The underground coal sector was less likely than the metalliferous sector to have a program to identify their risks in diesel particulate management, the survey found.

“This suggests that systematic monitoring and control of exposure to diesel exhaust could be improved,” according to the survey.

“Opportunities for utilising further measures are identified, with 20% or more of sites never or only sometimes utilising vehicle exhaust filtration systems and diesel particulate air monitoring, while 7% of sites consider their approach to diesel particulate management to be purely reactive.”

The survey found that underground coal undertook maintenance schedules on critical equipment, restricted the number of vehicles in an area, improved ventilation and issued personal protective equipment as ways of managing diesel particulates.

Fuel selection and lowering individual vehicle emissions with an emphasis on diesel particulate air monitoring were also employed.