Part 1
More than a million Australians are exposed to diesel exhaust at the workplace every year. Those who are most at risk include people who spend a lot of time working to unload or load trucks, as well as railway and busway workers, employees at fast food shops, and car park attendants. Diesel exhaust, in the short term, can cause irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat – making an individual develop a cough, phlegm and nausea. In the long term, exposure can increase the risk of developing asthma, allergies and even heart and lung disease. In this blog, we are going to look at what diesel exhaust is, why it’s a WHS hazard and what you need to do about it at your workplace. At Rose Training Australia, our WHS courses and WHS trainers encourage an atmosphere where everyone is passionate about ensuring a safe, healthy and happy work environment!
WHS 1: What is diesel exhaust and why should we be aware of it?
– Diesel exhaust is the result of an engine burning diesel fuel, and is made up of different gases and vapours. Some of the substances found in diesel exhaust are hazardous and carcinogenic, and can penetrate the lungs of someone who breathes it in.
– Exposure to diesel exhaust will likely occur in workplaces where there are trucks, buses, ships and other heavy vehicles or machinery, and is exacerbated by poor ventilation and workplaces being completely enclosed.
– If you are a heavy vehicle driver or maintenance worker, stevedore or dock worker, you will be exposed to diesel exhaust in your workplace
– So it’s important that exposure is minimised, to ensure the ongoing and long term health of employees
WHS 2: Who are the relevant stakeholders in regards to diesel exhaust?
– An employer has a duty to workers to ensure that they are not exposed to WHS risks – which includes minimising or eliminating exposure to diesel exhaust (to the extent that it is reasonably practicable). The employer may have a duty to provide information, resources or training so as to protect their employees from exposing themselves to WHS risks whilst carrying out their business
– Manufacturers, importers, installers, designers and suppliers should make sure they do their work in a way that minimises or eliminates risks to health and safety – which may include testing, analysing and providing information to the user.
– WHS officers must comply with the WHS Act and Regulations – which includes ensuring that the workplace has taken the requisite steps to minimise and eliminate
– Employees should comply with WHS regulations and take steps to ensure their own health and safety as well as not negatively affecting their colleagues’ health and safety
In our next blog, we will look at how to manage exposure to diesel exhaust at the workplace, so as to make sure that workers are as safe, happy and healthy as possible. If you want to know more about WHS training and diesel exhaust, contact us now on 3038 3048 or talk to Jessica Rose on LiveChat! We’d love to hear from you!
Information sourced from:
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