1. Please read this before using presentation
Mines Safety Roadshow Toolbox presentation
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

2. Mines Safety Roadshow 2007 - Toolbox presentation October 2007
Toolbox presentation: Ventilation issues in mining — diesel exhaust emissions
October 2007

3. Mines Safety Roadshow 2007 - Toolbox presentation
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
Relevant legislation
Act and regulations available from State Law Publishers at

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

5. What are diesel particulates? cont.
Mines Safety Roadshow Toolbox presentation
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
The problems with diesel were recognised over a century ago

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

7. Mines Safety Roadshow 2007 - Toolbox presentation
Airborne particle size distribution in a diesel-equipped mine
Source: Airmet Scientific

8. Mines Safety Roadshow 2007 - Toolbox presentation
Particle size
Source:

9. Health effects of diesel particulates
Mines Safety Roadshow Toolbox presentation
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
Diesel particulates are being increasingly recognised as significant public health issues
Recognised underground where ventilation is important factor
Need to consider other potential exposures in workplace

10. Emission control — road fleet
Mines Safety Roadshow Toolbox presentation
Emission control — road fleet
Western Australia
Department of Environment and Conservation – Cleanrun Program
Federal (DOTARS)
DT80 testing – fuel tax credits for road vehicles
Cleanrun program – visit
DT80 – visit

11. Control methods Fuels Engine design and maintenance
Emission control devices
Ventilation
Measuremement
Exhaust emissions
Employee exposure

12. Fuels Fuel quality Low / ultra low sulphur Biodiesels
Additives / conditioners
Storage
Source:

13. Maintenance
Adequate maintenance is essential to limiting diesel particulate emissions
Scheduling of maintenance
Placing vehicles out of service

14. Emission control Catalytic converters Advanced catalytic converters
Particulate filters
Diesel oxidation catalysts
Catalysed diesel particulate filters
Temperature
Insulation of exhaust systems
Traffic management

15. Mines Safety Roadshow 2007 - Toolbox presentation
Diesel particulate filter
Source:
Source:

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?

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?

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

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

20. Mines Safety Roadshow 2007 - Toolbox presentation
NIOSH analytical method

21. Mines Safety Roadshow 2007 - Toolbox presentation
DPM sampling – SKC DP Cassette
Source: SKC Inc

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

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

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