Onboard Fume Events: Know the Signs. Report It.
Your health and safety at work matters.
Fume events may not happen often, but when they do, they can pose a serious health and safety concern for flight attendants and other crew members.
What is a fume event?
A fume event can occur when oil or other contaminants enter an aircraft’s ventilation system and are circulated into the cabin air.
Fumes may not smell like oil. They are often described as smelling like dirty socks, smelly feet, musty air, or something foul or unusual.
Know the symptoms
Symptoms can vary from person to person and may not always appear immediately.
Possible symptoms include:
– Headaches
– Dizziness or light-headedness
– Blurred or tunnel vision
– Difficulty concentrating or “brain fog”
– Throat irritation
– Nausea and vomiting
– Other respiratory or neurological symptoms
Everyone can respond differently to exposure, and the severity of symptoms may vary.
If you experience a fume event
Take care of yourself first. If you experience symptoms following a suspected fume event, seek medical attention from your doctor, clinic, or hospital.
You should also make sure the incident is properly documented:
1. Complete a work-related injury/illness report.
2. File a Health & Safety complaint or report.
3. Let the Union know.
Report the incident through the GCARS link on the Fume Event Portal at https://gcars.app/
Reporting allows incidents to be tracked and helps the Union build the information and data needed to identify trends and advocate for safer working conditions.
Knowledge is Power
The more we report and track these events, the better we can understand what is happening and advocate for meaningful change.
https://cupe.ca/onboard-fume-events