Demolition preparatory operations

A competent person must perform an engineering survey before demolition begins and it must examine the condition of framing, floors, walls, and the potential for unplanned collapse of any portion of the structure (including adjacent structures where employees may be exposed). See the requirement in 1926.850(a).

• The employer must have written evidence that the survey was performed.
• “Competent person” means someone with the knowledge to identify hazards and authority to correct them; document the survey and keep it available for inspection.

(Reference: 1926.850(a).)

Yes — the engineering survey must also check any adjacent structure where employees may be exposed for conditions that could create hazards. The standard explicitly requires adjacent structures to be similarly checked. See 1926.850(a).

• If adjacent buildings could be affected by demolition activity, include them in the written survey and note needed protective actions.

Walls or floors must be shored or braced before employees work inside a damaged structure. 1926.850(b).

• Temporary supports should be designed or approved by a competent person to prevent collapse or sudden movement.
• Combine this requirement with the engineering survey from 1926.850(a).

All electric, gas, water, steam, sewer, and other service lines must be shut off, capped, or otherwise controlled outside the building line before demolition starts, and involved utility companies must be notified in advance. See 1926.850(c).

• If utilities must remain on for any reason, see 1926.850(d) for temporary relocation and protection requirements.

Yes — utilities can be maintained during demolition only if they are temporarily relocated as necessary and protected to prevent hazards. See 1926.850(d).

• Relocation and protection must prevent accidental contact, rupture, or energizing that could harm employees.
• Coordinate with utility providers when re-routing or protecting live services.

When the presence of hazardous chemicals, gases, explosives, or flammable materials is apparent or suspected, testing and purging must be performed and the hazard eliminated before demolition starts. See 1926.850(e).

• Conduct tests by qualified personnel and document results.
• If asbestos is suspected in building materials, follow asbestos requirements in 29 CFR 1926.1101; see OSHA's asbestos interpretation at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2024-11-14 for remediation coverage and precautions.

Any hazard from fragmentation of glass must be removed before employees are exposed. See 1926.850(f).

• Remove, barricade, or otherwise secure glass to prevent shards that could injure workers.
• Use appropriate PPE and controls during removal; see PPE hazard assessment guidance in OSHA's interpretation at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2024-03-28.

Openings where employees could fall through must be protected to a height of approximately 42 inches. See 1926.850(g).

• Use guardrails or equivalent barriers around openings.
• Ensure the protection is continuous during demolition operations in that area.

When debris is dropped through holes in the floor without chutes, the area below must be completely enclosed with barricades at least 42 inches high and set back at least 6 feet from the projected edge above; warning signs must be posted and removal in the lower area is not permitted until debris handling above stops. See 1926.850(h).

• The enclosure must prevent workers below from being struck by falling materials.
• Coordinate drop zones and posting with all crews working in the structure.

All floor openings not used as material drops must be covered with material strong enough to support any load that may be imposed and properly secured to prevent accidental movement. See 1926.850(i).

• Covers should be marked and secured; if removed temporarily, the opening must be guarded.
• This requirement works together with 1926.850(j) sequencing rules.

Except for limited preparatory work (like cutting chute holes or preparing storage space), demolition of exterior walls and floor construction must begin at the top and proceed downward, removing and dropping each story's material into storage space before starting the story below. See 1926.850(j).

• This sequencing reduces instability and the risk of premature collapse.
• Preparatory activities allowed at lower levels must still follow safety controls in other subsections.

Employee entrances to multi-story structures being demolished must be completely protected by sidewalk sheds or canopies (or both) that extend from the building face at least 8 feet and are at least 2 feet wider than the entrance (1 foot each side); canopies must support 150 pounds per square foot. See 1926.850(k).

• Sheds/canopies protect pedestrians and workers from falling debris and must be designed and constructed to carry the required live load.

If asbestos is suspected, the employer must identify and address it before demolition starts, and demolition asbestos-related work is likely covered by the construction asbestos standard, 29 CFR 1926.1101, which applies to demolition and remediation of asbestos-containing materials. See 1926.850(a) and OSHA's asbestos interpretation at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2024-11-14.

