Department of Consumer and Employment Protection Resources Safety 1 Please read this before using presentation This presentation is based on content presented at the 2007 Mines Safety Roadshow held in October 2007 It is made available for non-commercial use (eg toolbox meetings) subject to the condition that the PowerPoint file is not altered without permission from Resources Safety Supporting resources, such as brochures and posters, are available from Resources Safety For resources, information or clarification, please contact: or visit

Toolbox presentation: Ventilation issues in mining — diesel exhaust emissions October 2007

Department of Consumer and Employment Protection Resources Safety 3 Legislation Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994 — Section 9 Mines Safety and Inspection Regulations 1995 — Part 9 Ventilation and control of dust and atmospheric contaminants Mines Safety and Inspection Regulations 1995 — Part 10 Division 4 Specific requirements for underground mines – diesel units

Department of Consumer and Employment Protection Resources Safety 4 What are diesel particulates? An exhaust emission from diesel engines Formed during the combustion process within engines Have elemental carbon (EC) and organic carbon (OC) components Contain other components Elemental carbon is the analyte – i.e. it’s what we measure to assess exposure

Department of Consumer and Employment Protection Resources Safety 5 What are diesel particulates? cont. “It is of particular importance that the fuel entering at the mouth should be thoroughly consumed and without the formation of soot.” Rudolf Diesel. From US Patent Number dated 9 August 1898

Department of Consumer and Employment Protection Resources Safety 6 What are diesel particulates? cont. Particles are rapidly formed in exhaust Comprise spherules (nm) Agglomerations (µm) High surface areas! Source: AIOH Guideline – A Rogers

Department of Consumer and Employment Protection Resources Safety 7 Airborne particle size distribution in a diesel-equipped mine Source: Airmet Scientific

Department of Consumer and Employment Protection Resources Safety 8 Particle size Source:

Department of Consumer and Employment Protection Resources Safety 9 Health effects of diesel particulates NIOSH 1988 IARC 1989 – probable carcinogen (International Agency for Research on Cancer) Diesel particulates are a vector for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and other organics Short-term respiratory irritation Health effects of diesel particulates are recognised as a significant public health issue especially as more road vehicles are powered by diesel

Department of Consumer and Employment Protection Resources Safety 10 Emission control — road fleet Western Australia Department of Environment and Conservation – Cleanrun Program Federal (DOTARS) DT80 testing – fuel tax credits for road vehicles

Department of Consumer and Employment Protection Resources Safety 11 Control methods Fuels Engine design and maintenance Emission control devices Ventilation Measuremement Exhaust emissions Employee exposure

Department of Consumer and Employment Protection Resources Safety 12 Fuels Fuel quality Low / ultra low sulphur Biodiesels Additives / conditioners Storage Source:

Department of Consumer and Employment Protection Resources Safety 13 Maintenance Adequate maintenance is essential to limiting diesel particulate emissions Scheduling of maintenance Placing vehicles out of service

Department of Consumer and Employment Protection Resources Safety 14 Emission control Catalytic converters Advanced catalytic converters Particulate filters Diesel oxidation catalysts Catalysed diesel particulate filters Temperature Insulation of exhaust systems Traffic management

Department of Consumer and Employment Protection Resources Safety 15 Diesel particulate filter Source: Source: a?pid=avimage&iid=ivfhybAdhM0c

Department of Consumer and Employment Protection Resources Safety 16 Monitoring — emissions How often? What is the method being used – “according to manufacturer’s instructions”? Measure smoke / particulate emissions? Smoke meters Opacity meters Integrated emission monitors Diesel Detective What emission levels are used?

Department of Consumer and Employment Protection Resources Safety 17 Monitoring — personal exposure Ventilation Officer What monitoring is being done? What methods are being used? What are the results? What action is being taken?

Department of Consumer and Employment Protection Resources Safety 18 Diesel particulate exposure Underground mines MERIWA Report 195 (1996) MSHA Data DOCEP – Resources Safety - CONTAM 05/06 quota Other exposures Vehicle maintenance workshops Small diesels used in enclosed areas Diesel-powered machinery handling materials in closed sheds Load-out tunnels Public exposures

Department of Consumer and Employment Protection Resources Safety 19 Contaminant monitoring — CONTAM Diesel particulate (measured as elemental carbon) added as a contaminant Contaminant code DP Sampling equipment code DM Most underground mines had diesel particulates included in CONTAM quotas Diesel particulates will be included in other CONTAM quotas where relevant

Department of Consumer and Employment Protection Resources Safety 20 NIOSH analytical method

Department of Consumer and Employment Protection Resources Safety 21 DPM sampling – SKC DP Cassette Source: SKC Inc

Department of Consumer and Employment Protection Resources Safety 22 Future developments Other sampling techniques Personal exposure monitoring Exhaust monitoring Diesel Detective exhaust monitor Auditing of fleet maintenance, emission control and testing DPM included in surface operation CONTAM quotas where potential exposures exist Research - MERIWA

Department of Consumer and Employment Protection Resources Safety 23 Further information MineSafe magazine articles A Guideline for the Evaluation and Control of Diesel Particulate in the Occupational Environment AIOH – Davies and Rogers (guideline is under Links and Resources / publications)  MDG 29 Draft Guideline for the Management of Diesel Engine Pollutants in Underground Environments (24 January 2007) NSW - DPI

Department of Consumer and Employment Protection Resources Safety 24 Further information cont. NIOSH: US National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health — Diesel emissions and measurement control in mining page DieselNet: online information service on clean diesel engines and diesel emissions DEEP – Diesel Emissions Evaluation Program US Mines Safety and Health Administration diesel page