Any QC/QA director will tell you that having a clean, organized lab environment lends itself to safety. Let’s look a little more deeply at safety in the lab.
Almost all preparation and testing of asphalt requires heating or cooling it to potentially dangerous temperatures. Your activities may require fire-retardant and heat-resistant clothing; eye protection; and gloves; and in some cases, ventilation (fume hoods), respirators, or self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) may be required.
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 degrees Fahrenheit 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.
As always, the most important aspect of safety in the workplace is knowing what needs to be done and having a prepared plan for accomplishing it. Know ahead of time what you will need 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.
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