Preventing exposures to diesel engine emissions and other exhaust gases during car inspection

The manager of a car repair shop realised that his workers were at a risk of exposure to diesel and gasoline exhaust fumes. The walls of the workshop were black with diesel soot and the workshop was polluted. He was well aware that such exposure to exhaust fumes posed a risk to his workers' health and his own health, and to the business. He contacted CRAMIF (the French statutory social security organisation for the Paris region) to ask for support in improving the working conditions. A safety inspector from CRAMIF visited the workshop and provided advice on appropriate ventilation. Together with CRAMIF, the car repair shop's manager designed an exhaust extraction system to eliminate air pollution from his workshop. The exhaust extraction system reduced emissions of diesel fumes and gasoline exhaust drastically. As a result, the workers are no longer exposed to exhaust fumes. The experience has been used to improve conditions in other car repair shops.