The workshop – in Sydney on February 26 – should be attended by all operators who deal with diesel engines in underground mines, according to the NSW Department of Trade & Investment.

“The aim of the workshop is to help protect the health of mine workers from diesel engine exhaust by providing information and guidance for establishing control strategies, and by providing a forum where industry can ask questions of a panel of experts,” it said.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer, part of the World Health Organisation, reclassified diesel engine exhaust as a carcinogen to humans this year, based on sufficient evidence that exposure was associated with an increased risk of lung cancer.

Prior to this, in 1998, the IARC classified diesel exhaust as “probably carcinogenic to humans”

Workplace health and safety legislation requires mine operators to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health of workers.

This duty extends to the work environment, plant, and conditions of the workplace being monitored for the purpose of preventing illness.

The workshop will cover a holistic overview on mitigating and controlling the risk from diesel engine exhaust in mines. They will expand on MDG29 Guidelines for the Management of Diesel Engine Pollutants in Underground Environments.

It will raise awareness of the issues and provide guidance on reasonably practicable short and long-term control strategies for managing risks from diesel engine exhaust. It will cover health issues, exhaust constituents, future research, environment and health monitoring, ventilation strategies, diesel engine improvements, modern curtailment devices, maintenance strategies, monitoring and legislation.

The workshop will highlight the importance of a unified approach between mine management, health, ventilation and maintenance departments in formulating mine control strategies for diesel emissions management.