EMB ERJ 170/175 ER/LR
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument
Communication Breakdown; Physiological - Other
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Illness / Injury; Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem; General Physical Injury / Incapacitation
Company Policy; Human Factors; Procedure
While deplaning in ZZZZ we we're notified via the ramp interphone that the ground crew were going to spray the cargo bins with pesticides as per our 10-7 page. We operated Aircraft X the previous day and studied the 10-7 pages prior to our international flight. Knowing that the forward cargo vent fan would introduce the pesticide to the recirculation bay; I wanted to remove any risk of the recirculation fans from circulating the pesticide through the cabin by turning of the fans prior to the ground crew spaying the cargo bin. That seemed to work as none of the crew noticed anything on that day. Unfortunately; Aircraft X today we repeated the same process but we believe the ground crew began to spay the pesticide as we were being notified. We turned off the recirculating fans but; immediately my First Officer and I noticed a strong odor that we believed to be the pesticide. The aircraft was in the process of being deplaned and the main cabin door was open. As I exited the flight deck I didn't notice the strong smell as I had in the flight deck. After everyone was off the aircraft and the crew was outside the airplane we discussed the incident with our flight attendants and they did notice a smell in cabin. A couple of minutes later I did develop an upset stomach that lasted for a couple of minutes. My First Officer reported a slight headache. After about 10 to 15 minutes later I was feeling well again and my First Officer said he too was felling better and was able to perform all duties. Our flight attendants never reported any adverse effects. The next flight was conducted without incident. I recommend additional coordination with the ground crew to make sure that the spraying doesn't commence until the recirculating fans are turned off. I also recommend that deselecting the recirculating fans become a recommended practice when pesticides are introduced to the forward cargo bay.
EMB-175 Captain reported a fume event during arrival deplaning due to ground crew spraying the cargo bins without previously notifying the fight crew. Flight crew experienced temporary physiological symptoms.