COMMENTARY — Reducing diesel exhaust

The Canadian ad hoc Diesel Committee deals with issues pertaining to diesel exhaust exposure and control in mining.

A major topic of discussion is the addition by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) of diesel particulate matter (soot) and oil mist to intended changes. ACGIH has proposed threshold limit values of diesel particulate matter and a reduction for some oil mists. Both Canadian and American regulatory agencies have set (or are in the process of setting) exposure limits. However, if these were to be adopted as regulatory standards, many mines in Canada and the U.S. would be out of compliance.

The Committee agreed that the goal of reducing exposure to diesel emissions would best be accomplished through the collaboration of the several sectors.

These sectors include: mine operators, labor, regulators, fuels and additive producers, equipment manufacturers, and Canadian and U.S. research agencies.

The committee further endorsed the idea of a North American consortium to conduct diesel research, and, to this end, it appointed a steering committee to prepare a scope of work for the Diesel Emissions Evaluation Program (DEEP). This document was widely circulated in Canada and the U.S. to generate support, co-operation and contributions from sponsors.

The goal of DEEP is to reduce the level of diesel exhaust pollutants and oil mists to which miners are exposed. Specific objectives include: evaluation of emissions reduction strategies underground to determine effectiveness, technical feasibility and cost; evaluation of diesel exhaust aerosol measurement methodology; expansion of the diesel exhaust and oil mist aerosol exposure database; and laboratory evaluations of new but untested reduction technologies. DEEP is being carried out under the leadership of mine operators and organized labor, with support from the sectors listed above.

The steering committee is preparing a detailed plan, and a management committee, which will consist primarily of the project’s sponsors, is being formed.

— From a release issued by Natural Resources Canada.