EWW, what’s that smell?
Over time, you may have occasionally noticed a strange smell on board. Some describe it as smelling like stinky socks, while others compare it to the smell of a gym bag or acrid cheese. Regardless of the description, it’s unpleasant, and your nose is warning you that something’s off!
The cause may be specific components of jet engine oils and hydraulic fluids that create distinct smells when superheated in the aircraft’s engine.
But why would I smell this in the aircraft cabin?
The cabin air you breathe is drawn from the clean air entering the aircraft engines, a process called bleed air. The engine can leak at very low levels, by design. This can increase significantly during mechanical malfunctions.
Fume events can also occur when oil from overfilled reservoirs enters the air system.
Why Should You Care?
The reality is that jet engine oil contains additives that are known to be bad for your health. Furthermore, after becoming superheated, these products change, and the jury is still out as to what those byproducts are or their full impact on worker health.
And yet, in aviation, fume events occur almost every day at almost every airline. They’re dubbed nuisance events, odour occurrences – really, anything other than what they really are: workplace exposure to fumes.
But how is this possible in an industry that prides itself on innovation?
Because it’s cheaper.
- Separate, turbo-compressor air systems existed up until the mid-1960s. But it was more fuel efficient to use bleed air from the engines.
- Now, manufacturers continue to reuse old system technology instead of integrating newer ones, which separate air system configurations.
- Regulators like Transport Canada could play a role by encouraging solutions and requiring new aircraft to be designed with separate cabin air systems. But they don’t.
What solutions exist?
- The Boeing 787 already has a separate cabin air system – proof that it is possible.
- Multiple manufacturers have developed and tried to market filtration technology. Filtration systems have been on DHL 757s for over a decade. It’s possible.
- Sensor technology can and should be developed so that workers can be warned of fume events and KNOW what they’ve been exposed to so they can get appropriate medical follow-up.
- Air operators can stop treating fume events as a nuisance. They should incorporate urgency by incorporating fume events into their fire and smoke SOPs so that crews and passengers can disembark at the earliest opportunity – instead of “riding them out” for hours.
What can you do?
1. Know and use your company procedures. Smells in the aircraft can be from many sources and mean many things. It’s crucial to follow SOPs to ensure good crew resource management with the flight crew.
2. Get checked out! This is the part that is the most frustrating for everyone because it takes time and energy to go sit and see a doctor. We have worked hard with stakeholders and experts all over the world to bring you tools that will help make this process as easy as possible.
Book off if you’re sick and/or if you believe you’re impaired and unfit for duty. Remember, if it’s related to a workplace incident, it’s a reportable injury to workers’ compensation. If anyone dissuades you, the Union needs to know so it can be flagged to the regulator.
3. Report it! Every fume event that isn’t reported is a fume event that never existed. Remember that reporting isn’t just for the in-charge – YOU also lived the experience and may have information or observations that are unique. Examples of reporting (subject to SOP’s per your manual):
a. Logbook
b. E-Reports
c. Work-related Injury/Illness report
d. Health and safety complaint
4. Let the Union know: Advise the Union of the incident through the GCARS link on the fume event portal at www.accomponent.ca so they can be tracked and we can generate data to advocate for change!
Knowledge is Power:
Visit www.accomponent.ca and click on the yellow banner for more information about Fume Events.
In solidarity,
Your Air Canada Component of CUPE Health and Safety Committee