Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act, often referred to as the General Duty Clause, requires employers to "furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees". Section 5(a)(2) requires employers to "comply with occupational safety and health standards promulgated under this Act".

Note: Twenty-four states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands have OSHA-approved State Plans and have adopted their own standards and enforcement policies. For the most part, these States adopt standards that are identical to Federal OSHA. However, some States have adopted different standards applicable to this topic or may have different enforcement policies.

General Industry (29 CFR 1910)

Construction Industry (29 CFR 1926)

• 1926 Subpart D, Occupational health and environmental controls
  • 1926.62, Lead [related topic page]
• 1926 Subpart E, Personal protective and life saving equipment
  • 1926.100, Head protection
  • 1926.103, Respiratory protection
• 1926 Subpart J, Welding and cutting
  • 1926.350, Gas welding and cutting
• 1926 Subpart L, Scaffolds
  • 1926.451, General requirements
• 1926 Subpart M, Fall protection [related topic page]
  • 1926.501, Duty to have fall protection
  • 1926.502, Fall protection systems criteria and practices
  • 1926.503, Training requirements
• 1926 Subpart T, Demolition
  • 1926.850, Preparatory operations
  • 1926.851, Stairs, passageways, and ladders
  • 1926.852, Chutes
  • 1926.853, Removal of materials through floor openings
  • 1926.854, Removal of walls, masonry sections, and chimneys
  • 1926.855, Manual removal of floors
  • 1926.856, Removal of walls, floors, and material with equipment
  • 1926.857, Storage
  • 1926.858, Removal of steel construction
  • 1926.859, Mechanical demolition
  • 1926.860, Selective demolition by explosives
• 1926 Subpart Z, Toxic and hazardous substances
  • 1926.1101, Asbestos

• Application of the asbestos standard to demolition of buildings with ACM in place. (2002, August 26).
• OSHA standards addressing reverse signal alarms on excavators. (1995, May 10).
• Demolition regulations do apply to the removal of ceilings and interior non-load bearing walls and partitions. (1994, January 27).
• Review of Rope Grab Knot. (1993, January 13).
• Clarification of 29 CFR 1926.855(b) and (f). (1979, July 5).
• 1926.850 demolition work and the use of clamshells. (1974, September 17).
• Search all available standard interpretations.

Note: These are NOT OSHA regulations. However, they do provide guidance from their originating organizations related to worker protection.

• ANSI A10.6-1983, Safety Requirements for Demolition Operations