Diesel Particulate Matter Underground Mining SWMS
Diesel particulate matter control in underground mining — DPM monitoring, engine emissions standards, ventilation design, health surveillance, and tier 4 engine requirements.
SWMS variants reference your state’s WHS legislation. Instant download after payment.
Diesel particulate matter underground addresses the control of diesel particulate matter (DPM) — the fine, carcinogenic particulate in diesel engine exhaust — in underground mines, where diesel-powered loaders, trucks and equipment operate in a confined atmosphere with limited natural ventilation. Underground miners are exposed to concentrations of diesel particulate matter significantly higher than in almost any other occupation, and DPM is a recognised cause of lung cancer and is associated with other respiratory and cardiovascular disease. This document is the exposure-focused DPM control SWMS: it addresses the assessment of DPM exposure, the air monitoring that measures it, the health monitoring of exposed workers, and the framework of controls that keeps exposure below the standard. It works alongside the mine ventilation system, which is the primary engineering control for DPM, and the task-specific underground method statements.
The controlling figure is the diesel particulate matter exposure standard. The current standard in mining is 0.1 milligrams per cubic metre as an eight-hour time-weighted average, measured as sub-micron elemental carbon, and a Safe Work Australia Workplace Exposure Limit of 0.01 milligrams per cubic metre, measured as respirable elemental carbon, applies from 1 December 2026 — a substantial reduction that applies across workplaces operating diesel engines, including underground mines. DPM is managed under the dual mining regime: under the Work Health and Safety (Mines) Regulations the atmosphere and diesel emissions are managed within the mine safety management system and the ventilation control plan, and where DPM and the underground atmosphere present a principal hazard a principal mining hazard management plan applies; under the model Work Health and Safety Regulations underground and confined-atmosphere work is high risk construction work requiring a safe work method statement. This document coordinates the exposure-assessment, monitoring, health-surveillance and control framework for DPM.
Hazards identified
9 hazards covered, sorted by priority.
Lung cancer and respiratory and cardiovascular disease from cumulative DPM exposure
High cumulative exposure where diesel plant operates in a confined atmosphere
DPM accumulating above the exposure standard in poorly ventilated areas
Elevated DPM output from engines not maintained or not low-emission
Very high DPM concentrations in dead headings and enclosed work areas
Workers exposed above the standard without the exposure being measured
Compounded respiratory burden from multiple underground contaminants
Unnecessary DPM generation from avoidable engine running
Disease progressing undetected without surveillance of exposed workers
Control measures
Hierarchy-of-controls order: elimination → substitution → isolation → engineering → administrative → PPE.
- 1Elimination: where practicable, replace diesel plant with battery-electric or other non-diesel equipment, eliminating the DPM at source for that equipment.
- 2Substitution: select low-emission engine technology and cleaner fuels, and exhaust after-treatment such as diesel particulate filters, to reduce DPM output.
- 3Engineering: ventilation as the primary control — sufficient airflow to dilute and remove DPM to the ventilation control plan — with additional ventilation to enclosed and dead-end areas where exhaust concentrates.
- 4Engineering: maintain diesel engines to keep emissions low, with engine emission testing, and minimise idling and queuing of diesel plant in the workings.
- 5Administrative: assess DPM exposure and conduct air monitoring against the diesel particulate matter exposure standard, currently 0.1 mg/m3 as an eight-hour time-weighted average measured as sub-micron elemental carbon, with a Workplace Exposure Limit of 0.01 mg/m3 measured as respirable elemental carbon applying from 1 December 2026, measured by the appropriate method, with results acted on and exceedances managed.
- 6Administrative: provide health monitoring for workers with significant DPM exposure and manage the combined exposure with respirable dust, crystalline silica and gases, retaining records.
- 7Administrative: manage DPM within the mine safety management system and the relevant principal mining hazard management plan, prepare a SWMS for the underground high risk construction work, and provide respiratory protection per AS/NZS 1715 and AS/NZS 1716 as a residual control.
- 8Administrative: all workers must hold a valid White Card (General Construction Induction Training, CPCCWHS1001) where construction work applies, and the mining inductions, statutory tickets and competencies required for the mine before entering the operation.
- 9Administrative: conduct a pre-shift toolbox talk covering the day's work, the principal mining hazards and their controls, atmospheric and ground conditions, plant movements, required PPE and emergency procedures, and record attendance in the consultation section.
