Diesel Particulate Matter (DPM) Good Practice Guide
Diesel-powered vehicles and equipment used in underground mining generate airborne Diesel Particulate Matter (DPM), which poses severe health risks to workers. Prolonged exposure to high concentrations of DPM is linked to serious health issues, including cancer.
- To address this critical challenge, ICMM has published the DPM Good Practice Guide, offering a structured framework to reduce and manage DPM exposure effectively in underground mining operations.
- The guide emphasises proactive and reactive control measures, fostering continual improvement. It also highlights the adoption and integration of innovative solutions to minimise DPM emissions whilst promoting a culture of health, safety and environmental responsibility.
- Control strategies include:
- Engineering Controls: Implementing ventilation systems, Diesel Particulate Filters (DPFs), and Diesel Oxidation Catalysts (DOCs).
- Substitution and Elimination: Transitioning to electric vehicles and cleaner fuels, such as Ultra-Low Sulphur Diesel.
- Administrative Controls: Adjusting work practices, limiting exposure times, and providing personal protective equipment (PPE).
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By providing proactive and reactive measures, the DPM Good Practice Guide enables mining companies to manage DPM emissions effectively while prioritising worker health and environmental responsibility.
