Identification of dermal exposure situations bitumen during road paving work

This exploratory study is part of a collaborative project between the INRS and other partners aware of the prevention of chemical risks, including exposure to bitumen through the skin. The study aims to build a tool for analyzing risk situations for operators exposed to bitumen and to understand their perception of risk. To achieve these goals, we implemented an ergonomic approach, inspired ergotoxicological, based on the analysis of the activity. This analysis led to the construction of a grid characterization of skin contact. Collective interviews with operators have identified their subjective perception of risk. The results show that the misperception of risk or ignorance of its impact on their health, leads operators to neglect to wear their PPE. Skin contacts are frequent. Conditions for better prevention of this risk are discussed.