Health Hazard Evaluation Report No. 2023-0099-3430: Evaluation of Diesel Exhaust Control Methods at a Fire Station

Details

• Journal Article:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Personal Author:
  Echt, Hannah ; Qi, Chaolong ; Hammond, Duane R. ; Niemeier-Walsh, Micah
• Description:
  The Health Hazard Evaluation Program received a request from management at a city fire department who were concerned about firefighters' exposure to diesel exhaust when fire apparatuses were running in the apparatus bay. During our visits, we (1) observed work processes and practices; (2) collected area air samples of diesel particulate; (3) measured real-time concentrations of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and particulates; and (4) conducted a ventilation assessment at the station. We found levels of diesel exhaust particulate (as elemental carbon) and other components of vehicle exhaust were low in the apparatus bay and living quarters. Our results showed that most of the particulate in the apparatus bay was smaller than 1 µm in diameter. We observed peaks in particle concentrations in the EMS dorm when apparatuses were running in the bay. Our ventilation measurements indicated that both the local and general exhaust systems provided measurable airflow, but the local exhaust extraction system did not always successfully capture vehicle emissions due to design and operational issues. System activation relied heavily on dispatch signals and in some cases the exhaust extraction system failed to consistently respond to engine exhaust pressure, particularly for newer vehicles. Observations showed poor compatibility between the local exhaust extraction system and modern diffuser style tailpipes, uneven airflow distribution, and mechanical problems such as hose disconnections. These issues increase the risk of diesel exhaust exposure and potential safety hazards during normal operations. Overall, the fire department could consider functional adjustments, equipment repairs, and reconfiguration to ensure effective exhaust capture and safe operation to further reduce potential exposures.
• Subjects:
  Occupational Health Safety Vehicle Emissions Ventilation
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Fire Protection; Diesel Exhaust; Elemental Carbon; Ventilation; Fire Station; Firefighters Region 7; Fire Fighters; Diesel Exhaust; Motor Vehicles; Particulates; Exhaust Ventilation; Elemental Carbon; Control Methods;
• Source:
  Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, HHE 2023-0099-3430, 2026 Mar; :1-29
• Series:
  Health Hazard Evaluation Reports (HHE)
• DOI:
  10.26616/NIOSHHHE202300993430
• Publisher:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Field Study
• Place as Subject:
  Iowa ; Ohio ; Kansas City Region [OSHA] ; Chicago Region [OSHA]
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DFSE - Division of Field Studies and Engineering
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  30 pdf pages
• Contributor:
  Watts, Shawna ; Feldmann, Karl ; Thompson, Drew ; Mayer, Alex ; Hartwell, Joseph ; Ramsey, Jessica ; O'Connor, Colleen
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20071259
• CAS Registry Number:
  Carbon (CAS RN 7440-44-0)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2026
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• NAICS and SIC Codes:
  922160 - Fire Protection - (NAICS 2022)
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:32161bf5dff516fce91cfe058e1185fa188f0c20b0580d1a55be7fdd1ed618e377b0c34400bf3fc328a7e20d75865809268aa0db12c77c317feea0b5a6471930
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/258737/cdc_258737_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 622.28 KB ]