Diesel Particulate Matter (DPM) Underground SWMS
Underground diesel-engine exhaust exposure — DPM/elemental carbon at the new 0.05 mg/m³ ceiling under the 1 December 2026 WEL transition. Covers ventilation, low-emission engines, exhaust filtration, and personal monitoring for Schedule 1 Category 17 underground mining.
SWMS variants reference your state’s WHS legislation. Instant download after payment.
Mining diesel particulate matter underground, in this document, addresses the engineering and fleet-management controls that reduce diesel particulate matter (DPM) at source and through ventilation in an underground mine — the complement to exposure assessment and health surveillance. Where the exposure-focused approach measures and monitors DPM, this document focuses on the controls that drive the concentration down: the selection and maintenance of the diesel fleet, exhaust after-treatment, the transition to battery-electric equipment, and the ventilation engineering that dilutes and removes the exhaust. Underground diesel plant is a major source of a carcinogenic contaminant in a confined atmosphere, and reducing DPM is achieved through the hierarchy of controls rather than through respiratory protection alone. This document works alongside the mine ventilation system and the DPM exposure-assessment framework.
The target is the diesel particulate matter exposure standard — currently 0.1 milligrams per cubic metre as an eight-hour time-weighted average measured as sub-micron elemental carbon, with a Workplace Exposure Limit of 0.01 milligrams per cubic metre measured as respirable elemental carbon from 1 December 2026, a reduction that will require significant improvements in DPM control. DPM is managed under the dual mining regime: under the Work Health and Safety (Mines) Regulations the diesel emissions and atmosphere are managed within the mine safety management system, the ventilation control plan and the relevant principal mining hazard management plan; under the model Work Health and Safety Regulations underground and contaminated-atmosphere work is high risk construction work requiring a safe work method statement. This document coordinates the fleet-management, after-treatment, electrification and ventilation-engineering controls for DPM.
Hazards identified
9 hazards covered, sorted by priority.
Lung cancer and respiratory and cardiovascular disease from the DPM the fleet produces
Elevated DPM output where engines are not low-emission or not maintained
Higher DPM emissions where after-treatment is not fitted or not functioning
DPM accumulating above the standard where ventilation does not match the diesel load
Very high DPM where exhaust concentrates away from the main airflow
Non-compliance from 1 December 2026 where DPM control is not improved
Unnecessary DPM generation from inefficient fleet operation
Compounded respiratory burden in the underground atmosphere
Exposure not reduced at source where the hierarchy of controls is not followed
Control measures
Hierarchy-of-controls order: elimination → substitution → isolation → engineering → administrative → PPE.
- 1Elimination: transition to battery-electric and other non-diesel equipment where practicable, eliminating the DPM that the replaced diesel plant would generate.
- 2Substitution: specify low-emission engine technology and cleaner fuels, and match engine size to the duty to avoid oversized, high-emitting engines.
- 3Engineering: fit and maintain exhaust after-treatment such as diesel particulate filters and catalytic systems, with monitoring that the after-treatment is functioning.
- 4Engineering: design the ventilation to match the diesel load — sufficient airflow per unit of diesel power to dilute and remove DPM to the ventilation control plan — with targeted ventilation to enclosed and dead-end areas.
- 5Engineering: a fleet maintenance and engine-emission testing regime so engines remain low-emitting, and operational controls to minimise idling, queuing and unnecessary running.
- 6Administrative: manage DPM within the mine safety management system, the ventilation control plan and the relevant principal mining hazard management plan, plan for the 0.01 mg/m3 limit from 1 December 2026, and prepare a SWMS for the underground high risk construction work.
- 7Administrative: 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 to verify the engineering controls hold, with health monitoring for exposed workers, and respiratory protection per AS/NZS 1715 and AS/NZS 1716 only 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 the diesel fleet operates may be oxygen-affected or have a contaminated atmosphere, bringing the work within the confined space category and its controls.
The underground atmosphere contaminated by diesel particulate brings the work within this category and drives the ventilation and engineering 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 the engineering control of diesel particulate matter through the diesel fleet and ventilation 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 the diesel fleet and ventilation for DPM control.
- →Mechanical and fleet-management personnel maintaining diesel engines and after-treatment.
- →Ventilation engineers matching ventilation to the diesel load.
- →Mine planners transitioning to battery-electric equipment.
- →Mine managers and supervisors overseeing the DPM engineering 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 mining dpm underground hazards — each with a documented consequence, inherent risk rating on a 5x5 likelihood-consequence matrix, hierarchy-of-control measures, and residual risk rating.
- ✓Fleet-management and after-treatment prompts, a ventilation-design-to-diesel-load section, an electrification-transition planning section, and air-monitoring record fields referencing the 0.01 mg/m3 limit from 1 December 2026.
- ✓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 drives down diesel particulate matter through engineering and fleet-management controls. 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, with planning for the 0.01 mg/m3 limit applying from 1 December 2026. The mine transitions to battery-electric equipment where practicable, eliminating the DPM the replaced plant would generate, and specifies low-emission engines, cleaner fuels and engines matched to the duty for the remaining diesel fleet. Exhaust after-treatment such as diesel particulate filters is fitted and maintained, with monitoring that it is functioning. The ventilation is designed to match the diesel load, with sufficient airflow per unit of diesel power and targeted ventilation to enclosed and dead-end areas. A fleet maintenance and engine-emission testing regime keeps engines low-emitting, and operational controls minimise idling and queuing. Air monitoring against the standard verifies the engineering controls hold, health monitoring covers exposed workers, and respiratory protection is used only 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
How is this different from DPM exposure assessment?
This document focuses on the engineering and fleet-management controls that reduce diesel particulate matter at source and through ventilation — fleet selection and maintenance, exhaust after-treatment, the transition to battery-electric equipment, and ventilation engineering — whereas the exposure-focused approach measures and monitors DPM and provides health surveillance. The two are complementary, and both work alongside the mine ventilation system.
What is the most effective way to reduce DPM?
Following the hierarchy of controls: eliminating diesel plant by transitioning to battery-electric equipment where practicable, then specifying low-emission engines, cleaner fuels and exhaust after-treatment such as diesel particulate filters, and designing the ventilation to match the diesel load. Respiratory protection is only a residual control — reducing DPM at source and through ventilation is far more effective than relying on respirators.
Why does the 2026 limit require improved control?
From 1 December 2026 the Workplace Exposure Limit for diesel particulate matter becomes 0.01 milligrams per cubic metre, measured as respirable elemental carbon — a substantial reduction from the current 0.1 milligrams per cubic metre measured as sub-micron elemental carbon, using both a lower limit and a different sampling method. Meeting it will require significant improvements in fleet emissions, after-treatment and ventilation, so mines plan for it in advance.
How is ventilation matched to the diesel fleet?
The ventilation is designed to deliver sufficient airflow per unit of diesel power to dilute and remove the diesel particulate the fleet generates, to the ventilation control plan, with targeted ventilation to enclosed and dead-end areas where exhaust concentrates. Matching the ventilation to the diesel load is a core engineering control, because under-ventilating relative to the diesel power allows DPM to accumulate.
How is it confirmed the controls are working?
Air monitoring against the diesel particulate matter exposure standard verifies that the engineering controls hold below the standard, with the results acted on, and health monitoring is provided for exposed workers. The monitoring confirms whether the fleet, after-treatment and ventilation controls are achieving the required reduction rather than assuming they are.