HomeKnowledgeOSHA 1926 Subpart T — Demolition Safety
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OSHA 1926 Subpart T — Demolition Safety

Updated Mar 25, 2026
Demolition safety requirements: engineering survey, utility disconnection, structural stability during removal, debris handling.

Subpart T: Demolition. 1926.850: Preparatory operations — engineering survey of structure by competent person before demolition begins. Determine condition of framing, floors, walls, possibility of unplanned collapse. All utilities (electric, gas, water, sewer, steam) must be shut off, capped, or controlled outside the building. 1926.851: Stairs/passageways/ladders — safe access maintained throughout. 1926.852: Chutes — enclosed if materials discharged >20 ft, gate at bottom, no entry during dumping. 1926.855: Manual removal — workers not on walls/structures being removed. Section removed must not be weakened to point of collapse. 1926.856: Removal of walls/masonry sections/chimneys — prohibit undermining. Support remaining structure. 1926.857: Storage of materials — materials not stored within 6 ft of floor edge on walls being demolished. Loading capacity of floors verified. 1926.858: Removal of steel — column sections left standing must be braced. 1926.859: Mechanical demolition — wrecking ball, high-reach excavator, implosion — detailed plans, exclusion zones. Wall sheathing/cladding removed to height of machine reach before pulling. Pre-demolition: hazmat survey (asbestos, lead paint, PCBs, mercury) — abatement before demolition per EPA/NESHAP.

TAGS
OSHAdemolitionhazmatstructuralengineering-surveysafety
DETAILS
regulation
29 CFR 1926 Subpart T
standard number
1926.850-860
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