Immediate action guide
Asphalt Sealcoat Contractor Emergency Action Steps
What to do right now before a asphalt sealcoat contractor arrives, with clear lines for 911, utility, and contractor calls.
First rule
If there is fire, smoke, shock, collapse risk, gas odor, carbon monoxide alarm, injury, trapped people, or any uncertainty about safety, leave the area and call 911. Use these steps only when you can act from a safe position.
E1
Wet Sealcoat Tracking
Do this now
- Move people, pets, and valuables away from the wet driveway, sidewalk, garage threshold, shoes, and vehicle tires.
- Keep people, pets, and vehicles off the coated surface.
- Block access with cones or tape and protect interior floors at the entry.
- Photograph safely, note the time, and save temporary-material receipts.
- Call the sealcoat contractor and report when traffic entered and what surfaces were tracked.
Do not do this
- - Do not wash fresh sealcoat into street drains or drive over it to test cure.
- - Do not re-enter while alarms, odors, sparks, smoke, water, or movement continue.
E2
Asphalt Crack Opening Fast
Do this now
- Move people, pets, and valuables away from the widening crack, driveway edge, garage approach, and drainage path.
- Keep vehicles off the cracked section and mark the edge.
- Divert surface water away without filling the crack during active movement.
- Photograph safely, note the time, and save temporary-material receipts.
- Call a sealcoat or asphalt contractor and describe crack width, base washout, and traffic needs.
Do not do this
- - Do not pour cold patch into a moving or wet void as a permanent fix.
- - Do not re-enter while alarms, odors, sparks, smoke, water, or movement continue.
E3
Driveway Edge Collapse
Do this now
- Move people, pets, and valuables away from the collapsed edge, culvert, ditch, sidewalk, and vehicle path.
- Stop driving over the edge and keep pedestrians away from the drop.
- Mark the edge with cones or visible barriers, not loose boards.
- Photograph safely, note the time, and save temporary-material receipts.
- Call an asphalt or sealcoat contractor and public works if a culvert or public ditch is involved.
Do not do this
- - Do not park heavy vehicles near a collapsed edge.
- - Do not re-enter while alarms, odors, sparks, smoke, water, or movement continue.
E4
Sealcoat Fume Concern
Do this now
- Move people, pets, and valuables away from the driveway, garage, open windows, doors, and air intakes.
- Move people indoors away from the work area or to fresh air if odors are strong.
- Close windows and doors facing the driveway and keep ignition sources away.
- Photograph safely, note the time, and save temporary-material receipts.
- Call the sealcoat contractor for product information and timing before re-entry or vehicle use.
Do not do this
- - Do not mix cleaners, chemicals, pesticides, paint, or pool products.
- - Do not re-enter while alarms, odors, sparks, smoke, water, or movement continue.
E5
Rain Washing Fresh Sealcoat
Do this now
- Move people, pets, and valuables away from the driveway runoff, curb, storm drain, garage, and sidewalk.
- Keep people and vehicles off the driveway and avoid slick runoff.
- From safe ground, block runoff from drains if possible without entering traffic.
- Photograph safely, note the time, and save temporary-material receipts.
- Call the sealcoat contractor and local public works if runoff reached a public storm drain.
Do not do this
- - Do not sweep or hose uncured sealcoat into the street.
- - Do not re-enter while alarms, odors, sparks, smoke, water, or movement continue.