For the seasoned paving foreman, staying off a hot mat is second nature. You know better than to track your footprints across the fresh lift directly behind the screed. How many new members of your crew know why those size-10 dents are a problem? As you start the paving season, make sure one of the toolbox talks includes a discussion of mat integrity.
After your team has gone to great lengths to get the right mix delivered at the right temperature to and through the paver so that it’s placed beautifully behind the screed, the last thing you need is some kind of cut mark from a bad rolling job or dent from a dropped tool. Protect the mat with best practices such as putting an experienced roller operator in the breakdown position. Make sure the breakdown passes are complete before someone walks from the left side to the right, but the best way to keep footprints at bay is to keep laborers on their designated side of the lane as much as possible.
Of course, that’s for one of those ideal paving days that only exists on paper. When laborers on the project need to move around, make sure they’ll be wearing tamp shoes for the day.
The process for keeping cut marks out of the mat isn’t difficult. Teach roller operators to slow their roll as they come to a stopping point, and to turn gently to a curved, non-vibrating stop. Then reverse along the same pass. The roller will roll out the curved stop mark on its next pass beyond the mark.
There are more ways to keep workers from marring a freshly placed asphalt mat. Let’s share a few on the AsphaltPro Facebook page.
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