File:2023 Evaluation of Potential Exposures to Railway Hazardous Material Inspectors.pdf

English: Representatives of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 2814 requested a health hazard evaluation concerning potential exposures to hazardous material inspectors. Inspectors became concerned after experiencing accidental exposures to hazardous materials while inspecting railway shipping containers. We visited four railyards to learn more about the job and employee health concerns. In August 2022, we visited two railyards near Chicago, Illinois, and another near Indianapolis, Indiana; and in October 2022, we visited a railyard near Cincinnati, Ohio.

Our key findings were that (1) inspectors could potentially be exposed to hazardous materials while inspecting railway shipping containers; (2) four-gas meters would not reduce the inspectors' risk of hazardous material exposure; and (3) Dräger pump and colorimetric indicator tubes would not reduce the risk of hazardous material exposure. Our recommendations were to (1) improve and standardize inspectors' hazardous material education and training on materials they might encounter; and (2) improve policies and procedures for emergency situations.

This report is part of the Health Hazard Evaluation series, a NIOSH program by which employees, union officials, or employers can request an evaluation of possible health hazards at their workplace at no cost to them.