The transition from steam to diesel-powered engines in the mid-20th century revolutionized the railroad industry.
However, this shift introduced a new set of occupational hazards.
Diesel exhaust is a complex mixture of gases and fine particles, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), known for their carcinogenic properties.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), part of the World Health Organization, has classified diesel engine exhaust as a Group 1 carcinogen, indicating sufficient evidence of its carcinogenicity in humans.
The Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) was enacted to mitigate such exposures by promoting cleaner technologies and practices.
Despite these efforts, many railroad workers continue to face significant health risks.
Health effects associated with diesel exhaust exposure include respiratory issues, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and an increased risk of lung and bladder cancer.
The fine particulate matter in diesel exhaust can penetrate deep into the lungs, causing inflammation and other serious health problems.
The railroad industry’s reliance on diesel-powered engines necessitates ongoing attention to occupational health and safety.
Implementing stricter safety regulations, improving ventilation systems, and transitioning to cleaner energy sources are critical steps in protecting workers from the harmful effects of diesel exhaust.
What Railroad Workers are at the Highest Risk of Exposure to Diesel Exhaust?
Railroad operations often place workers in close proximity to running engines, idling locomotives, and diesel-powered machinery—all of which emit harmful diesel particulate matter into the air.
Long-term exposure to these emissions, especially in areas with poor ventilation or inadequate control measures, can significantly increase the risk of cancer, respiratory disease, and other health problems.
A lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) and insufficient regulations in past decades has left many railroad employees with high levels of personal exposure.
Today, many of these workers are facing serious health consequences tied directly to their job duties in the diesel-reliant railroad industry.
In the railroad industry, various job roles are particularly susceptible to diesel exhaust exposure due to the nature of their work:
- Locomotive Engineers – Operate diesel-powered trains, often sitting for long hours in cabs where fumes may build up.
- Conductors – Spend time near diesel engines during inspections, coupling, and switching activities.
- Maintenance-of-Way Workers – Regularly operate diesel-powered repair and construction equipment along active rail lines.
- Yard Workers – Work on or near idling engines in switching yards and classification yards where ventilation is poor.
- Shop Workers – Maintain and repair locomotives and engines indoors, often without sufficient exhaust ventilation.
- Signal Maintainers – Use diesel vehicles and equipment in the field to install or repair trackside signaling systems.
- Truck Drivers Employed by Railroads – Frequently idle next to locomotives while loading and unloading rail cargo.
- Track Inspectors – Use diesel-powered motorcars and tools in confined track areas for routine inspection duties.
Each of these roles involves some combination of close contact with diesel engines, frequent time spent in confined or unventilated spaces, and minimal access to respiratory protection.
When long-term exposure occurs without proper control measures or PPE, these workers may face chronic health consequences.
Diesel exhaust particulates are especially dangerous because they are made up of extremely fine particles that can lodge deep within the lungs and enter the bloodstream.
Over time, these exposures may not only cause immediate respiratory distress, but can lead to lung cancer, bladder cancer, and other serious illnesses.