PAVING SAFETY

Construction with bituminous materials involves several hazards. One of the most serious dangers is associated with the heating required to convert the solid or semisolid materials to a degree of fluidity which will permit their application or mixing. As a safety measure, make sure fire-extinguishing equipment (foam type) is present at all times.

When readying the distributor and/or asphalt kettle, be sure they are in a level position (before heating) and are located a safe distance from buildings and other flammable materials. Keep covers closed during the heating period to prevent the escape of flammable vapors; avoid exposure to fumes from hot bituminous material-stay on the windward side. Wear gloves and full body clothing to avoid prolonged skin contact or burns from hot bituminous material.

When heating bituminous materials for spraying purposes, you should check the temperature suggested in table 16-2 for the type and grade being used. Remember that most of the flush points are exceeded before the materials reach spraying or working temperature; therefore, additional caution must be exercised to prevent the exposure of rising fumes to an open flame. A dense yellow cloud or vapor, rising from the distributor or kettle, is an indication that the material is being overheated to the extent that a small spark is sufficient to ignite the vapors.

Always extinguish burners before spraying bituminous material. When spraying, stand at least 25 feet clear of the spray bar. On a bituminous distributor, spray bars have been known to blow open or rip with sudden pressure of heated materials. Remember that bituminous material must be heated to a high temperature, and any of this material coming in contact with the skin will leave a serious burn.

When handling asphalt that is being processed, you must wear proper protective apparel. Wear loose, heavy clothing that is in good condition. Clothing should be closed at the neck; sleeves should be rolled down over the tops of gloves. You should wear cuffless trousers that extend well down over the top of safety shoes. Goggles should be worn to prevent eye burns from bubbling or splashing asphalt. In addition, you should wear a safety hard hat.

Frequently, bituminous operations are often planned for roads that must carry traffic while work is in progress. Slow or caution signs or other warning devices should be conspicuously placed at both 100 yards and 20 yards from each entrance of the project. Flagmen, dressed in safety vests or some other safety attire, should aid in traffic control.

Most airfields must remain operational during bituminous operations. The construction schedule, equipment routing, and maximum height of equipment should be discussed with the airfield safety officer. Liaison with air traffic control must be established if trucks and other equipment are to cross runways that are in use.

Machinery and mechanized equipment must be operated only by qualified and authorized personnel. It must not be operated in a manner that will endanger ^{personnel or property.} The safe operating speeds or loads must not be exceeded. Equipment, requiring an operator, must not be permitted to run unattended. Mounting or dismounting equipment while it is in motion, or riding on equipment by unauthorized ^{personnel, is prohibited.} All equipment, using fuel, must be shut down with the ignition off before and during refueling operations.

When paving equipment is being operated, frequent inspections of running mechanisms and attachments are the operator's responsibility. The operator is also responsible for inspecting such items as the power train, power plant, transmission, tracks, controls, guards, loading or unloading warning devices, and receiving hoppers.

When paving materials are being applied, crew members often become so occupied with their particular job that they are unaware of equipment operating near them. For this reason, at least one crew member should be designated as safety inspector to ensure that reasonable precautions are observed within the assigned working areas. In addition, the safety inspector should periodically hold short (approximately 5 to 15 minutes) safety meetings (called stand-up safety meetings), during which the inspector briefs the crew on the hazardsaand precautions relating to current work.

All hand tools used for paving purposes must be kept in good repair and used only for the purpose for which they were designed. When you are using hand tools, such as rakes, shovels, lutes, and hand tampers, on asphalt paving jobs, these tools should be heated before use and cleaned immediately after use. It is common practice to clean these hand tools by burning off the bitumen, collected during paving operations. Crew members should exercise caution and be forewarned that flames are not always visible. One person should stand by with a fire extinguisher capable of controlling a petroleum fire.

In some areas, oiling roads and cleaning asphalt equipment could cause damage to the environment. This is especially important if there are streams or waterways nearby that could be contaminated. Supervisors and crew members should be advised prior to the start of a job if there are any environmental considerations at the site. Dispose of contaminated rags and waste materials in an environmentally responsible manner.

All personnel should be instructed to report immediately all personal injuries and all property damage regardless of how minor. Reports should be prepared according to the instructions set forth in base or command publications.