Follow the manufacturer’s safety procedures for inspection and operation of all equipment.

Additional safety procedures should be followed for any equipment used for transporting, storing, or applying asphalt materials. Heating asphalt binder always constitutes some degree of hazard, with the exception perhaps of emulsions. The most hazardous are cutback asphalts because of the highly flammable solvents used. Extreme care must be taken not to allow open flames to come in contact with the asphalt or the gases from these materials. When working with asphalt cement, the major safety concern is related to the high temperature of the binder. Asphalt cement at 300°F can cause very severe burns. Avoid standing near the asphalt distributor during heating and operation unless necessary. It is recommended that a copy of the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for the binder being used be kept with the asphalt distributor truck. In addition, refer to TxDOT’s Handbook of Safe Practices (1997) regarding asphalt heaters, distributors, and storage.