- 10Administrative: consult workers and health and safety representatives on the work and its risks, record the consultation, and keep this document and the relevant plans available at the operation.
- 11PPE: underground or site high-visibility clothing, head protection, eye protection to AS/NZS 1337.1, hearing protection matched to the measured noise, gloves, and Class I or Class II safety footwear with protective toecap to AS/NZS 2210.3.
- 12Administrative: review and update this SWMS and the relevant principal mining hazard management plan whenever the work, the ground or atmospheric conditions, the plant or the controls change, after any incident or near miss, when a worker or health and safety representative raises a concern, or at minimum every 12 months.
Applicable Codes of Practice
The mining-specific regulations requiring identification of principal mining hazards and a principal mining hazard management plan for each, within the mine safety management system.
The risk management process and hierarchy of controls applied to the principal mining hazards of the work.
The risk assessment, silica risk control plan, air monitoring and health monitoring duties where the work generates respirable crystalline silica.
Controls and the exposure standard for the high noise levels generated by mining and processing plant.
Selection, fit testing, use and maintenance of the respiratory protection required for the dust, diesel particulate, silica and atmospheric hazards of the work.
High-Risk Construction Work triggered
The underground workings where diesel plant operates may be oxygen-affected or have a contaminated atmosphere, bringing the work within the confined space category and its atmospheric, ventilation and rescue controls.
The underground atmosphere contaminated by diesel particulate and other emissions brings the work within this category and drives the ventilation and atmospheric-monitoring controls.
This work is governed by the dual mining regime. Under the model WHS Regulations it is high risk construction work — engaging the categories above — so a SWMS must be prepared before the work commences, kept readily accessible, reviewed as necessary, and given to the principal contractor if one is appointed. Under the Work Health and Safety (Mines) Regulations the mine operator must identify the principal mining hazards relating to diesel particulate matter exposure in the underground atmosphere and prepare a principal mining hazard management plan for each, within the mine safety management system. Where the work generates respirable crystalline silica, the silica risk control plan, air monitoring and health monitoring duties apply, with the exposure standard reframed as a workplace exposure limit from 1 December 2026. Mining incidents in this category can be catastrophic, and breaches of the primary duty of care under the model WHS Act and the mines legislation are actively enforced, with offence categories running from failure-to-comply through to reckless conduct, and the most serious breaches carrying imprisonment for individuals. Body-corporate maxima are substantial and indexed; the current maximum follows the prevailing schedule of the responsible regulator.
Who this is for
- →Underground mine operators managing diesel particulate matter exposure.
- →Diesel plant operators working in the underground atmosphere.
- →Ventilation and occupational hygiene personnel assessing and monitoring DPM.
- →Mine ventilation and mechanical engineers managing the diesel fleet and ventilation.
- →Mine managers and supervisors overseeing the DPM controls and the principal mining hazard management plan.
What you receive
- ✓Editable Microsoft Word document (.docx) fully compatible with Microsoft Word 2016 and newer, Google Docs, and LibreOffice Writer.
- ✓Title page with editable fields for the mine operator and PCBU name, ABN, site address, project name, principal contractor details, and document revision date.
- ✓Hazard register with the diesel particulate matter underground hazards — each with a documented consequence, inherent risk rating on a 5x5 likelihood-consequence matrix, hierarchy-of-control measures, and residual risk rating.
- ✓DPM exposure-assessment and air-monitoring prompts referencing the 0.1 mg/m3 standard and the 0.01 mg/m3 limit from 1 December 2026, a ventilation and engine-maintenance control section, and a health-monitoring section for exposed workers.
- ✓Principal mining hazard management plan reference prompts and, where relevant, a silica risk control plan aligned to the model crystalline silica Code of Practice referencing the 0.05 mg/m3 exposure standard.
- ✓Competency, statutory-ticket and induction verification fields, and a respiratory protection selection and fit-test record per AS/NZS 1715.
- ✓Worker consultation record and a worker sign-on register (blank, expandable).
- ✓Applicable legislation and Codes of Practice schedule pre-populated for the model WHS and mines jurisdiction with a state-variance reference table covering the harmonised states, plus Victoria.
- ✓Emergency procedure template and a revision log.
