Occupational Cancer Risk Series Diesel engine exhaust There may be hazards where you work that increase your risk of developing cancer. This factsheet discusses occupational hazards related to diesel engine exhaust (DEE). Key messages • fuel used (e.g. low-sulphur diesel) • use of emission control system/s • In Australia, it is estimated that 1.2 million workers from many jobs are exposed to diesel • state of engine tuning and maintenance engine exhaust (DEE). • pattern of use (load and acceleration) • DEE contains airborne chemicals that are known • length of time the worker is exposed to cause cancer (carcinogens). Effective controls • Eliminate or reduce exposure to carcinogens by All Australian workplaces must follow work health using recommended controls. and safety laws; however these vary slightly • Refer to Safe Work Australia’s Guidance for between states and territories, but the duty of care Managing the Risks of Diesel Exhaust for more for employers and responsibilities of workers across information or contact your state or territory Australia is similar: work health and safety regulator. • Employers are required to ensure the health and Diesel engine exhaust and cancer safety of their workers at their workplace. DEE is created by burning diesel fuels. It contains a • Employers are required to ensure the health and mixture of airborne chemicals that can be harmful safety other people due to the work carried out. to people. When breathed in, these chemicals • Employers have a duty to control the risks increase your risk of developing long-term health associated with work. problems. This includes lung cancer and possibly bladder cancer. In Australia, DEE is the second • Workers must take reasonable care of their own most common carcinogen workers are exposed to, health and safety. behind solar UV radiation exposure. It is estimated • Workers must not negatively affect the health and that 1.2 million Australian workers were exposed to safety of other people. DEE in 2011. • Workers must follow any reasonable instruction Airborne contaminants and workplace health and safety policies, of DEE contains a mixture of gases and soot, which which they have been notified. is also called particulate matter. Other substances, For specific information regarding the laws or including carcinogens, may stick to the soot. regulations in your state or territory please use the Because soot particles are very small they can links supplied on the landing page under ‘useful easily get deep into the lungs. This is how they resources’. cause a range of short-term and long-term health problems, including cancer. Regular exposure Workers should always be involved in the risk to high levels of soot, over a long period of time, management process to correctly identify hazards increases the risk of getting lung and bladder and use control measures that suit the workplace. cancer. The Safe Work Australia Guidance for Managing Cancer risk from diesel engine exhaust varies the Risks of Diesel Exhaust has information on how depending upon the: you can control DEE hazards in your workplace. A • location of the operating engine (outside or combination of the recommended controls should enclosed space) be used (Table 1 - on the next page) to minimise • ventilation in the workspace DEE exposure. You should choose the control • number of engines measures that best suit your workplace. • type and age of the engine • size of engines • fuel pump setting • engine temperature All questions. All cancers. 13 11 20 www.cancer.org.au 1 Diesel engine exhaust Table 1. Summary of control measures for DEE. ACTIVITY CONTROL Engine Replace diesel powered engines with other Figure 1. The hierarchy of risk control selection energy sources (i.e. electric, gas) or choose Highest Most low emission engines. Use purchasing Eliminate guidelines for supply of engines that meet 1 (get rid of) US Tier 4 or Euro 6 standards. Substitute Fuel selection Use ultra-low sulphur and other low- 2 (change) emission diesel fuels, fuel additives and low sulphur lubricants where possible. Avoid Engineer controls contaminating diesel fuel and lubricating oils. 3 (make something new) Engine Refurbish engines to use low-sulphur fuel Administrative refurbishment and to improve fuel efficiency. 4 controls (instructions and signs) Emission Install devices that reduce emissions control (e.g. particulate filters, catalytic converters, Personal protective devices water scrubbers). equipment Reliability of control measures Reliability of control Level of health and safety protection (gloves, earplugs) Enclosed Design and maintain air-conditioned cabs equipment where possible (positive pressure, HEPA 5 filtered air supply, leak tested). Ventilation Use both local exhaust and forced dilution Lowest Least ventilation. Natural ventilation should not be used as a control method. Use connecting Eliminate or reduce exposure to hazards extraction pipes for vehicle exhausts in Use the hierarchy of control (Figure 1) and put in workshops. Cold engine starts should occur place a risk management process. If suitable control in spaces with good ventilation. measures are not in place, anyone working with Maintenance Have a maintenance schedule for all engines or around diesel-powered engines could be at an and repairs and emission control equipment. Carry out increased risk of developing cancer. emissions-based maintenance on engines (initial baseline testing and raw exhaust Recommended workplace exposure limits in the monitoring). Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists: Testing of Use raw exhaust tests to measure how Diesel Particulate Matter and Occupational Health exhaust well exhaust treatments are working. Test Issues – Position Paper help to reduce the irritant components in normal working conditions (e.g. engines effect of DEE and secondarily aid in minimising the under load, in low gear with hot engine and potential risk for lung cancer caused by work. hydraulics, engine revving at 70-80%). High and low idle tests are not enough. Workplace air monitoring can be used to check Engine Operate engines to optimise combustion (e.g. if exposure to particulate matter in DEE is being operation drive to usual conditions, limit idling and over- effectively reduced by the controls you are using. revving). Turn off engines when not in use. An occupational hygienist can assist with air monitoring. Worker Educate workers on hazards and the policies education and and procedures used to manage them. This For any concerns related to control measures at training is a work health and safety requirement. your workplace, or for more information on the Training should include how to recognise and report any changes in engine emissions control of air quality contact: or visible changes in the workplace (i.e. • your workplace supervisor or management (if white, blue or black smoke, walls or surfaces covered in soot or smoky looking haze when you’re an employee) diesel engines are in use). Workers should • your workplace health and safety representative also be taught how to operate equipment to or union representative minimise emissions. • state and territory work health and safety Share Rotate job tasks between your workers to regulators activities reduce amount of time exposed to DEE. • Safe Work Australia. PPE Wear air supplied or air purifying respiratory How do I detect cancer early and reduce my protection that filters particulates. They should cancer risk? be fitted to each worker. Speak to your doctor if you have had a cough for Administrative Schedule work to minimise the number of more than three weeks or have blood in your urine. workers near the plant whilst it is operating. To find out what you can do to create a workplace that supports healthy choices to help reduce cancer For more information visit the ‘useful websites’ listed on risk, contact Cancer Council on 13 11 20 or visit www.cancer.org.au/preventing-cancer/workplace-cancer/ cancer.org.au. diesel-engine-exhaust.html All questions. All cancers. 13 11 20 www.cancer.org.au 2.