | | | | lead to severe accidents. |
| of these are common sense, but bear with us. | | | | 5)Chutes-Chutes can be used to dispose of trash, |
| 1)Head Protection-OSHA requires all demolition | | | | but understand that if they are placed at more |
| workers to wear some sort of head protection. | | | | than a forty five degree angle, they must be |
| This protection needs to include a hard hat that is | | | | enclosed. This is to protect both your workers, |
| rated for the job at hand. There are actually | | | | and any pedestrians that may be walking by. |
| many different types of hard hats, and you want | | | | There is just too much of a chance of accident |
| to make sure you have one which can handle | | | | with an open chute. |
| falling debris. | | | | These are a few of the safety rules that OSHA |
| 2)Respiratory Protection-In many cases you will | | | | has set forth. Those who work in construction |
| work in an environment where the air is not safe | | | | and demolition will come to know that name well, |
| to breathe. Typically these are areas in which the | | | | and though they might be annoyed by all the |
| air is filled with sawdust, or even the deadly | | | | pesky rules, they will eventually come to |
| asbestos. Make sure you have equipped a mask | | | | understand that OSHA only exists to protect |
| so that you don't have to worry about inhaling | | | | them. All of these rules have a purpose, and |
| any harmful materials. | | | | every person will have to come to terms with |
| 3)Fall Protection-Scaffolds, roofs, cranes, ladders, | | | | that at some point or another. |