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Page last reviewed: 04/22/2011
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Diesel Exhaust

Diesel exhaust is a pervasive airborne contaminant in workplaces where diesel-powered equipment is used. Due to expanding use of diesel equipment, more and more workers are exposed to diesel exhaust. More than one million workers are exposed to diesel exhaust and face the risk of adverse health effects, ranging from headaches and nausea to cancer and respiratory disease. Such workers include mine workers, bridge and tunnel workers, railroad workers, loading dock workers, truck drivers, material handling machine operators, farm workers, longshoring employees, and auto, truck and bus maintenance garage workers.

There are currently no standards for diesel exhaust as a unique hazard. However, exposures to various chemical components of diesel exhaust are addressed in specific standards for the general industry and shipyard employment.

Standards

This section highlights OSHA standards, Federal Registers (rules, proposed rules, and notices), directives (instructions for compliance officers), standard interpretations (official letters of interpretation of the standards), and other federal standards related to diesel exhaust.

OSHA

Note: Twenty-five states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands have OSHA-approved State Plans and have adopted their own standards and enforcement policies. For the most part, these States adopt standards that are identical to Federal OSHA. However, some States have adopted different standards applicable to this topic or may have different enforcement policies.

General Industry (29 CFR 1910)

Shipyard Employment (29 CFR 1915)

Federal Registers

Directives

Standard Interpretations

Other Federal

Note: These are NOT OSHA regulations. However, they do provide guidance from their originating organizations related to worker protection.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

The EPA is responsible for developing regulations that set emission standards for diesel vehicles and engines, as well as for diesel fuel. Though these are not directly related to occupational exposure, lowering emissions does lower potential occupational exposure.

Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA)

  • An Introduction (30 CFR)
    • 30 CFR 7, Testing by applicant or third party
      • Subpart E, Diesel engines intended for use in underground coal mines
      • Subpart F, Diesel power packages intended for use in areas of underground coal mines where permissible electric equipment is required
    • 30 CFR 36, Approval requirements for permissible mobile diesel-powered transportation equipment
    • 30 CFR 70, Mandatory health standards -- Underground coal mines
      • Subpart T, Diesel exhaust gas monitoring
    • 30 CFR 75, Mandatory health standards underground coal mines (cont'd)
      • Subpart T, Diesel-powered equipment

  • Diesel Particulate Matter Exposure of Underground Metal and Nonmetal Miners. Federal Register Proposed Rule, Volume 64, Number 56, Pages 14200-14201, (1999, March 24). Also available as a 20 KB PDF, 2 pages. Helps workers become aware of increased diesel particulate matter (dpm) in underground mining.

  • Approval, Exhaust Gas Monitoring, and Safety Requirements for the Use of Diesel-Powered Equipment in Underground Coal Mines. Federal Register Final Rule, Volume 61, Number 208, Pages 55411-55461, (1996, October 25). Discusses the use of diesel engines in underground coal mines.
    • Information Regarding Diesel Regulations. Lists the Federal Regulations affected by the final rule which establishes new requirements for the approval of diesel engines and other components used in underground coal mines; requirements for monitoring of gaseous diesel exhaust emissions by coal mine operators; and safety standards for the use of diesel-powered equipment in underground coal mines.

Hazards and Solutions

Hazardous levels of diesel exhaust can be found in occupations ranging from mining to driving diesel fueled trucks or forklifts. In addition to occupational exposure, the wide use of diesel engines in transportation provides significant opportunity for environmental exposure to these emissions. Control technology could significantly limit many diesel exhaust exposures, although additional information and research are needed on the methods to monitor diesel particulates and determine the level of risk such particulates cause. The following references will help in recognizing and controlling diesel exhaust hazards.

Potential Hazards

Characteristics and Properties

Hazard Recognition

  • National Clean Diesel Campaign Fact Sheet [300 KB PDF, 6 pages]. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), EPA-420-F-05-012, (2005, November).

  • National Clean Diesel Campaign: Working Together for Cleaner Air. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), EPA-420-F-09-063, (2009, December).

Health Effects

Possible Solutions

General

Controls

Because diesel engines can operate for 20 to 30 years, millions of older, dirtier diesel engines are still in use. EPA offers many strategies and programs to help make these engines operate more cleanly and funding to help build diesel emission reduction programs that improve air quality and protect public health. EPA recommends a wide range of emission reduction strategies for diesel vehicles, vessels, locomotives, or equipment. These include:

Additional Information

Related Safety and Health Topics Pages

Training

  • The major mechanism for the control of diesel emissions is the proper operation of the engines. Therefore, the training of maintenance personnel in their care and adjustment is a critical issue. All personnel involved in engine maintenance should thoroughly understand the maintenance procedures recommended by the engine manufacturer and should follow all preventative maintenance schedules.

  • Equipment operators should be trained in the efficient use and care of the equipment.
    • Train personnel who handle fuel and lubricating oils to prevent contamination from dust, water, or other sources.
    • Train operators in routine inspection and maintenance.
    • Train operators to avoid operating the engine at low RPM in high load situations ("lugging").
    • Do not idle engines excessively.

  • Personnel working with diesel fuel in areas where diesel exhaust may be present should be advised of the potential hazards of exposure.

Other Resources

  • National Clean Diesel Campaign (NCDC). The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) National Clean Diesel Campaign promotes clean air strategies by working with manufacturers, fleet operators, air quality professionals, environmental and community organizations, and state and local officials to reduce diesel emissions.

  • Mine Safety and Health At a Glance. Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA).

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