Safety
When you hire Coastal Paving & Excavating (CPEX) for your next project, you can trust that you’re getting a company that values its employees and holds itself to the highest of standards.
Paving and excavating are dangerous business when done wrong, so here at Coastal Paving & Excavating we’re committed to doing things the right way. Safety is of the utmost importance because our employees are our family and we want to make sure everyone feels appreciated, valued, and comfortable coming to work every day.
Because asphalt is derived from crude oil, too much exposure to asphalt fumes can lead to headaches, rashes, fatigue, eye irritation, cough, sore throat, and even skin cancer. There is also a risk of fire and explosion since asphalt is typically handled at high temperatures.
When we work with asphalt, we make sure to avoid any sparks, electricity, open flames, and other ignition sources, such as cigarettes, in the vicinity of the asphalt operation.
We also ensure our workers have access to personal protective equipment like chemical goggles, insulated gloves, boots, and more.
All of our employees are instructed to take care while getting on and off of the equipment and to ensure that there aren’t people crowding the work area. We also make sure to locate any underground or overhead obstructions and to properly secure our paving area.
Excavating is another dangerous aspect of what we do. Any time you have the potential for dirt to bury someone, you have to operate with the most extreme of preventative measures and risk awareness.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires a safe means of access and egress, such as steps, ramps, and ladders to be located within 25 feet of all workers for any excavation project four feet or deeper.
We also make sure that any employee operating underground is wearing high-visibility clothing.
In every project we undertake, from paving to underground utilities, we make sure to function with the utmost of consideration for all safety issues.
When you hire CPEX for your next project, you can trust that you’re getting a company that values its employees and holds itself to the highest of standards.
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Coastal Paving & Excavating is a leader and trusted provider for underground utilities, roads, driveways and parking lots in the Monterey area.
Contact us today for a free quote.
Why Choose CPEX?
We are your one-stop-shop for all your asphalt paving and excavating needs. We offer a range of other useful services, including fine grading, patching, parking lot striping, and more.
We’re proud of our customer-first approach to doing business and have exceptionally high standards of service that utilize the highest grade of products and workmanship. We do all of this while upholding our commitment to always offer great value for money to our clients and friendly professional service from the moment you contact us through to completion.
These values and commitments make us a leader in our sector and one of the most trusted asphalt paving contractors in Monterey County.
If you have a project you would like to discuss, or you’d like to find out more about our asphalt paving safety measures, please contact a member of our team today.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the hazards of asphalt paving?
Prolonged exposure to asphalt (bitumen) fumes can cause headaches, skin rash, sensitivity, fatigue, throat and eye irritation, cough, and even skin cancer. It’s important to take breaks to clear your head during paving and to check up on coworkers for signs of overexposure.
What are the hazards of excavation?
The biggest concern for any dig is the sides of the trench collapsing and materials falling onto workers. Other potential hazards are nearby structures collapsing into the excavation, or run-ins with underground utilities. Failure to locate underground utilities could lead to electrocution, explosions, gas leaks, or flooding, in addition to costly repairs to public services.
What is the five-foot rule for excavation?
Any trenches five feet deep or deeper are required to have a protective system, unless the excavation is made entirely in stable rock. Even some trenches less than five feet deep should have a support system if the ground is shifty or likely to collapse.
What are the rules for safe excavation?
- Inspect trenches daily before beginning work.
- Check weather conditions daily and keep an eye out for precipitation.
- Avoid driving or parking heavy equipment near the edge of a trench.
- Always locate underground utilities before each dig.
- Always utilize proper safety equipment and protective gear.
- Don’t work underneath raised loads.
- Conduct atmospheric tests to detect low oxygen levels and toxic gases.
- Use protective systems like shielding, shoring, sloping, and benching.