Worked example
An underground mine operates a diesel loader and truck fleet and manages the resulting diesel particulate matter exposure. Because the work is underground in a contaminated atmosphere, a SWMS is prepared, and DPM is managed within the mine safety management system, the ventilation control plan, and the relevant principal mining hazard management plan. Where practicable, battery-electric equipment replaces diesel plant, and the remaining diesel fleet uses low-emission engines, cleaner fuels and exhaust after-treatment such as diesel particulate filters. Ventilation is the primary control, with sufficient airflow to dilute and remove DPM and additional ventilation to enclosed and dead-end areas where exhaust concentrates. Engines are maintained to keep emissions low with emission testing, and idling and queuing are minimised. DPM exposure is assessed and air monitoring is conducted against the current 0.1 mg/m3 standard, recognising the 0.01 mg/m3 limit applying from 1 December 2026, with results acted on. Health monitoring is provided for workers with significant exposure, and the combined exposure with respirable dust, crystalline silica and gases is managed. Respiratory protection is used as a residual control. The plans, SWMS and monitoring records are retained.
Related legislation
- Model Work Health and Safety Act — primary duty of care; the duty to consult workers; the reckless-conduct offence; and notifiable-incident provisions, as enacted in each jurisdiction.
- Model Work Health and Safety Regulations — Section 291 high risk construction work and the SWMS preparation and review duties, and where relevant the crystalline silica high-risk processing, silica risk control plan, air monitoring and health monitoring provisions, as enacted in each jurisdiction.
- Work Health and Safety (Mines and Petroleum Sites) Regulation / Work Health and Safety (Mines) Regulations — identification of principal mining hazards, principal mining hazard management plans, the mine safety management system and, for underground mines, ventilation control plans, as enacted in each jurisdiction.
- Exposure standards: respirable crystalline silica 0.05 mg/m3 (eight-hour TWA), reframed as a workplace exposure limit from 1 December 2026; respirable dust and, in coal, the lower coal-mine dust standard; and diesel particulate matter, currently 0.1 mg/m3 (sub-micron elemental carbon) with a Workplace Exposure Limit of 0.01 mg/m3 (respirable elemental carbon) from 1 December 2026.
- Victoria, and other jurisdictions, operate their own mining safety and work health and safety legislation; in Victoria the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 and Regulations 2017 and the relevant mining instruments apply in place of the model instruments.
Frequently asked questions
What is diesel particulate matter and why is it dangerous underground?
Diesel particulate matter is the fine, carcinogenic particulate in diesel engine exhaust, and underground miners are exposed to concentrations significantly higher than in almost any other occupation because diesel plant operates in a confined atmosphere with limited natural ventilation. DPM is a recognised cause of lung cancer and is associated with other respiratory and cardiovascular disease, so it is controlled to an exposure standard.
What is the exposure standard for diesel particulate matter?
The current standard in mining is 0.1 milligrams per cubic metre as an eight-hour time-weighted average, measured as sub-micron elemental carbon. A Safe Work Australia Workplace Exposure Limit of 0.01 milligrams per cubic metre, measured as respirable elemental carbon, applies from 1 December 2026 — a substantial reduction that uses a lower limit and a different sampling method, and that applies across workplaces operating diesel engines including underground mines.
What is the primary control for DPM underground?
Ventilation is the primary engineering control — sufficient airflow to dilute and remove diesel particulate to the ventilation control plan, with additional ventilation to enclosed and dead-end areas where exhaust concentrates. Above ventilation in the hierarchy, eliminating diesel plant with battery-electric equipment and using low-emission engines, cleaner fuels and exhaust after-treatment reduce the DPM at source.
How is DPM exposure measured and managed?
DPM exposure is assessed and air monitoring is conducted against the exposure standard by the appropriate method, with results acted on and exceedances managed, and health monitoring is provided for workers with significant exposure. Because DPM cannot be seen or felt at harmful concentrations, measuring it is essential, and the combined exposure with respirable dust, crystalline silica and gases is managed together.
How does this relate to the mine ventilation and other controls?
This DPM control document is exposure-focused and works alongside the mine ventilation system, which is the primary engineering control, and the task-specific underground method statements. DPM is managed within the mine safety management system, the ventilation control plan and the relevant principal mining hazard management plan, with a SWMS for the underground high risk construction work.