Does "Subpart T - Demolition" Apply to You?

Subpart T provides the requirements for demolition work. Are your employees involved in demolition work? If yes, then this subpart applies to you. The standard on preparatory operations provides requirements for an engineering survey of the structure by a competent person, controlling existing hazards, shoring and bracing for structures damaged by fire, flood, explosions or other related cause, services (i.e., electric, gas, water) being controlled, wall and floor openings, and protecting employee entrances. The standard on stairs, passageways and ladders  covers safe accessways and illumination requirements. The standard on chutes covers dropping of materials, use of gates, securing areas, and chute design and construction. 

The subpart also provides the standard for the removal of materials through floor openings that includes requirements pertaining to the size of openings cut into floors and weakened floors. The standard on removal of walls, masonry sections and chimneys provides the requirements for floor openings, weather, load-supporting members, supporting walls, and providing walkways and ladders. The manual removal of floors  standard provides requirements for openings cut in floors, removal of debris and floor arches, safe walkways, and stringer strength.

The removal of walls, floors, and material with equipment standard provides the requirements pertaining to the use of mechanical equipment, floor openings, and that the use of cranes, derricks, and other mechanical equipment must meet the requirements of subpart N - helicopters, hoists, elevators, and conveyors, subpart O - motor vehicles, mechanized equipment, and marine operations, and subpart CC - cranes and derricks in construction.   

The standard on removal of steel construction provides the requirements pertaining to planking after removal of floor arches, dismantling (i.e., column by column, tier by tier), not overstressing structural members, and compliance with subpart N - helicopters, hoists, elevators, and conveyors, and subpart CC - cranes and derricks in construction. It also provides the standard for the storage of waste material that includes requirements for floor loading, removal of flooring boards and floor arches, wood floor beams used for bracing, and blocking off storage space.

The mechanical demolition standard provides requirements pertaining to balling and clamming, demolition ball weight, competent person inspections and other demolition procedures. Lastly, the selective demolition by explosives standard requires compliance with subpart U - blasting and the use of explosives.

Additional related information can be found on the A-Z safety and health topics page for blasting and explosives.