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.
Underground diesel-engine operation generates DPM/elemental carbon, a Group 1 IARC carcinogen. From 1 December 2026, the workplace exposure limit drops to 0.05 mg/m³ EC. This SWMS covers ventilation design, Tier 4/Stage V engines, DPF retrofits, and personal sampling for Schedule 1 Category 17 underground mining notifiable work under WHS Regulation 2025.
Hazards identified
3 hazards covered, sorted by priority.
Lung cancer, bladder cancer, cardiovascular disease
Acute CO/NO2 poisoning, asphyxiation
Oxygen depletion, worker collapse
Control measures
Hierarchy-of-controls order: elimination → substitution → isolation → engineering → administrative → PPE.
- 1Deploy Tier 4 Final/Stage V engines with DPF achieving ≥95% EC reduction; ban Tier 0–2 underground.
- 2Maintain primary ventilation ≥0.06 m³/s per kW installed diesel power; monitor real-time CO/NO2/EC at faces.
- 3Conduct quarterly personal EC sampling per AS 3640; medical surveillance per WHS Reg Schedule 14.
Applicable Codes of Practice
NSW mandatory DPM control benchmark underground
Compliance method for personal EC monitoring
High-Risk Construction Work triggered
Underground headings and stopes accumulate diesel exhaust with restricted egress and atmospheric hazards.
Diesel LHDs, trucks, and drill rigs operate continuously in worker breathing zones underground.
SWMS mandatory before work; Cat 1 offence up to $3.99M corporate.
What you receive
- ✓Editable DOCX SWMS with project-specific fields
- ✓State-specific mining legislation schedule (NSW/Qld/WA/NT)
- ✓DPM hazard register with EC exposure controls
- ✓Worker sign-on register with competency verification
Related legislation
- WHS Regulation 2025 Chapter 7 (Hazardous Chemicals) — WEL Schedule 10
- WHS (Mines and Petroleum Sites) Regulation 2022 (NSW)
- Coal Mining Safety and Health Regulation 2017 (Qld)