Jim Jonas discusses asphalt safety

1. ASPHALT SAFETY
PRESENTED BY
Jim Jonas
Safety Manager/ Trainer

2. ASPHALT SAFETY
Estimated World Production of Asphalt in
2007(in million metric tons)
In the U.S. and
Europe the asphalt Africa 30
paving industry Asia 495
collectively employs Australia 10
Europe (incl. Russia) 435
about 400,000
North America 550
workers in the Mid America 35
manufacture, South America 45
transport, and 1.6 million metric tons
placement of
asphalt.

3. ASPHALT SAFETY
Asphalt operations are extremely dangerous.
Some of the factors that make this one of the most dangerous operations we
undertake are:
1. Heavy equipment associated with paving
2. Chemicals that make up asphalt, tack and emulsions
3. Traffic control

4. POWER EQUIPMENT
SAFETY
PAVERS
8 FOOT MACHINE
10 FOOT MACHINE

5. 1.5 TON PAVING ROLLER
3,000 lb Centrifugal Force
Ride On
35" Drum Width
18 hp Gasoline Engine
50 gal Water Sprinkler

6. 3 TON PAVING ROLLER
5,952 lb Centrifugal Force
Ride On
47" Drum Width
18 hp Gasoline Engine
50 gal Water Sprinkler
PRESENTED BY
J.P. JONAS + ASSOCIATES, INC.

7. 8 TON PAVING ROLLER
23,818 lb Centrifugal Force
Ride On
67" Drum Width
50 gal Water Sprinkler

8. 15 TON PNEUMATIC PAVING ROLLER
30,000 lb Ballast
Ride On
67" Width
80 HP Cummings Diesel
50 gal Water Sprinkler

9. TACK TRUCKS AND DELIVERY VEHICLES

10. ASPHALT DELIVERY VEHICLES
Truck and Pup
Truck and Transfer
Booster Truck
Ten Wheeler

11. ASPHALT COLD PLANER
A cold planer is a machine used to remove bituminous
pavement or asphalt from roadways, resulting in a
somewhat rough, even surface that can be immediately
opened to traffic.

12. SWEEPERS
Sweeper
Truck Mounted Sweeper
Skid Steer Sweeper

13. PORTABLE EQUIPMENT SAFETY
Vibra Plates Foot Wackers
Metatarsal Foot Caps

14. HAND TOOL SAFETY
Rakes
Hand Tampers
Push Broom
Shovels

15. SOFT TISSUE INJURY
Many activities during paving operations
are done in a position to bring on soft
tissue injuries.
Stretching prior to starting work warms up
muscles and stretches tendons helping to
prevent or reduce an injury.

16. PERSONNEL SAFETY
Raking techniques
Stance
Move your feet as you rake instead of remaining anchored in one place.
Keep your feet a shoulder-width apart as you move.
Pull your rake in a backward direction, and move with the rake through your
hands while working.
Avoid twisting your trunk or bending as you labor.
Wear gloves to prevent blisters.
Stretch periodically by leaning backward and then by raising both arms
upward toward the sky.

17. PERSONNEL SAFETY
In the “old days”!
Manual spreading
at the beginning of
20th century
Introduction of
machine spreading

18. PERSONNEL SAFETY
Shoveling techniques
1. Warm up your body before using a shovel to move materials. You can do stretches
or simply walk in place to get your heart pumping and to loosen tight muscles. This
will help to prevent sore muscles the next day and reduce the possibility of soft tissue
injury.
2. Stand with your feet approximately shoulder width apart when attempting to
shovel materials. This will help you maintain your balance and lessen the strain on
your back.
3. Place your hands about 6 inches apart on the shovel handle and wear sturdy work
gloves. This will give you more leverage and assist you in lifting the heavy materials.

19. PERSONNEL SAFETY
Shoveling techniques
4. Spray your shovel blade with a lubricant to help the material slide
easily off the blade.
5. Squat with your knees bent and keep your back area straight when
you are lifting the materials. Do not lift the materials with your back
muscles; allow your leg muscles to do the work.
6. Dump the materials in front of you, if possible. If you must dump the
materials to your side, move your feet in order to do this. Avoid
twisting your body because this can result in back injuries.

20. PERSONNEL SAFETY
Clothing And Footwear
• Hard Hat
• Long Sleeved Shirt
• Traffic Safety Vest
• Long Pants (not baggy or sagging)
• Safety Toed Boots (Composites work better
than Steel Toed)
• Gloves as needed

21. HEAT ILLNESS INJURY PREVENTION
Heat Exhaustion -
Individuals with heat exhaustion tend to have symptoms such as:
• profuse sweating
• weakness
• muscle cramps
• headache
• nausea
• vomiting
As dehydration increases from the loss of body water, lightheadedness may
occur and fainting may occur especially, if the affected individual stands up
quickly.
A low grade fever also may be present.

