Sealant, Waterproofing, and Restoration Industry

Sealant, Waterproofing, and Restoration Industry Menu Workers' Rights

Hazards and Solutions

The hazards experienced in the sealant, waterproofing, and restoration industry are common to the construction industry in general. These include health hazards; such as asphalt fumes, lead, silica, and solvents; as well as safety hazards, such as falls from elevation, awkward and heavy lifting, flammables, and power tools. An important step in addressing these hazards is to conduct task-specific hazard analyses to identify what hazards to expect and to then plan for their control.

General
  • Safety and Health Field Manual. OSHA and Sealant, Waterproofing and Restoration Institute (SWR Institute) Alliance, (September 2009; updated 03/01/2019). SWR Institute developed a manual to help employers and workers identify the key hazards and OSHA requirements in this industry.
  • Safety and Health Manual. OSHA and Sealant, Waterproofing and Restoration Institute (SWR Institute) Alliance. SWR Institute developed a manual to help employers understand how to develop a written safety and health program that covers topics such as hazard communication, confined space, fall protection, recordkeeping, personal protective equipment, respiratory protection and scaffolding.
  • Safety Toolbox Talks. OSHA and Sealant, Waterproofing and Restoration Institute (SWR Institute) Alliance. SWR Institute developed a series of toolbox talks to help employers and workers identify the key hazards and OSHA requirements in the construction industry:
  • The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties with Guidelines for Preserving, Rehabilitating Restoring & Reconstructing Historic Buildings. National Park Service (NPS), (2017). Describes recommended work practices to preserve both worker safety and the historical appearance of buildings.
  • Construction. OSHA eTool. Contains information that helps workers identify and control the hazards that cause the most serious construction-related injuries. Also available in Spanish.
Confined Spaces
Falls
Lead
  • Lead. OSHA Safety and Health Topics Page.
Scaffolding
  • Scaffolding. OSHA eTool. Provides illustrated examples of safe scaffolding. Hazards are identified, as well as the controls that keep those hazards from becoming tragedies.
  • Scaffolding. OSHA Safety and Health Topics Page.
Silica