We consider the serious health effects of DEEE and what employers and employees can do to reduce the risks. We also answer some topical questions.
Diesel engines are a common feature of many workplaces. Critically, this means that thousands of workers may be at risk from harmful diesel engine exhaust emissions (DEEE). Read on to understand more about DEEE and how the risks can be managed.
What are diesel engine exhaust emissions?
Diesel engine exhaust emissions are the mixture of gases, vapours, aerosols, and particles produced by burning diesel fuels in diesel-powered equipment or vehicles. Often, these substances arise from incomplete combustion of the fuel; the high temperature and pressure conditions of the engine; and impurities within the liquid itself. They include:
- Nitrogen oxides
- Tiny particles
- Unburned hydrocarbons, including hydrocarbon rings
- Carbon monoxide
- Sulphur dioxide
Why are they harmful?
Individually, each of the above substances can harm our health. When emitted all together, the risk increases. If exposure is only short-term, eye or respiratory system irritation may occur, but these effects should resolve when you leave the site.
However, prolonged exposure can be more dangerous. It can affect:
- The respiratory system – diesel fumes can irritate the lungs, damage lung tissue, and cause lung infections. This can lead to conditions such as asthma and COPD.
- The cardiovascular system – harmful gases and penetration of tiny particles deep into the lungs can trigger systemic inflammation which may alter heart rate and blood pressure and damage blood vessels.
- Cancer risk – direct DNA damage from reactive hydrocarbon rings or the knock-on effects of inflammation can cause cancer. In 2012, the WHO classified diesel engine exhaust emissions as a Group 1 carcinogen.
- The neurological system – diesel exhaust emissions can cause inflammation and chemical stress of nerve cells, and are a possible factor in the occurrence of developmental and neurodegenerative diseases.
- The reproductive system – air pollution has been linked to male and female fertility, and some studies suggest impacts of diesel fuel emission constituents on the health of offspring, but more research is needed.
The severity of the health effects will depend on the extent of exposure, the type and quality of fuel, as well as the age, type, maintenance, and use of the diesel engine.
Between 2000 and 2016, the WHO estimates that 14, 728 people died as a result of occupational exposure to diesel engine exhaust emissions. This equates to 0.47 million disability adjusted life years, which are years lost due to ill health.
Who’s at risk?
Exposure to diesel exhaust emissions can occur in any industry that uses diesel-powered equipment. This often includes, but is not limited to, agriculture, construction, transport, and the extractive industries.
According to the UK Health and Safety Executive, the foremost source of exposure to diesel exhaust emissions in the workplace is heavy vehicles that use diesel fuel, such as buses, trains, lorries, tractors, and plant machinery.
However, all diesel-fuelled motor vehicles, including private cars, are responsible for diesel exhaust emissions and this can become a problem in enclosed spaces such as garages, workshops, car parks, at toll booths, or in ship and train vehicle holds.
Finally, people who work alongside stationary power sources, for example, generators, on activities such as tunnel and railway line repair, are also highlighted as at risk by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH).
What should you do?
If you’re an employer – Under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations, you should suitably and sufficiently address the risks to health of all employees that are exposed to diesel engine exhaust emissions.
This begins with a COSHH Risk Assessment, which Cura Terrae can help you with. Indeed, Susan Lett, Cura Terrae’s Occupational Hygiene Director, writes that assessment of “diesel engine exhaust emissions in the workplace is complex and should only be undertaken by trained occupational hygienists.”
It will then be necessary to prevent exposure, and, where this is not possible, introduce control measures. As workloads, frequencies, and practices are subject to change, the assessment will need to be regularly reviewed. Your risk assessment will also indicate whether you need to carry out monitoring of diesel engine exhaust emissions. We can do this for you, too.
If you’re an employee – If you feel that your health is being affected by exposure to diesel engine exhaust emissions, it is vital that you tell your employer and/or safety representative, and consult a doctor.
Even if you do not feel that your health is being adversely affected, but your work still involves exposure to diesel engine exhaust emissions, the UK Health and Safety Executive recommends that you:
- ask your employer for information on the hazards, including those specific to your workplace.
- avoid exposure where possible.
- make full use of any control measures provided.
- understand control processes and how to use control equipment, including being able to detect faults.
- report any faults in control measures.
- keep doors and windows open to disperse fumes where possible.
- turn off engines when not required.
- maintain high standards of personal hygiene.
Some topical queries
What if I’m self-employed?
COSHH regulations still apply if you’re self-employed. However, there are some small exceptions. Check the UK Health and Safety Executive website here.
Aren’t diesel engines safe nowadays?
Regulations for diesel engine exhaust emissions have tightened over recent years and this has led to the concurrent development of new engine technologies that ensure compliance with new standards. As a result, many people believe modern diesel engines are now “safe”, at least in Europe and North America. However, the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health notes that the benefits of cleaner technologies are, to a large extent, offset by the fact that there are now many more diesel vehicles on the roads. Furthermore, fleets are mixed, and a lot of older vehicles remain in use. As such, the IOSH concludes that DEEE still pose a risk to worker health.
What about biodiesel?
Biodiesel refers to fuels made from plant or animal oils. Because these materials are renewable, biodiesel is seen as a “green” alternative to mineral diesel, which derives from finite reserves. A 2022 review found that biodiesels were associated with lower emissions of tiny particles, hydrocarbons, sulphur compounds, and carbon monoxide than traditional fuels. However, researchers stress that these characteristics vary significantly depending on the oils used to make the biodiesel, with some biodiesels having the potential to be more harmful than others. As a developing area, the health impacts of biodiesel require further research.