• Treat suspected asbestos as a hazard: test, abate, or control per 29 CFR 1926.1101 before uncontrolled disturbance.
• If Class I asbestos work is involved, follow respirator and protection rules clarified in OSHA's asbestos respirator interpretation at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2024-01-04.

Yes — when PPE is required to protect employees from demolition hazards, the employer must assess the workplace and provide a written certification of the hazard assessment if PPE will be required. See the PPE requirements and hazard assessment guidance in OSHA's interpretation at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2024-03-28 and apply the demolition preparatory requirements in 1926.850(e).

• The assessment should identify chemical, physical, and biological hazards (e.g., asbestos, hazardous residues, falling glass) and document PPE selection.
• Employers should seek alternatives to PPE when feasible (hierarchy of controls) and keep the written certification on file.

No — removal of materials in the lower area is not permitted until debris handling above ceases, and the lower area must be enclosed with barricades at least 42 inches high and set back at least 6 feet from the projected edge. See 1926.850(h).

• Post signs warning of falling materials at each level and enforce exclusion zones to protect workers below.

Floor covers must be made of material substantial enough to support any expected load and must be properly secured to prevent accidental movement. See 1926.850(i).

• Use positive fasteners or mechanical means so covers cannot shift under load.
• Mark covers clearly (e.g., "COVER — DO NOT REMOVE") and inspect them regularly during demolition operations.

No — except for limited preparatory tasks, demolition of exterior walls and floors must start at the top of the structure and proceed downward, removing each story's materials into storage space before beginning the next story below. See 1926.850(j).

• This top-down sequencing reduces instability risks; preparatory work like chute holes or storage prep are exceptions when necessary and safe.

Canopies protecting entrances must be capable of sustaining a load of 150 pounds per square foot to protect against falling debris and concentrated loads. See 1926.850(k).

• Ensuring this load capacity protects pedestrians and workers beneath from live and accumulated debris loads during demolition.
• Document design and load calculations and ensure canopies extend the required widths (1 foot each side) and at least 8 feet from the building face.

The employer must notify any involved utility company in advance when utility lines will be shut off, capped, or temporarily relocated and protected. See 1926.850(c) and 1926.850(d).

• Advance coordination prevents accidental energizing and ensures safe shutdown and reconnection procedures.
• Get written confirmation of shutdown or relocation when feasible and include it in site documentation.

Testing and purging are required whenever the presence of hazardous substances in pipes, tanks, or equipment is apparent or suspected, and qualified personnel must perform testing and purging to eliminate the hazard before demolition starts. See 1926.850(e).

• Use trained technicians or contractors familiar with the specific hazards (e.g., flammable gases, chemical residues).
• Keep records of tests and purging actions as part of your written evidence that the preparatory work was completed.

If asbestos removal is part of demolition, respiratory protection must follow the asbestos-in-construction standard (29 CFR 1926.1101) which may require specific respirators (e.g., full facepiece supplied-air respirators with auxiliary SCBA when exposures exceed 1 f/cc); see OSHA's asbestos interpretations at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2024-11-14 and https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2024-01-04.

• Employers must perform exposure assessments and follow 29 CFR 1926.1101 respirator selection and monitoring requirements.
• If an employer documents a negative exposure assessment, then respirator selection can follow Table 1 of 29 CFR 1910.134 as permitted by 1926.1101; otherwise stricter asbestos-specific respirator rules apply.

The employer must have written evidence that the engineering survey was performed and retain it as part of the site safety records. See 1926.850(a).

• The written survey should identify hazards, shoring/bracing plans, utility control actions, and corrective steps taken.
• Keep records available for inspection and for future site safety reviews.

Employers must remove or otherwise control glass that could fragment and create hazards before exposing employees to that risk. See 1926.850(f).

• Methods include removing glass glazing, installing protective screening, or using barricades and appropriate PPE during removal.
• Assess the hazard and document controls in the job hazard analysis as recommended by PPE assessment guidance at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2024-03-28.