❓ Hon Robin Chapple raises concerns about diesel particulate exposure in underground mines, questioning the DMP's enforcement and monitoring practices. The DMP responds, outlining existing regulations, guidelines, and monitoring approaches.
AnsweredQoN 1122Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the 'Diesel Particulate
Study of Goldfields Mines' from Resources Safety Matters , Volume 2, Number 1,
January 2014, pages 8-11 that may be found here: http://www.robinchapple.com/sites/default/files/RSM_Magazine_Jan14_Extract_0.pdf
which
outlines the finding that based on the time
weighted average (TWA) exposure recorded on the day of sampling, 10 of 29 sites
or 34 percent would have exceeded the accepted TWA exposure standard had
workers been exposed to that environment for eight hours, and given that the
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has publicised through the
World
Health Organisation (WHO) that an increased risk of death from lung cancer is
found among underground miners exposed to diesel fumes, I ask: (a) will the Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) enforce
real-time ambient diesel particulate sampling of all underground mines in
Western Australia to gauge ambient contaminant levels; (b) if yes to (a), when and how; (c) if no to (a), why not; (d) if no to (a), and as there is currently no national exposure standard for diesel particulates, how will
DMP assess and control diesel emissions to an acceptable standard; (e) given that the lowest
diesel particulate TWA and peak measurements were recorded at mine sites that
had quality diesel emissions management plans, will DMP enforce the
use of these plans for all mine sites; (f) if yes to (e), when and how; (g) if no to (e), why not; (h) will DMP include
direct personal exposure monitoring in future studies; (i) if yes to (h), when and how; (j) if no to (h), why not; (k) given the sites that
committed to fitting diesel particulate filters to all underground machinery
had the lowest exposure data for both TWA and peak readings, will DMP enforce all mine sites fit diesel particulate filters, and other
emission controls including an effective maintenance regime, low sulphur fuel,
low ash engine oil, and a doubling of the frequency at which air filters were
being replaced; (l) if yes to (k), when and how; (m) if no to (k), why not; (n) will the Minister enforce
an industry standard for conducting primary and secondary ventilation surveys and for reporting the measured data; (o) if yes to (n), when and how; (p) if no to (n), why not; (q) will the Minister enforce
an industry standard in the levels of experience, competence and authority of
statutory appointed ventilation officers; (r) if yes to (q), when and how; (s) if no to (q), why not; and (t) will the Minister table any
future further sampling and studies of remaining underground mines in Western Australia?
Study of Goldfields Mines' from Resources Safety Matters , Volume 2, Number 1,
January 2014, pages 8-11 that may be found here: http://www.robinchapple.com/sites/default/files/RSM_Magazine_Jan14_Extract_0.pdf
which
outlines the finding that based on the time
weighted average (TWA) exposure recorded on the day of sampling, 10 of 29 sites
or 34 percent would have exceeded the accepted TWA exposure standard had
workers been exposed to that environment for eight hours, and given that the
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has publicised through the
World
Health Organisation (WHO) that an increased risk of death from lung cancer is
found among underground miners exposed to diesel fumes, I ask: (a) will the Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) enforce
real-time ambient diesel particulate sampling of all underground mines in
Western Australia to gauge ambient contaminant levels; (b) if yes to (a), when and how; (c) if no to (a), why not; (d) if no to (a), and as there is currently no national exposure standard for diesel particulates, how will
DMP assess and control diesel emissions to an acceptable standard; (e) given that the lowest
diesel particulate TWA and peak measurements were recorded at mine sites that
had quality diesel emissions management plans, will DMP enforce the
use of these plans for all mine sites; (f) if yes to (e), when and how; (g) if no to (e), why not; (h) will DMP include
direct personal exposure monitoring in future studies; (i) if yes to (h), when and how; (j) if no to (h), why not; (k) given the sites that
committed to fitting diesel particulate filters to all underground machinery
had the lowest exposure data for both TWA and peak readings, will DMP enforce all mine sites fit diesel particulate filters, and other
emission controls including an effective maintenance regime, low sulphur fuel,
low ash engine oil, and a doubling of the frequency at which air filters were
being replaced; (l) if yes to (k), when and how; (m) if no to (k), why not; (n) will the Minister enforce
an industry standard for conducting primary and secondary ventilation surveys and for reporting the measured data; (o) if yes to (n), when and how; (p) if no to (n), why not; (q) will the Minister enforce
an industry standard in the levels of experience, competence and authority of
statutory appointed ventilation officers; (r) if yes to (q), when and how; (s) if no to (q), why not; and (t) will the Minister table any
future further sampling and studies of remaining underground mines in Western Australia?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
24 June 2014
Responded by
Minister for Agriculture and Food representing the Minister for Mines and Petroleum
Response time
49 days
The Department of Mines and Petroleum has provided the following response:
(a)
No
(b)
Not Applicable
(c)
Real time ambient monitoring is a useful tool to be utilised in determining effectiveness of particular control systems, but TWA based sampling quotas will continue to be required to determine personal exposure monitoring.
