Category Archives: OSHA industry

John S. Manuel, Environmental Health Perspectives Vol. 111

Deconstruction does pose certified employee hazards, compared to demolition; which is why hazard protection is so imperative. “In the largest part demolition projects, the employee is sitting by an enclosed yellow cab of a winch or else excavator knocking down the building from the outside,” says Brian McVay, project director of DeConstruction Services. “In deconstruction, workers are inside the building, each face all sorts of evident health hazards. They’re breathing the dust, pulling resources down, pulling them out to the curb.”

Deconstruction typically involves a labor-intensive multistep process with the aim of requiring the service provider to give special attention to occupational health and safety issues. A key step involves a two-part situate assessment to identify both type of material used within the building, its condition, the way it is attached to the environment, and the ease of removal. This is performed through a thorough visual inspection cleaning of the building, followed by a invasive inspection in which pieces of floors, ceilings, and walls are disinterested to assess hidden layers.

If dangerous materials are identified, they have to removed completely before deconstruction can proceed.OSHA industry hazard protection inspection cleaning Continue reading →