THE DANGERS OF HANDLING BITUMEN PRODUCTS:

WATER SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO CONTACT THESE PRODUCTS AS THIS WILL CAUSE BOIL OVER OR EXPLOSION

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NO SOURCES OF IGNITION ARE PERMITTED WITHIN 15 METRES OF VEHICLES FILLING OR CIRCULATING BITUMEN. SURFACES OF HOT COILS OR HEATER TUBES MUST NOT BE EXPOSED IN THE VAPOUR SPACE AS THIS CAN CAUSE EXPLOSIONS. ONLY AUTHORISED TRAINED PERSONNEL MAY BE INVOLVED IN THE LOADING AND UNLOADING OF STORAGE TANKS, BULK BITUMEN TANKERS AND SPRAYERS.

INCASE OF BITUMEN FIRE USE FOAM, DRY CHEMICAL POWDER EXTINGUISHERS.

WATER SHOULD NEVER BE USED FOR DOUSING A BITUMEN FIRES AS IT CAUSE AN EXPLOSION

FIRST AID
Burns - General
REMOVE CASUALTY FROM DANGER EXTINGUISH ANY BURNING CLOTHES PLACE AFFECTED AREA UNDER COLD RUNNING WATER FOR AT LEAST 30 MINUTES. OBTAIN MEDICAL ASSISTANCE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

IN THE EVENT OF HOT BITUMEN CONTACTING WITH SKIN / EYE:

APPLY COOL WATER TO THE AFFECTED AREA AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. NO ATTEMPT SHOULD BE MADE TO REMOVE THE BITUMEN.

KEEP THE AFFECTED AREA COOL BY CONTINUALLY APPLYING COOL WATER.

OBTAIN MEDICAL ASSISTANCE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THE BITUMEN SHOULD BE LEFT-IN-PLACE AND COVERED WITH A DRESSING CONTAINING PARAFFIN OR A BURN OINTMENT CONTAINING PARAFFIN. ALL SPRAYERS AND BULKERS SHOULD HAVE AS A MINIMUM, A 20 LITRE CONTAINER OF FRESH WATER FOR APPLYING TO BURNS. NO ATTEMPT SHOULD BE MADE TO REMOVE THE BITUMEN BY UNQUALIFIED PERSONNEL IN THE EVENT OF EYE BURNS. THE PATIENT SHOULD BE REFERRED URGENTLY FOR SPECIALIST MEDICAL ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT.