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Asphalt Fumes |
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OSHA Standards |
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There are currently no specific OSHA standards
for asphalt fumes. However, exposures to various chemical
components of asphalt fumes are addressed in specific standards for the
general and construction industries, such as personal protective equipment (PPE).
This page highlights OSHA standards, preambles to final rules (background to final rules),
standard interpretations (offical letters of interpretation of the standards),
and compliance examples related to asphalt fumes.
Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act, often referred to as the General Duty
Clause, requires employers to "furnish to each of his employees employment and a
place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or
are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees". Section
5(a)(2) requires employers to "comply with occupational safety and health
standards promulgated under this Act".
Note: Twenty-four states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin
Islands have
OSHA-approved State Plans and have adopted their own standards and
enforcement policies. For the most part, these States adopt standards that are
identical to Federal OSHA. However, some States have adopted different standards
applicable to this topic or may have different enforcement policies. |
Highlighted Standards
General Industry (29
CFR 1910)
Construction Industry (29
CFR 1926)
Preambles to Final Rules
- Air
Contaminants (1989)
- VII. Feasibility and
Regulatory Analyses. Because the
scope of this rulemaking is restricted exclusively to the general
industry, OSHA has determined that it is most appropriate
at this time to defer regulation of asphalt fumes until the
agency has had sufficient time to address the complex health
issues associated with this substance and to analyze the
impact on the construction industry of establishing a
permissible exposure limit (PEL)
for this substance.
- Search all available
preambles to final rules.
Standard Interpretations
- Natural or mined asphalts do not fall within the scope of the
Coal Tar Pitch Volatiles Standard. (1983, May 26). Natural
or mined asphalts do not fall within the scope of the Coal Tar
Pitch Volatiles (CTPV) Standard. Again, the CTVP Standard, as
stated in
29 CFR 1910.1002, applies to emissions only from products that
are residues of distillation processes. Thus, "natural" or mined
asphalts, which are not distillation residues, do not fall under
the CTPV standard.
- Petroleum asphalt removed from coverage under the Coal Tar
Pitch Volatiles Standard. (1983, April 8). OSHA
believes that removal of petroleum asphalt from coverage under
the Coal Tar Pitch Volatiles (CTPV) Standard was appropriate
based on both scientific and technical considerations. Data indicate that there are qualitative and quantitative
chemical differences between the volatiles arising from coal tar
and asphalt. OSHA does recognize, however, that asphalt
fumes can present a health hazard to employees.
- Citations for the wearing of short pants engaged in hot tar
and asphalt construction work. (1997, April 17). Compliance officers will be instructed to balance the need for
personal protective clothing, such as long pants, during hot
asphalt operations against the need for clothing that is
appropriate for severe environmental conditions such as
extremely warm weather.
- Search all available standard interpretations.
Compliance Examples
- Fatal Explosion Brings Framingham Employer
OSHA Citations. OSHA Region 1 News Release, (2004, January
15). An explosion of an asphalt tank at a Framingham, Mass.
company that killed a worker could have been prevented if the
company had taken the proper safety precautions, according to OSHA.
Because of the agency's investigation of the fatal explosion, OSHA
has issued citations alleging willful and serious safety violations
to Triram Corporation of 721 Waverly St., including proposed
penalties totaling $52,000.
- Worker's Death After Explosion of Tar Kettle Leads to $7,500
OSHA Fine For Bellefontaine, Ohio, Firm. OSHA Region 5 News
Release, (2002, September 6). A Bellefontaine, Ohio, company's
failure to provide safety training could have caused a fatal
accident and has resulted in citations from OSHA. Company
workers sealing cracks in asphalt used a tar kettle to heat
solid tar up to temperatures above 350 degrees to liquefy the
tar. The investigation revealed that water was added to
oil in a thermal jacket around the tar kettle. The boiling
water led to the release of hot steam and oil that was ignited
by propane burners. An employee died after receiving severe burns. OSHA fined Garman Construction
Co. $7,500 for five alleged serious violations, following its
investigation of the explosion of the tar kettle at the
worksite.
- OSHA Cites Gulfport, Miss., Manufacturer Following
Investigation of Fatal Accident; Proposes $71,000 in Penalties. OSHA Region
4
News Release, (2001, June
15). OSHA has proposed $71,500 in penalties for Blacklidge
Emusions, Inc., Gulfport, Miss., following the investigation of a
fatal accident that occurred when an assistant plant manager
attempted to cut a hole in a tank with an acetylene torch.
The tank contained asphalt emulsion - an adhesive used in
highway paving. The assistant plant manager was helping
other employees by attempting to visually survey the amount of
emulsion remaining in the 16-foot high, 10,000 gallon capacity
tank.
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