When we hear about a collision in which someone was injured, we automatically assume it was a motor vehicle accident. However, this Safety Talk is about a collision that happened on a roof.
In this incident, one employee was pushing a 4 ft. spreader while another employee was pushing a lugger filled with hot asphalt when the two collided. It was not a hard impact, but the collision caused hot asphalt to splash out of the lugger and onto the employee who was operating the spreader.
After getting medical attention for the employee who was splashed with hot asphalt, the company’s management tried to determine what went wrong. One of the things that they determined was that the lid on the hot lugger was not completely shut. If it had been, it is unlikely that hot asphalt would have splashed from the lugger.
Beyond that, consider the collision and what may have caused it. Was one or both of the employees so focused on the specific task that they were performing (or something else) that they were not aware of their immediate surroundings? Was the vision of the employee pushing the hot lugger obstructed?
Whether you are pushing a hot lugger, a spreader, a wheelbarrow, or any object, some basic safety rules apply.
- If your view is obstructed, ask a spotter to assist in guiding you
- Do not walk backward unless going up a ramp
- Do not go faster than a slow walking pace
- Come to a controlled stop if anyone gets in your way
- Just like defensive driving, maintain awareness of your surroundings and anticipate the actions of others.
Because this incident involved someone getting splashed with hot asphalt, it is also appropriate that we discuss what to do if that ever happens on one of our jobsites. First, prepare for these burn injuries by ensuring that there is someone trained in first-aid on the job at all times and by keeping a source of cool water available to immerse a burn injury. If there is a burn injury where someone is splashed with hot asphalt, cool the area immediately with large amounts of water to prevent the burn from going deeper. Do not use gasoline to remove the asphalt, as this may cause a chemical burn, or may be absorbed and cause organ damage! Removing the asphalt is not a medical emergency and it should only be removed by a medical professional.
DISCUSS WITH YOUR CREW
What potential is there for a collision on our current roofing jobsite?
Can you think of a similar incident or a near-miss event that is similar to the accident described in this Safety Talk? If so, what can we learn from it?