Safe Handling of Asphalt Binders

Spring Asphalt Conference & Equipment Expo, April 2016
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And uses some excerpts from the training
course used in New Zealand & Australia
Safe Handling of Asphalt Binders

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Ignition
Chemical
Reaction
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Ignition Hazards
Main fuel risk for us:
Flammable liquids

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• It’s not the liquid burning
• It’s the vapor produced
• Some liquids more flammable than others
• How do we measure how flammable a liquid is?
• Flash point!
Ignition Hazards

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Flash Point?
Flash point is the
temperature a volatile
liquid needs to be – to
just produce enough
vapor to ignite
Ignition Hazards

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Below the flash point
temperature the vapor
won’t ignite
Ignition Hazards
Example: Kerosene

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At the flash point the
vapor ignites with a brief
blue flash, but there is no
continuous flame
Ignition Hazards
Example: Kerosene
Blue flash

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If the liquid is heated
above it’s flash point,
then it will sustain a
continuous flame
Ignition Hazards
Example: Kerosene

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Ignition Hazards
So – explain this!
It ignites because it is in
very small droplets which
are heated instantly above
the flash point in the flame
The kerosene is cold –
below it’s flash point!
The kerosene is cold –

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Ignition Hazards
And – explain this!
It ignites because it is
spread out as a very thin
film & the flame can heat
it right through in one spot
- above it’s flash point.
The kerosene is cold

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Ignition
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Ignition Hazards
Sources of ignition

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Naked flame
Calculators
Mobile phones
Welding etc.
Power tools
Electric switches
Tanker burners
Cameras
Static electricity
Ignition Hazards

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Ignition Hazards
 Pouring a low-viscosity fluid such as
kerosene can generate static electricity
 The charge can build up enough to
generate sparks
 The spark energy can be sufficient
to ignite a flammable vapor

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Ignition Hazards
 Cooking oil catching fire in frypan.
-commonly called
 Major risk for kerosene & diesel
 Spraying or spilling kerosene or diesel on
hot surfaces can ignite the vapor
 Totally unrelated to flash point!

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Ignition Hazards
Result of using kero
to clean the sprayer
while burner tubes
still hot!
Kero auto-ignited
when it contacted
the hot surface!

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• Pan ~550oF (not red-hot)
• Gasoline doesn’t ignite
• Kerosene does ignite!
• Diesel would ignite too!
Flammable Liquids - Auto-Ignition
Kero AIT can be 410OF!
Diesel AIT can be 445OF!
(both lower than gasoline!)
Ignition Hazards

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Water reacts very violently
with hot asphalt – causing:
• vigorous foaming and/or
• steam explosions
Water Hazard

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Flammable Liquids - Explosions
Explosion Hazards
Why does kero or diesel vapor sometimes explode rather than
just burn?
Why are some explosions very big yet most are quite small?
It depends on the relative concentrations of the vapor mixture.
So let’s talk about ‘Explosive Limits’.

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Flammable Liquids - Explosions
Kerosene vapor (like diesel) will only explode if
it’s concentration in air is between quite narrow
explosive limits
Watch the
demonstration!
Explosion Hazards

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Flammable Liquids
Explosive Limits
% Vapor in Air
100%
FUEL
VAPOR
100%
AIR
0.6% - 6.0%
Example: Kerosene
Explosive
energy curve
Explosion Hazards

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1. Tanker discharges 5500gal of 350OF asphalt to HMA tanks
2. Driver then adds 2gal of kero to hot empty tank
3. Circulates through internal pump and departs
4. 3 miles down the road, explosion inside tanker
5. Manhole lid blown open – no other damage
a) 2 gal of kero in a hot empty 5500gal tank
 explosive mix!
a) Don’t use steel dipsticks!
Explosion Hazards

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1. Trial batch of straight-run asphalt pumped in from tanker
2. Tanker also contained kero flushings
3. Transferred to reaction tank
4. Internal hot oil supply pipe not covered with asphalt
5. Explosive air/kero mix - auto-ignited
6. Side blown out, 2 manholes went flying
7. No-one hurt
Lesson:
Very small amounts of kero or diesel can
produce an explosive air/fuel mix that can
auto-ignite on contact with a hot surface!
Another example:
Asphalt-Rubber Plant:
Explosion Hazards

