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What Are the Hazards of Roofing Tar?

Roofers melt roofing tar in large kettles on the job site before applying it to the roof. The temperature required to liquefy roofing tar is as high as 450 degrees Fahrenheit, which creates an extremely hazardous work environment for those applying the roofing tar to the roof and those occupying buildings where work is taking place. The tar is an adhesive in roofing projects, which adheres shingles to the roof.

  1. Fumes

    • Exposure to asphalt roofing tar fumes can include respiratory difficulties, irritation of the nose and throat and eye irritation. Workers exposed to roofing tar during the manufacture of the product may experience severe symptoms, which include skin rashes, nausea, stomach pain, headaches, fatigue and loss of appetite. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, there is an increased incidence of lung cancer among roofers, but studies have not shown a connection to asphalt tar, coal tar or asbestos.

    Burns

    • High temperatures used to liquefy the roofing tar increases the risk of burns in the event the tar splashes or drips onto the skin or eyes. Workers are at risk when feeding chunks of solid tar into the heating kettle. Hot roofing tar is also slippery, which can cause workers to slip, fall and land on the hot tar. When the roofing tar begins to cool, it can become sticky, which also presents a dangerous condition leading to falls. Workers carrying buckets of hot tar up ladders are at an increased risk of burns from hot roofing tar. When the liquefied roofing tar splashes onto the skin, it begins to cool and solidify, which causes it to stick to the skin, resulting in severe burns. Hot tar burns to the eyes can result in permanent damage and vision loss.

    Explosions

    • The kettles used to heat the tar can be a source of explosions or fire on the roof. The flash point for asphalt roofing tar is 560 degrees Fahrenheit. The operators of the kettle should maintain the temperature at a minimum of 25 degrees Fahrenheit lower than the flash point. Fire and explosions can result in serious worker injury.

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