Stay Safe Handling Hot Asphalt Samples in the Lab

This week, let’s look beyond good housekeeping for lab safety.

Much preparation and testing of asphalt, whether liquid or pavement mix, requires heating a sample to potentially dangerous temperatures. These activities typically require fire-retardant and heat-resistant clothing; eye protection; gloves; and in some cases, ventilation (fume hoods), respirators, or self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA).

Always use caution when handling asphalt samples or working around the lab area. Remember, the sample can or jar sitting there might have been in an oven at 300°F (or higher) just a few moments ago. If special equipment for handling of sample containers is provided with the testing or preparation equipment, use it. Don’t take shortcuts.

As always, the most important aspect of safety in the workplace is twofold:

• know what needs to be done and
• have a prepared plan for accomplishing it.

Know ahead of time what you will need to have on hand to perform the next task properly and safely, and have those items ready for use in the work area. Always check the immediate area around the next machine or workstation in the lab to ensure that you have a place to put the material from the previous step, and that no obstructions are in the way. This circles back to good housekeeping and leads to safe work in the lab.

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