Managing DPM exposure: A safer future for underground mining
World Day for Health and Safety at Work is a global reminder of a simple truth: no job should come at the cost of a person’s health or safety.
By Michael Duvenhage (Health and Safety Manager, ICMM) and Bryony Clear Hill (Director of Innovation, ICMM)
It’s a call to action across every industry to reduce workplace risks and strengthen the systems that protect workers. In mining, this means raising awareness of occupational risks and promoting the implementation of critical health and safety controls.
A pressing but often overlooked hazard in underground mining is exposure to diesel particulate matter (DPM). Diesel engines, valued for their power and reliability, emit tiny airborne particles that accumulate in enclosed mine environments which is exacerbated by limited ventilation.
This can result in diesel exhaust concentrations more than 100 times higher than above ground. The mining and metals industry has a vital opportunity to act. By accelerating the adoption of proven controls and cleaner technologies, we can significantly reduce DPM exposure—protecting underground workers and advancing a safer, healthier future for mining. The solutions exist. What’s needed now is momentum and leadership.
Understanding the risk
DPM is produced through the incomplete combustion of diesel fuel. It consists of microscopic particles containing elemental carbon, organic compounds, ash and trace heavy metals. Prolonged exposure to high concentrations of DPM can lead to health impacts including severe respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. It has been linked to lung cancer by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) . Acute symptoms, such as eye and respiratory irritation, can escalate into chronic conditions. These risks are real and preventable.
Managing DPM, however, is complicated by operational and regulatory challenges. Underground mines often extend kilometres beneath the surface, making efficient ventilation difficult. Older diesel engines emit more particles than newer models, requiring different monitoring requirements across equipment types and operating conditions—even within a single operation.
Despite growing recognition of the risks, there is no globally harmonised standard for DPM exposure. This has prompted different regulators to introduce increasingly stringent occupational exposure limits (OELs) aimed at safeguarding worker health. Yet this comes without clear guidance on how to meet these limits, effectively leaving operators without a clear path forward.
Implementing solutions for effective DPM management
No job should compromise a person’s health. That’s why, in 2018, ICMM launched the Innovation for Cleaner, Safer Vehicles (ICSV) initiative—bringing together industry, original equipment manufacturers, and technology suppliers to rethink how mining equipment can better protect people and deliver improved environmental outcomes. Together, we continue working to accelerate the development and adoption of next-generation mining vehicles while improving existing fleets to address health, safety, and environmental challenges. A key focus of this collaboration is on reducing DPM through improvements in mobile equipment and mine infrastructure.
To support this work, in 2024, ICMM members committed to protect underground miners from DPM exposure. As part of this commitment, ICMM published a Diesel Particulate Matter Good Practice Guide which lays out clear pathways to reduce and even eliminate DPM exposure.
Practical steps for managing DPM
Effective DPM management requires clear, structured management plans, starting with understanding baseline levels of exposure and including engineering controls, administrative measures, personal protective equipment (PPE) and continuous monitoring and verification. The following steps support not only compliance—but a broader culture of safety, responsibility, and care:
- Define: Establish a dedicated committee to define the project scope and conduct a thorough compliance review. This ensures that all relevant regulatory requirements are identified and addressed at the outset.
- Assess: Gather and measure current DPM emissions and exposure levels, using a range of monitoring techniques, to provide an accurate environmental picture.
- Analyse: With the data in hand, the next phase is to analyse the information. This process involves evaluating the sources of emissions, prioritising potential risks, and developing targeted control strategies aimed at reducing DPM exposure.
- Control: Implement targeted measures to address the identified risks, selecting appropriate actions from the hierarchy of controls.
- Verify: Adopt ongoing monitoring of the effectiveness of the management plan—assessing whether implemented controls are working as intended. Where needed, revisit the plan to implement more effective controls.
Pioneering a healthier future
Across the industry, companies are showing what’s possible when commitment meets innovation:
- Newmont and BHP are transitioning to zero-emission equipment, introducing electric vehicles (EVs) and battery-electric loaders in their underground operations—eliminating DPM at the source. These technologies not only improve air quality and enhance worker safety but also reduce the need for intensive ventilation systems.
- Glencore, at its Kidd Mine operation in Canada, is using an innovative ventilation-on-demand (VOD) system to reduce DPM exposure by automatically adjusting airflow based on real-time monitoring of airborne contaminants. By delivering ventilation precisely where it’s needed, the system is reducing exposure and optimising energy use.
- Anglo American is deploying diesel particulate filters (DPFs) and selective catalytic reduction (SCR) systems to capture and reduce particulates before they are released into the environment. These efforts are supporting a broader transition towards cleaner and more sustainable operational practices.
- Rio Tinto and Vale have integrated health surveillance and training to detect and manage DPM-related risks early. This includes regular health monitoring, targeted education, and emission-linked health strategies.
Driving industry wide change
The technologies and controls necessary for controlling DPM emissions already exist. The real challenge—and opportunity—lies in scaling adoption across the industry.
By prioritising worker health, embedding comprehensive strategies, and investing in innovation, mining companies can protect their people whilst also meeting regulation, future-proof their operations, strengthen worker trust, and demonstrate responsible leadership.
Together, we can drive lasting change—building safer, healthier workplaces for today’s miners and future generations.
Notes
1. Farzaneh Jafarigol et al (2023), 'Particle number, mass, and surface area concentrations inside an underground metalliferous mine in Kazakhstan', Atmospheric Pollution Research, Volume 14, Issue 9, [Online]. Available at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apr.2023.101871
2. IARC (2012), IARC: DIESEL ENGINE EXHAUST CARCINOGENIC, Press Release 213, [PDF]. Available at https://www.iarc.who.int/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/pr213_E.pdf
