Invisible risks faced by asphalt and road workers

The hidden health toll of road and asphalt work

Working on Australia’s roads involves a lot more than navigating traffic and heavy machinery. For many people in asphalt paving, resurfacing, and maintenance roles, it also means years of breathing in substances that can damage their health.

Road workers often spend long shifts outdoors, close to running machinery and freshly laid asphalt. While the physical risks of the job are well known, the health impacts of prolonged exposure to dust, fumes, and exhaust receive far less attention.

Over time, repeated contact with airborne hazards can place stress on the lungs and airways. These exposures are rarely dramatic or immediate, but they can accumulate across a working life and affect workers long after the job is done.

What road and asphalt workers are exposed to

Road construction and resurfacing sites frequently contain a combination of substances that can be harmful when inhaled. These may include:

• fumes produced when asphalt and bitumen are heated
• exhaust emissions from diesel‑powered trucks and machinery
• fine silica dust generated during cutting, grinding or resurfacing
• chemical additives used to modify asphalt performance

During asphalt works, heated bitumen releases vapours that may be breathed in for hours at a time. Some of these vapours can contain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which include substances linked to cancer.

Alongside this, diesel engines are a constant presence on many sites. Exhaust emissions contain very small particles that can settle deep in the lungs. Long‑term exposure to diesel exhaust has been associated with increased risks of respiratory disease and cancer.

Can long‑term asphalt work increase cancer risk?

Some substances associated with asphalt and road work have been linked to cancer with long‑term exposure. Components of bitumen fumes may contain carcinogenic compounds, and diesel engine exhaust is internationally classified as a known human carcinogen.

Cancer risk is generally linked to cumulative exposure over time, rather than short‑term or occasional work. This means the risk may not become apparent until many years after exposure has occurred.

Why the risks can go unnoticed

Workplace exposure isn’t always easy to measure or manage. In practice, the true level of risk can be underestimated for a number of reasons, including:

• safety documentation that doesn’t reflect actual site conditions
• limited or infrequent air monitoring
• testing that doesn’t capture high‑fume tasks or peak exposure
• assessments carried out under conditions that differ from normal operations

As a result, exposure levels may appear acceptable on paper, even though workers are repeatedly inhaling harmful substances. Over time, this repeated exposure can still lead to serious illness.

Signs that asphalt or bitumen exposure may be affecting your health

Some workers might wonder how they can tell if asphalt fumes or dust are making them sick. Symptoms aren’t always obvious, and they can vary from person to person. Short‑term exposure to roadwork‑related dust and fumes can cause throat irritation, coughing, headaches or fatigue. These issues are often minimised or brushed off as part of the job.

The longer‑term consequences are more serious. Extended workplace exposure has been linked to conditions including:

• occupational asthma and ongoing breathing difficulties
• chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• silicosis from inhaling fine silica dust
• lung cancer and other cancers associated with diesel exhaust

Many of these conditions develop gradually. Symptoms may not appear until years after the exposure occurred, making it harder for workers to connect their illness back to their job.

When work has affected your health

If you’ve become unwell because of exposure at work, you may have legal rights.

In Victoria, workers who develop illness due to occupational exposure may be entitled to support through the WorkCover system. This can include conditions such as respiratory disease, occupational asthma and certain cancers linked to dust, fumes or chemical exposure.

Depending on your circumstances, compensation may include:

• payment of reasonable medical and related expenses
• weekly payments if you’re unable to work or your capacity to work is reduced
• in some cases, lump sum compensation

Many exposure‑related illnesses develop gradually and may not be diagnosed until years after the work took place. This can make it harder to establish a link between the illness and workplace exposure, and claims are sometimes disputed by insurers.

That’s why it’s important to:

• seek medical advice as early as possible
• keep records of where you’ve worked and what you were exposed to
• document symptoms and any changes to your health
• get independent legal advice about your rights and options

Early advice can help clarify your position and preserve important evidence, even if your exposure happened many years ago.

Specialist support from Maurice Blackburn

Maurice Blackburn has been standing up for Australians for more than a century, helping people seek justice when they’ve been treated unfairly or harmed at work.

Our dust and occupational disease lawyers include more than 20 specialists across Australia and New Zealand. For over 30 years, we’ve supported people affected by exposure to dust, fumes and chemicals, guiding them through complex legal processes with care and clarity.

We know that living with a dust‑related disease can be confronting for both workers and their families. Our aim is to reduce the legal burden by providing clear advice, sensitive support and experienced representation.

The importance of recording exposure

One of the biggest challenges in dust disease claims is proving exposure long after the work has finished. To help address this, Maurice Blackburn offers a free National Asbestos, Dust, Fumes and Chemicals Register.

The register allows workers to document where they’ve worked and the substances they may have been exposed to, preserving valuable information for the future. In many cases, these records have supported claims through detailed exposure histories and workmate statements.

Speak with us early

If you’re worried about your health after working with asphalt, bitumen, diesel‑powered equipment or road‑related dust, confidential advice is available.

You don’t need to have a diagnosis or a confirmed claim to get in touch. We’re here to listen, explain your options and support you, so you can focus on your health and what comes next.