Adherence to proper safety practices is important for every sector of the construction industry, but asphalt plants have unique requirements. To highlight the environmental, health, and safety (EH&S) issues of concern for the asphalt industry, at both plants and paving sites, the National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA) is organizing a new conference: Beyond Compliance: Achieving EH&S Excellence.
Beyond Compliance will be held in San Antonio, Texas, March 18–19, just prior to the opening of the 2013 World of Asphalt Show & Conference. The conference is designed for environmental and health and safety managers at asphalt companies, but the sessions will be beneficial to anyone involved in asphalt production and construction, including construction managers, paving superintendents, safety superintendents, and inspectors.
“This is the first-ever conference to focus exclusively on issues related to environment, health, and safety at asphalt plants and paving sites,” stated NAPA Vice President for Environmental Affairs Howard Marks. "Beyond Compliance will provide practical, timely, and relevant information on managing current hazards and risks in the asphalt pavement industry.”
The conference will begin at noon on Monday, March 18, and end at noon the following day. It will include an environmental track and a health and safety track, both of which will feature world-class presenters and practitioners offering a laser-like focus on issues unique to the asphalt production and construction industry.
Hazard communication, work-zone safety practices, respiratory protection, and physical hazards, including arc flash protection requirements, will be covered in the health and safety track. The environmental track will cover stormwater control, waste disposal, dust control, and new reciprocating internal combustion engine (RICE) regulations, among other issues.
After the Beyond Compliance conference ends on Tuesday, attendees can visit the exhibition floor at World of Asphalt/AGG1. Among the many products and services on the show floor are companies focused on helping ensure worker safety at job sites, work zones, quarries, and asphalt production facilities.
“Beyond Compliance will help companies develop a world-class health and safety culture for their facilities and thereby reduce the risk of injuries at or environmental damage from a facility,” Marks stated.
