APE APE September 2019 | Page 19

ASPHALT ANSWERS pletely remove these coatings, a pressure washer with the proper cleaners can clean the surface good enough so you can pave with confidence. How about “Bring home every team member and with the same quality of life they had when we left in the morning.” weeds? A backpack sprayer for weed control will certainly go a long way to- ward a long lasting finished product. Safety should be our first priority. As I have mentioned many times, the most important rule we should have is that we bring home every team member and with the same quality of life they had when we left in the morning. The difference this time is that I’m not re- ferring to our flagman or safety vests or even hardhats, I’m talking about being ready for the unexpected. When we are dealing with a high temperature prod- uct, we must be ready for an emergen- cy. What would you do if one of your crew members is unexpectedly burned by liquid asphalt? Or if a barefoot child walks across a hot mat? How about if one of your hydraulic lines unexpected- ly breaks and comes in contact with en- gine exhaust. Hopefully you will never have to experience these tragedies, but when your crew has the skills to jump into action, injuries can be mitigated. Industry groups can provide you with suggested treatments for burns and you are typically required to have MSDS sheets on hand for reference. Make sure your crew knows how to access these valuable documents and regular train- ing sessions are fit into your schedule. We all want to succeed. If you didn’t, you’d be in some other business, but When dealing with hot asphalt, make sure that all crewmembers are aware of burn risks. with today’s long, hot days, sometimes the things we know we should do get pushed to the side. Take the time each day to step back and take a look at what got us here. Never lose that drive to be perfect. Sometimes we fall short but more times than not, you’ll find that you’re right on the mark. Brian Hall is the territory manager of Mid South Region at VT LeeBoy, Inc. You can contact him at [email protected] Article sponsored by LeeBoy and Rosco. For More Information On This Advertiser Please Visit www.CallAPE.com/e-inquiry 1.800.210.5923 [19] September 2019