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Safe Handling of Petroleum Asphalt
Asphalt Burns
All field personnel need to
understand the following:
• Expect the unexpected
• Appropriate PPE
• Correct procedures
• How serious it can be
• Immediate first aid
• How to “educate”
treating medics

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Examples Asphalt Burns
Hose burst under pressure
Opening pressurised filter
Fell onto
HMA

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The preceding pictures dramatically show:
• Very serious nature of these burns
• Why we should expect the unexpected
• What happens when proper PPE is not worn and the
proper procedures are not followed
• Why good training & diligent management is essential!
26
Asphalt Burns - Examples
Asphalt Burns

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Personal Protective
Equipment
Demonstration
Asphalt Burns
• Wrap-around face-shield with chin
protection
• Heat-resistant hood with eye opening only
(Note: ‘skirt’ should be tucked-in)
• Long gloves with tight gauntlets
• Long pants, Long sleeves,
• Safety boots, (pants outside)

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Immediate First Aid
Asphalt Burns

 Everyone should have a
copy
 Attach a copy to victim’s
clothing
 It has important 1st aid
information
Burns Card
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Asphalt Burns
ON-SCENE FIRST AID FOR
ASPHALT BURNS
• Immediately address any Airway,
Breathing or Circulation concerns
and START COOLING
• Do NOT remove asphalt from skin
• Leave burn uncovered
• Quickly place affected area under
running/flowing water
• Notify others
• Call for help #_____________Available from: The Asphalt Institute;
Call: 859-288-4960;
or at www.asphaltinstitute.org

 Everyone must learn what’s
on it
 As well as the 1st aid
information for you
 It has information for
Medics who may never
have seen an asphalt burn
before
Asphalt Institute
Burns Poster
Asphalt Institute
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Asphalt Burns
• Immediately address any Airway, Breathing or Circulation concerns
and START COOLING with water
• Do NOT try to remove asphalt from skin
• Quickly place affected area under running/flowing water (ice or cold
packs may be used in the event water is unavailable)
• Leave asphalt burn area uncovered
• Notify others
• Call for help! #_____________
Skin (Do NOT Delay)
• Immediately place the affected skin under cold running
water for at least 20 minutes
• Prolonged flushing/cooling is necessary
Eyes (Do NOT Delay)
• Lay the person on their back
• Remove contact lenses (medical personnel only)
• Flush with running/flowing water for at least 20 minutes
by allowing the water to flow over the bridge of the nose
to the eyes
After cooling, urgent medical attention is required for burns to the face, eyes, hands, feet,
genitalia and for circumferential or large burn areas
After cooling, urgent medical attention is required for burns to the face, eyes, hands, feet,
genitalia and for circumferential or large burn areas

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Asphalt Burns
At first inspection – no clear
evidence of burning!
At The Hospital
See next
slide!

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Asphalt Burns
At The Hospital
How to prevent asphalt being removed incorrectly?
Skin removed by
peeling clothing off
(Compare with right-hand
picture previous slide)

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Asphalt Burns
Because the burning is not always evident, we
need a strategy to get the correct information
“through” to the doctor! – especially about not
removing the asphalt until a burn specialist has
been consulted for advice!
At The Hospital

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Australasian Burns Card
Asphalt Burns
For original copy and
permission to use,
contact the Australian
Asphalt Pavement
Association (AAPA)
info@aapa.asn.au
www.aapa.asn.au
(FRONT) (BACK)

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 Attach card to victim’s clothing:
+ It has 1st aid information
+ It has advice for Medics on the reverse side
 Inform paramedic of importance of card & ask them to
make a call to hospital to give advance warning
 Supervisor must accompany to hospital to ensure no
incorrect treatment or procedures
 Manager must get involved as early as possible!

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Endorsed by:
The Australian & New Zealand Burns Association
36
Asphalt Burns
Advice to Medical Professionals
Bitumen burns require special medical treatment.
Immediately consult with burns specialist.
www.anzba.org.au

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Asphalt Burns
When treatment is correct………

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Thank you
barry.gundersen@gmail.com

Safe Handling of Asphalt Binders

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