A Jammed Debris Chute Can Release Without Warning

Read aloud

When debris stops coming out of a chute, do not assume the chute is empty. Material may be caught above the discharge. More debris can build up behind it. Pulling one piece loose may release the whole pile.

Our response is to stop feeding the chute and tell every loading level. Keep the discharge area restricted. Nobody stands below the outlet, climbs inside, or reaches through an opening to investigate. Throwing heavy objects into the chute to knock a blockage loose is not our clearing method.

Tell the supervisor where material last moved and what was being loaded. The supervisor must arrange a task-specific response with the right people, equipment, and controls before work resumes. The gate operator needs the same information as the workers above. OSHA's demolition chute rule requires a competent employee to control the discharge gate and truck backing and loading. It also requires the discharge area to be securely closed off when operations stop. Those protections stay in place while the blockage is assessed.

Scenario

A strip-out crew hears debris stop halfway down the chute. Someone suggests dropping a concrete block to push it through. Instead, the crew stops all loading and contacts the supervisor without approaching the outlet.

Supervisor follow-up

Check that the chute plan includes a blockage response and reliable communication between levels. Verify access restrictions before authorizing restart.

Session and source notes

Suggested session: 3–5 minutes including discussion. OSHA 29 CFR 1926.852(c), (d), and (g) — demolition chutes — https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/1926.852. The no-improvised-clearing steps above are recommended crew controls; the regulation does not supply a blockage-clearing procedure.

Show the crew

Use a site drawing to identify who receives a stop message and where workers wait. Do not approach or simulate clearing an actual blockage.