Sectoral approach to reduce exposure to DME

Dutch employee and employers organisations in construction worked together on the reduction of diesel motor emission (DME). Knowledge centre and consultant Volandis acted as an  intermediate party and published the A-form.

Exposure to DME

Employees in construction and infrastructure are being exposed to diesel motor emissions during many of their tasks. This can be exhaust in their close environment, for example passing traffic, or exhaust that is created during work, for example while working with machines which are powered by diesel. DME is a carcinogen, which means that reducing exposure to it has high priority.

Points of exposure

In many of the tasks employees execute, the exposure rate is too high. The construction and infrastructure sectors include lots of very small companies, employing less than 10 employees. These are known to have little knowledge of hazardous substances and appropriate measures. Therefore, the sectors asked for:

1. A target value for maximum exposure (Please note: meanwhile, a European exposure limit value has been released.)
2. An overview of practical and feasible measures, following state of the art developments, presented in a way that also enables small companies to reduce exposure to DME. 

Solutions

In the A-form diesel motor emission, employees and employers in construction and infrastructure have agreed to reduce as much of the exhaust of DME as possible, pending a definitive limit value. Many practical measures are being explained, in order of the occupational health strategy.

Result

The A-form is being published which includes all necessary and practical measures to reduce DME in the sector as much as possible.