Questionnaires were sent to 12 underground metalliferous mines in Queensland to enquire how these mines control diesel emissions from mobile diesel engines used underground. Where responses or controls were absent, discussion has been provided. A significant finding concerns secondary ventilation design rates. Some mines were designing ventilation rates to meet the superseded Mines Regulation Act of 1989 which required 0.04 m3/s/kW. The current Queensland Mining and Quarrying Safety and Health Regulation (2001) is risk based. In line with other jurisdictions, including New South Wales (NSW) and most Provinces in Canada, a minimum ventilation rate of 0.06 m3/s/kW is acceptable. However, this design ventilation rate will vary in practice depending on the diesel engines and controls. Dedicated ventilation engineers and technicians should be appointed to evaluate the effectiveness of the ventilation system. Personal exposure monitoring is required to confirm that exposure standards are not being exceeded._x000D_
The primary control practice should be to reduce the emission at source. This can be ensured by purchasing low emission (Tier 2, Tier 3) equipment. In addition, the use of ultra low sulfur fuel(<50 ppm) with electronic engine management systems will produce lower diesel particulate matter and lower diesel particulate-related components (bagley et al, 2002). diesel fuel with a low aromatic content such as eromanga diesel fuel will also mean employees are exposed to lower levels of poly-cyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. these controls should be carried out in parallel with good maintenance practices. preventative maintenance should be programmed and emissions be routinely tested, including both gaseous and particulate pollutants and compared against defined criteria. according to mcginn, 2002, there are a number of fundamental tools necessary to carry out preventative maintenance. these are outlined in maintenance guidelines and best practices for diesel engines in underground mining produced for the diesel emissions evaluation program (deep)._x000d_>
An effective diesel emission management system needs to be fully integrated within the Safety and Health Management System. These requirements are further discussed in this paper._x000D_
FORMAL CITATION:Hedges, K, Djukic, F, Irving, G and Fisher, T, 2007. Diesel particulate matter in underground mines - controlling the risk, in Proceedings New Leaders' 2007, pp 53-60 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).