Diesel fumes

It is agreed that the risk is linked with the particulate emissions in diesel fumes – the soot, rather than the gases or vapours. The soot is easily inhaled and drawn deep into the lungs. DEEE exposure is now often measured by the elemental carbon concentrations in the air inhaled by workers.

Even if people lead a healthy life, do not smoke or have a strong history of cancer in the family, DEEE can still cause lung cancer, depending on the number of airborne particulates the worker is exposed to.

DEEE exposure can cause or is linked to other health conditions, such as:

• bladder cancer (and potentially other cancers such as oesophagus, larynx, pancreas and stomach)
• increased risk of heart and lung disease
• worsening of asthma and allergies.

While people are more likely to be diagnosed with a cancer caused by long-term exposure to DEEE in later life, many workers will still incur respiratory symptoms that can seriously affect quality of life at a much younger age.

DEEE from vehicles such as forklifts, lorries, buses, trains and tractors can cause a problem. This is particularly the case in enclosed spaces such as garages, underground car parks, vehicle test areas or workshops. People working with fixed power sources such as compressors, generators or power plants (sectors such as tunnelling, mining or construction) could also be at risk.

Exposure to DEEE can occur in any industry that involves diesel-powered equipment. These include:

• agriculture
• construction
• energy extraction
• fire and rescue services
• mining
• rail
• shipping
• transport and logistics
• tunnelling
• vehicle repair
• warehousing.

People who work in areas where exhaust levels are high or can accumulate may be at risk. Job roles include:

• airline ground workers
• bridge and tunnel workers
• bus, lorry and taxi drivers
• car, lorry and bus service and repair workers
• construction workers
• custom and border control officers
• depot and warehouse workers
• emergency service workers (police and traffic officers, firefighters and paramedics)
• farmworkers
• heavy equipment operators
• loading dock and dockside ferry workers
• maritime workers
• material handling operators
• miners
• oil and gas workers
• railway and subway workers
• refuse collection workers
• tollbooth and traffic management workers
• tunnel construction workers
• landscapers.

To identify DEEE present in the workplace, some form of monitoring is usually required. Occupational hygiene monitoring involves taking air samples over a period of time, to highlight the presence of DEEE and, if present, measuring the level.

Other ways of identifying DEEE include reviewing process-generated emissions (from diesel generators, for example) and manufacturer’s information on emissions from their equipment.

Assessing exposure to a hazardous chemical involves looking at the type, intensity, concentration, length, frequency and occurrence of exposure to workers. This includes the amount of the chemical being produced and any indicative occupational exposure limit values, or equivalent, associated with it.

Assessment of a chemical is a subjective process. It is based on the assessor’s knowledge and experience of the chemical and the activity and environment in which it is being used. Existing controls influence how an assessor decides on the level of risk. Methods for recording this decision-making process vary. They can be numerical, using a high, medium or low scale, or a red, amber, green rating.

National or international legislation influences the permittable level of emissions. While this is sometimes not a true reflection of the actual emissions from a vehicle or other piece of equipment, it may give some idea of expected emissions.

Check legal requirements for the country where work is taking place. Diesel quality and emission standards vary depending on the local situation, so local standards should be checked.

In European Union (EU) countries, for example, high standards are set for vehicle emissions – since 1992/93 there has been a steady reduction in allowable emissions on new vehicles including cars, trucks, trains, tractors and barges. Reductions were made in 2008/09 with the Euro 5/V standard, and in 2013/14 with the Euro 6/VI standard. In other parts of the world, standards for diesel may be lower.

Different equipment will have different standards too. A diesel generator may not be covered by some vehicle exhaust emission standards, for example, and seagoing ships may also be excluded.

Higher standards mean that the risks may be reduced, but not necessarily eliminated.

In the EU, Directive 2004/37/EC was amended in 2019. This focused on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to carcinogens or mutagens at work. For the first time, it included exposure limits for DEEEs.

• Using alternative energy sources to diesel-powered engines such as electric.

• Reducing exposure to as low as possible by purchasing low-emission engines and more fuel-efficient engines.
• Using cleaner fuels such as low-sulphur diesel fuels.

• Using exhaust gas recirculation systems to reduce emissions.
• Using tailpipe exhaust extraction systems.
• Implementing local exhaust ventilation systems and other ventilation systems.
• Using diesel exhaust gas ‘after-treatment’ systems such as catalytic converters.
• Fitting emission control devices (air cleaners) such as scrubbers, collectors and particle traps.

• Ensuring engines are switched off when not required.
• Regular maintenance, tune-ups and exhaust leak checks.
• Reducing the number of workers or the time workers are exposed to areas where
• DEEE are generated. Ensure that other workers not involved with DEEE-generating activities are not exposed to DEEE areas.
• Making sure cold engines are warmed up in spaces with good ventilation.
• Job/task rotation to limit potential exposure times.
• Filtering air in vehicle cabs.
• Providing information, instruction and training on DEEE to workers.

Appropriate RPE should be provided to all required workers. Ensure that:

• wearers are face-fit tested and that the RPE fits correctly
• wearers should be clean shaven to ensure a proper skin to RPE seal
• wearers are trained for use of the RPE
• the RPE is cleaned and checked before and after use
• filters and disposable RPE are changed regularly
• RPE is stored correctly
• defects are reported immediately and the RPE is not used if defected or not clean.

RPE is designed to protect wearers from inhaling harmful dusts, fumes, vapours or gases, and should only be used as a last control measure. It is better to control DEEE exposure using other controls. However, for some activities or work tasks, RPE may be the only practicable solution.

