In November 2019, the rolling and mastic asphalt processing industry was faced with a difficult task due to the setting of a very low occupational exposure limit for vapours and aerosols from the hot processing of distillation and air-rectified bitumen. Provided that an industry solution is developed together with the BG BAU and the IG BAU, a 5-year transitional period until 31.12.2024 was granted for compliance with these limit values.

The required industry solution was published on 23 March 2021, on which the associations united in the coordination committee and the BG Bau agreed. To this end, construction associations and the machinery and asphalt manufacturing industry developed measures that can significantly reduce the exposure of employees to vapours and aerosols from bitumen in rolled and mastic asphalt construction.

The Chairman of the Committee considers the industry solution to be a milestone for asphalt construction, especially in traffic route construction, also for the future. In this context, the high importance of occupational health and safety for the employees in the affected industrial and economic sectors is also documented.

According to the prevention department of BG Bau, the measures of the industry solution are an effective way to improve health protection in asphalt paving. In addition, the BG creates incentives to retrofit existing machines, e.g. with extraction systems on pavers or remote controls for outlets on mixing vessels, by means of occupational health and safety premiums.

The trade union Industriegewerkschaft Bau believes that the "Bitumen Industry Solution" has achieved a reduction in exposure at asphalt paving workplaces, and that the joint task together with the works councils and the accident insurers is now to implement the reduction measures in practice.

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