Exposure Assessment of Heavy-Equipment Operators to Diesel Particulate Matter

Details

• Personal Author:
  Hansen DS
• Description:
  Background-The OSHA/MSHA Hazard Alert that was released in January 2013 regarding the carcinogenicity of diesel particulate matter suggested that employers monitor the diesel particulate matter exposure of at-risk employees. The at-risk employees identified at an elemental phosphorous plant included heavy-equipment operators, locomotive operators and heavy duty equipment mechanics. OSHA recommends sampling for the gas phase components (i.e. CO and NO2) of diesel exhaust to determine if at-risk employees are exposed to diesel particulate matter. A literature review suggested that the extrapolation of diesel particulate matter from CO or NO2 levels may not accurately assess exposure to diesel particulate matter. Methods-Monitoring carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and diesel particulate matter (elemental carbon) levels was conducted to assess the exposure of at-risk employees. All three diesel exhaust constituents (CO, NO2 and EC) were sampled at the same time within the cab or work area of the at-risk employees. Results-A total of 13 samples were collected and analyzed. The samples collected were representative of the work environment that at-risk employees are exposed to. The statistical analysis of the data collected suggested that nitrogen dioxide time weighted average levels may serve as a predictor of diesel particulate matter, but carbon monoxide time weighted average measurement is not an accurate predictor of diesel particulate matter exposure. Conclusions-The assessment of workplace exposures must be directly measured. Description provided by NIOSH
• Subjects:
  • Occupational Health
  • Particulate Matter
  • Safety
  • Vehicle Emissions
• Keywords:
  • Diesel emissions
  • Diesel exhaust
  • Particulates
  • Heavy equipment
  • Equipment operators
  • Exposure assessment
  • Author Keywords: Diesel Particulate Matter
  • Elemental Carbon
  • Heavy Equipment Operators
• ISBN:
  9781303661983
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Thesis
• Place as Subject:
  Montana ; OSHA Region 8
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20064043
• Citation:
  Ann Arbor, MI: ProQuest LLC., 2013 Dec; :1550632
• CAS Registry Number:
  • Carbon monoxide (CAS RN 630-08-0)
  • Nitrogen dioxide (CAS RN 10102-44-0)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2014
• Performing Organization:
  Montana Technological University
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Exposure assessment of heavy-equipment operators to diesel particulate matter
• End Date:
  20290630
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/222570/cdc_222570_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 2.45 MB]
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:fc9c04a61b8a58ce9b112324c4b1943e89962f4b3b65ef753f526316adaab4443aa1207b7b4553aa56857a9126ca59de7b5eead4ae71588b31b8679386ed39fb