Asphalt paving involves several safety procedures and potential risks that require careful assessment and adherence to regulatory compliance.

Potential hazards include:

• Carcinogenicity: Asphalt and asphalt emissions have been identified as potentially carcinogenic. Skin application of asphalt fume condensate fractions caused skin tumors in laboratory mice. Repeated breathing of asphalt emissions has not resulted in a carcinogenic response in laboratory animal testing. IARC has determined that occupational exposures to oxidized asphalt and their emissions during roofing applications are "probably carcinogenic to humans "(Group 2A). They also determined that occupation exposures to hard asphalts and their emissions during mastic asphalt work and occupational exposures to straight-run asphalts and their emissions during paving operations are "possibly carcinogenic to humans" (Group 2B).
• Exposure to Crystalline Silica: Prolonged and repeated inhalation of respirable crystalline silica-containing dust in excess of allowable exposure limits may cause silicosis, an incurable lung disease. Repeated overexposures to very high levels of respirable crystalline silica for short periods may cause acute silicosis, a rapidly progressive, incurable, and typically fatal lung disease.
• Release of Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S): Asphalt products may contain or release hydrogen sulfide, which is highly toxic and flammable. Assessment of storage tanks, transport vessels, and other confined spaces should be made to determine potential exposures and appropriate controls.
• Thermal Burns: Contact with hot asphalt products can cause thermal burns. Water contact with hot material can cause violent eruption.
• Irritating Emissions: When petroleum asphalt products are heated, potentially irritating emissions (fumes, mists, vapors) may be released. [3] [3] [3] [3] [4] [4] [2] [1] [8]

To ensure safety and regulatory compliance, the following precautions and control measures should be implemented:

• Engineering Controls: Implement general dilution or local exhaust ventilation to maintain exposures below appropriate exposure limits. Use only in well-ventilated areas. Activities with dried/hardened product that generate dust require the use of general ventilation, local exhaust and/or wet suppression methods to maintain exposures below appropriate exposure limits.
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):
• Wear protective gloves, protective clothing, eye protection, and face protection.
• Use a full-face shield and chemical safety goggles if handling heated material. Safety glasses with side shields should be worn as minimum protection at ambient temperatures. Contact lenses should not be worn when eye contact with product is possible.
• For activities that generate dust, use an appropriate dust respirator where dust levels exceed or are likely to exceed allowable exposure limits. For respirable silica levels that exceed or are likely to exceed an 8-hour Time Weighted Average (TWA) of 0.5 mg/m³, a high-efficiency particulate filter respirator must be worn at a minimum.
• Hygiene Practices: Wash hands thoroughly after handling. Do not eat, drink, or smoke when using this product.
• Confined Space Entry: If personnel must enter a tank or other confined space that contained this material, follow the OSHA Confined Space Entry Program as specified in 29 CFR 1910.146.
• Storage: Store away from all ignition sources and open flames in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. [9] [2] [9] [9] [2] [2] [6] [7]

Key regulatory compliance considerations include:

• OSHA Standards: Adherence to OSHA standards, including hazard communication (29 CFR 1910.1200) and confined space entry (29 CFR 1910.146), is essential.
• Exposure Limits: Regularly monitor asphalt emissions, respirable dust, and quartz levels to ensure worker exposure levels are below the Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs) and Threshold Limit Values (TLVs) set by OSHA, MSHA, ACGIH, and NIOSH. Implement engineering controls to reduce exposure levels in excess of appropriate exposure limits.
• Respirator Use: Ensure that respirator use complies with applicable MSHA (42 CFR 84) or OSHA (29 CFR 1910.134) standards, which include provisions for a user training program, respirator inspection, repair and cleaning, respirator fit testing, medical surveillance, and other requirements. [6] [5] [9]