It is important to consider the organisation’s activities and worker’s exposure in the context of real-world situations. We published a study in 2020 on the exposure of 141 drivers in London to DEEEs. This not only demonstrated how DEEE measurement could be done in practice, but also presented some suggestions of control measures that could mitigate the identified exposures. See the download section of this page for the summary and full research report.

Designate a responsible person to implement and develop a DEEE exposure plan

Mitigating DEEE exposure is achievable. The responsible person should be competent to undertake the task and start by developing a plan to assess the risks of exposure and consider these points.

• Are diesel engines or equipment being used in or for the workplace?
• Are DEEE being released into enclosed working areas?
• Are DEEE being drawn into the workplace through ventilation inlets?
• Are DEEE concentrating in confined spaces or areas in buildings where there’s limited air movement?
• Are there clear soot deposits on surfaces in the workspace? Is there a visible ‘haze’ or ‘smoke’ appearance in the air?
• Is there white, blue or black smoke being emitted from diesel engines? If so, how often does this occur?
• Have there been any ill-health complaints from potentially exposed workers – do workers suffer from irritated eyes, throat or lungs, or incur headaches or coughing?

Are people competent to manage DEEE? Assessing and managing exposure to harmful substances are specialist areas. If workers do not have the right training, knowledge and experience then a fatal mistake could occur. Seek expert advice if required.

Complete an organisational DEEE exposure risk assessment

Consider who might be exposed to DEEE throughout the organisation.

• What tasks will they be doing that may expose them to DEEE?
• How likely is it that workers will be exposed to DEEEs and who could be affected?
• Can exposures be avoided?

Communicate the risks to those who are potentially exposed and involved with tasks involving DEEE

As good practice, whether it is law or not in your country, workers should be informed of the level of risk to health and what precautions they must implement to keep themselves and others safe. Contractors should also be informed of risks.

Implement suitable control measures focusing on eliminating or reducing DEEE exposure

These will include:

• switching to other forms of fuel where possible, for example electric vehicle
• replacing old engines with newer versions with lower emissions
• reducing exposure via engineering controls such as implementing local exhaust ventilation
• implementing administrative controls such as rotating jobs between different workers to minimise exposure and providing training
• providing suitable RPE  where required to protect workers.

Provide information, instruction and training for workers

It is good practice to provide DEEE exposure awareness training to workers whose activities may involve tasks with exposure risks.

Investigate DEEE exposure-related incidents to identify causes

The investigation must check:

• if the DEEE exposure plan was accurate and shared
• if local procedures were implemented and followed correctly
• whether those exposed had been informed of the risks associated with DEEE exposure
• whether those exposed had been provided with relevant training and RPE.

A note should be made in the personal records of those exposed with DEEE-related ill-health. Records should include when the incident happened, how long it lasted, and the outcome of the exposure.

Consider submitting exposed workers to an organisation health monitoring and surveillance programme.

Monitor to ensure controls are effective and DEEE exposures are mitigated and minimised, and arrange health surveillance for workers if required

Monitoring controls is important to check whether they are suitable and working to eliminate or reduce DEEE exposure. Health monitoring can also be important. Workers should undergo regular health checks by a competent medical professional. This may be through occupational health.

Evaluate and apply learning lessons

After any incident and investigation, lessons learnt must be recognised and applied to the DEEE exposure plan and health and safety management system. This will help to prevent and reduce the chance of exposures recurring.

The DEEE exposure plan should be reviewed regularly. This will ensure it remains as accurate as possible. Good practice would be to complete reviews on an annual basis or sooner, if required. For example, a more frequent review may be required if a large amount of work involves DEEE, as more workers may be at risk.

See your doctor if you have any of these symptoms.

• A cough that doesn’t go away after two or three weeks.
• A long-standing cough that gets worse.
• Persistent chest infections.
• Coughing up blood.
• An ache or pain when breathing or coughing.
• Persistent breathlessness.
• Persistent tiredness or lack of energy.
• Loss of appetite or unexplained weight loss.

Professional drivers are usually exposed to high levels of DEEE while working. This risk increases when they are working in congested traffic areas and driving at busy times of day.

Protect and minimise exposure to DEEE by:

• driving with the windows closed, so you are not breathing in DEEE
• ventilating vehicles using the recirculate air setting – but this should be used sparingly, as it also circulates carbon dioxide that is breathed out
• planning routes carefully to avoid congested traffic areas and tunnels, if possible
• rotating shifts so they are not always driving at the busiest times on the roads
• considering in-cabin filters, as they can reduce DEEE exposure.

Think about the vehicle you are driving. Did you know?

• Petrol vehicles use more fuel than diesel and produce more carbon dioxide but less-toxic emissions.
• In the European Union, Euro 5 and 6 diesel vehicles are required to have a diesel particulate filter, which reduces particulate emissions by up to 90 per cent. Other countries have similar standards.
• Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and all-electric vehicles (EVs) typically produce lower exhaust emissions than conventional vehicles or no exhaust emissions at all.
• Regular maintenance of your vehicle is important in keeping dangerous emissions low.

• Turn off engines if not needed. This stops the production of DEEE.
• Use local exhaust ventilation. Tailpipe exhaust extraction systems are used to draw fumes away from the work area and filter them. Check before use to make sure they have been inspected properly and maintained.
• Use workplace air extraction. Increasing air circulation in the workplace can help reduce exposure to DEEE. This can be done by using installed air vents in the walls and ceiling, or even by keeping doors and windows open in your workplace.
• Wear a mask. For some jobs, you’ll need to wear a mask. Make sure it’s an FFP3-standard mask (European standard EN149:2001 or country equivalent) or a powered air-fed hood.
• Get trained. Understand the dangers of exposure to DEEE, and when and how to eliminate them. Use controls and protective equipment.