22. HEAT ILLNESS INJURY PREVENTION
Heat Exhaustion -
How is heat exhaustion treated?
The affected individual should stop their activity and then move from the hot
environment to a cooler environment. The person may be placed in the shade or
taken to an air conditioned. Clothes may be removed to help with air circulation
across the body. Misting the skin with cool water also helps by stimulating
evaporation and cooling the body.
Rehydration is the next important step in treating heat exhaustion. Small sips of
water, a mouthful at a time. Water, sports drink and other electrolyte replacement
drinks are reasonable options.
Muscles cramps and pain may be treated with over-the-counter medications like
Aspirin and Tylenol.

23. HEAT ILLNESS INJURY PREVENTION
Heat Stroke -
Common symptoms and signs of heat stroke include:
high body temperature
the absence of sweating
hot red or flushed dry skin
rapid pulse
difficulty breathing
strange behavior
hallucinations
confusion
agitation
disorientation
seizure
coma

24. How do you treat a heat stroke victim?
Victims of heat stroke must receive immediate treatment to avoid permanent
organ damage. First and foremost, cool the victim.
Get the victim to a shady area, remove clothing, apply cool or tepid water to the
skin (for example you may spray the victim with cool water from a garden
hose), fan the victim to promote sweating and evaporation, and place ice packs
under armpits and groin.
If the person is able to drink liquids, have them drink cool water or other cool
beverages that do not contain alcohol or caffeine.
Monitor body temperature with a thermometer and continue cooling efforts until
the body temperature drops to 101 to 102 F (38.3 to 38.8 C).
Always notify emergency services (911) immediately. If their arrival is
delayed, they can give you further instructions for treatment of the victim

25. IF A PERSON SUFFERS HEAT STROKE NEVER LEAVE THEM ALONE!!!
THEY MAY BE DISORIENTED.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DISORIENTED AND DIZZY ARE DIFFERENT.
A PERSON WHO IS DISORIENTED CANNOT ANSWER SIMPLE QUESTIONS SUCH AS:
WHERE DO YOU LIVE?
WHEN WERE YOU BORN?
WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
GET MEDICAL ASSISTANCE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

26. HEAT ILLNESS INJURY PREVENTION
• INSURE THERE IS ADEQUATE WATER ON THE JOB AT ALL TIMES.
• MAKE SURE EMPLOYEES HYDRATE OFTEN.
• PROVIDE CLEAN DISPOSABLE ONE SERVICE CUPS.
• CHECK WATER SUPPLY OFTEN TO INSURE IT DOES NOT RUN OUT.
• SHADE NEEDS TO BE AVAILABLE FOR BREAKS. (POP UPS WORK GOOD IF
THERE ARE NO TREES AVAILABLE).
PROVIDE EQUIPMENT TO ASSIST IN PREVENTION:
• HARD HAT SHADES
• NECK COOLERS
• BODY COOLING VESTS
• MINERAL REPLENISHMENT DRINKS

27. MATERIAL SAFETY
There is no current federal OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health
Administration) existing occupational exposure limit (OEL) for
bitumen fume in the U.S.
Material Safety Data Sheets
1. Train employees in the use of MSDS’s
2. Follow the MSDS for the materials being used
3. Know the proper PPE requirements as they are called out on the MSDS
Asphalt Temperatures
1. Asphalt is delivered at anywhere from 270 to 320 degrees
2. This temperature will cause burns to skin and should be guarded
against skin contact
3. This temperature will dehydrate employees more rapidly

28. MATERIAL SAFETY
Asphalt Fumes- Over a half-million workers are exposed to fumes
from asphalt, a petroleum product used extensively in road paving,
roofing, siding, and concrete work. Health effects from exposure to
asphalt fumes include headache, skin rash, sensitization, fatigue,
reduced appetite, throat and eye irritation, cough, and skin cancer.
There are currently no specific OSHA standards for asphalt fumes.
Exposures to various chemical components of asphalt fumes are
addressed in specific standards for the general and construction
industries, such as personal protective equipment (PPE).

29. The complex chemical composition of asphalt makes it difficult to
identify the specific component(s) responsible for adverse health effects
observed in exposed workers.
Known carcinogens have been found in asphalt fumes generated at
work sites.
Observations of acute irritation in workers from airborne and dermal
exposures to asphalt fumes and aerosols and the potential for chronic
health effects, including cancer, warrant continued diligence in the
control of exposures.
Partanen and Boffetta [1994] recently conducted a meta-analysis of
studies involving pavers and highway workers exposed to asphalt. Their
assessment did not find overall evidence for lung cancer risk among
pavers. Overall, the epidemiologic evidence for an association between
lung cancer and exposure to asphalt in paving is inconclusive at this
time.

30. TRAFFIC CONTROL
1. Obtain a traffic control plan completed by
a traffic engineer
2. While working within the traffic control
area insure all employees are trained and
aware of their surroundings.
3. Set up approved traffic control equipment
4. Use flaggers as needed

31. 1. Keep heads on a swivel while
working
2. Be aware of truck and
equipment movement within
the closed traffic area
3. Have a plan to move
equipment and trucks in and
out of closed traffic safely

32. Always use caution when setting up and
taking down traffic control devices.

33. PLAN, PREPARE AND EXECUTE.
USE THE APPROPRIATE PPE
AND EVERYONE GOES HOME HEALTHY!