Asphalt Paving
Paving crews work next to traffic, surrounded by moving pavers, rollers and dump trucks, with hot mix asphalt at around 300°F.
- Construction
- Road Work
Photo: paving crew behind a paver with a roller and traffic control
Top hazards
- Struck by traffic and by construction vehicles backing in the work zone
- Burns from hot asphalt and equipment
- Asphalt fumes (eye, nose and throat irritation)
- Heat illness, combined with radiant heat from the mat
- Roller rollovers at edges
- Silica during milling
Key practices
- Follow the traffic control plan, and use internal traffic control. See Work Zones.
- Stay out of blind spots of pavers, rollers and trucks; use spotters for backing. See Backing.
- Wear long sleeves, gloves and boots; cool asphalt burns with cool water and don’t pull off stuck asphalt. Get medical care.
- Use pavers with engineering controls for fumes; stand upwind.
- Use milling machines with water sprays for silica.
- Plan water, rest and shade for heat.
The paving train
A typical crew works in a moving line: a milling machine removes old pavement, haul trucks deliver mix, a material transfer vehicle may feed the paver, the paver lays the mat, screed operators set thickness, rakers fix edges by hand, and breakdown, intermediate and finish rollers compact the mat. Everyone is close to moving equipment that changes direction constantly.
Who’s at risk
- Rakers and laborers on foot work between the paver, trucks and rollers.
- Screed operators stand at the back of the paver, close to hot mix and fumes.
- Roller operators work along unsupported edges where rollovers happen. See Rollers.
- Truck drivers back up to the paver repeatedly. See Dump Trucks.
- Flaggers face passing traffic. See Work Zones.
Night paving
Much highway paving happens at night. Drivers are more often tired or impaired, and crews are fatigued. Use Class 3 hi-vis, light the work area without blinding drivers, and keep internal traffic patterns simple. See Night Work.
Start-of-shift checklist
- Traffic control set up per plan and checked
- Internal traffic plan and backing signals reviewed with drivers
- Backup alarms, cameras and lights on all equipment working
- Roller edges marked; seatbelts worn
- Long sleeves, gloves, boots and hi-vis for everyone on foot
- Burn first aid supplies and cool water available
- Water, shade and rest breaks planned for heat
Standards & references
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