The asphalt/bitumen industry needs to change. For too long there have been concerns raised about the current practices in the asphalt/bitumen industry that would not be accepted in other construction industries. The AWU have been listening and are campaigning for change.
The first step is to record the concerns. The AWU have developed an app which makes recording the hazards extremely simple and user friendly.
We need data! To find & record inconsistencies in the delivery of suspect products we need your help & we need records of when it happens.
We know bitumen contains carcinogenic hydrocarbons and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) but many companies are adding extra elements to their asphalt/bitumen mix, these may include synthetic binders (PMBs), recycled glass (uncleaned), residual printer ink toner, crumbed rubber (car tyres) and used motor oil. Recycled asphalt is often added; it is hard to know what was in the product was in the original mix and it was not too long ago that asbestos was used in the roads. These extra elements are undocumented, with any request for safety data sheets is met with a generic MSDS for the bitumen, this does not cover all materials in the “mix”.
The AWU have many concerns regarding the exposure of asphalt workers to carcinogens, and other fumes; the immediate health effects are visible and wide-ranging. There is a consistent range of complaints made by asphalt crews across the industry including nausea, dizziness, coughing, vomiting, bloody noses, sore eyes, skin reactions, and respiratory difficulties.