(d)
The Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) has adopted the Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists exposure limit recommendation of 0.1 mg/m3 as elemental carbon.
(e)
Yes
(f)
The DMP 2012 "Management of diesel emissions in Western Australian mining operations" guideline applies to all underground mines. DMP inspectors will continue to require that companies demonstrate they are developing and implementing an appropriate diesel emissions management plan.
(g)
Not Applicable
(h)
DMP will continue to require that companies carry out direct personal exposure monitoring in their CONTAM sampling quotas. The results will continue to be supplied upon request to bona fide researchers involved in related epidemiological studies.
(i)
Answered by (h)
(j)
Not Applicable
(k)
Minimising employee exposure to diesel emissions can be achieved by a range of source, transmission and exposure controls. DMP can make recommendations to companies, but the ultimate responsibility for selecting the appropriate controls to manage the level of atmospheric contaminants in a mine rests with the principal employer.
(l)
Not Applicable
(m)
See answer to (k)
(n)
The requirements for determining the adequacy of a mine ventilation system are detailed in the Mines Safety and Inspection Regulations 1995. This includes the requirement that ventilation plans for underground mines be updated at intervals not exceeding three months. The measured data is kept in the mine ventilation log book which is available to mines inspectors.
(o)
See answer to (n)
(p)
Not Applicable
(q)
The qualifications and duties required of an underground ventilation officer are detailed in the Mines Safety and Inspection Regulations 1995. The training and competency required to undertake these duties must be demonstrated to the satisfaction of the manager or principal employer.
(r)
See answer to (q)
(s)
Not Applicable
(t)
The Resources Safety Division of DMP intends to provide a further update to industry of studies for all underground mines, once sufficient time has elapsed to determine the effectiveness of implemented diesel emissions management plans.
(a)
No
(b)
Not Applicable
(c)
Real time ambient monitoring is a useful tool to be utilised in determining effectiveness of particular control systems, but TWA based sampling quotas will continue to be required to determine personal exposure monitoring.
(d)
The Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) has adopted the Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists exposure limit recommendation of 0.1 mg/m3 as elemental carbon.
(e)
Yes
(f)
The DMP 2012 "Management of diesel emissions in Western Australian mining operations" guideline applies to all underground mines. DMP inspectors will continue to require that companies demonstrate they are developing and implementing an appropriate diesel emissions management plan.
(g)
Not Applicable
(h)
DMP will continue to require that companies carry out direct personal exposure monitoring in their CONTAM sampling quotas. The results will continue to be supplied upon request to bona fide researchers involved in related epidemiological studies.
(i)
Answered by (h)
(j)
Not Applicable
(k)
Minimising employee exposure to diesel emissions can be achieved by a range of source, transmission and exposure controls. DMP can make recommendations to companies, but the ultimate responsibility for selecting the appropriate controls to manage the level of atmospheric contaminants in a mine rests with the principal employer.
(l)
Not Applicable
(m)
See answer to (k)
(n)
The requirements for determining the adequacy of a mine ventilation system are detailed in the Mines Safety and Inspection Regulations 1995. This includes the requirement that ventilation plans for underground mines be updated at intervals not exceeding three months. The measured data is kept in the mine ventilation log book which is available to mines inspectors.
(o)
See answer to (n)
(p)
Not Applicable
(q)
The qualifications and duties required of an underground ventilation officer are detailed in the Mines Safety and Inspection Regulations 1995. The training and competency required to undertake these duties must be demonstrated to the satisfaction of the manager or principal employer.
(r)
See answer to (q)
(s)
Not Applicable
(t)
The Resources Safety Division of DMP intends to provide a further update to industry of studies for all underground mines, once sufficient time has elapsed to determine the effectiveness of implemented diesel emissions management plans.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.