Occupational Exposure to Diesel Particulate Matter in Western Australian Mining: A Retrospective Analysis and Challenges to Future Compliance

Matthew Oosthuizen, Kerry Staples, Adelle Liebenberg, Kiam Padamsey, Marcus Cattani, Andy McCarthy and Jacques Oosthuizen ()
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Matthew Oosthuizen: School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup Campus, Joondalup, WA 6027, Australia
Kerry Staples: Department of Health (Western Australia), Epidemiology Directorate, Perth, WA 6004, Australia
Adelle Liebenberg: School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup Campus, Joondalup, WA 6027, Australia
Kiam Padamsey: School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup Campus, Joondalup, WA 6027, Australia
Marcus Cattani: School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup Campus, Joondalup, WA 6027, Australia
Andy McCarthy: School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup Campus, Joondalup, WA 6027, Australia
Jacques Oosthuizen: School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup Campus, Joondalup, WA 6027, Australia

IJERPH, 2025, vol. 22, issue 9, 1-11

Abstract: De-identified diesel particulate matter (DPM) exposure data ( n = 24,459) was obtained from the Western Australian mining regulator to assess compliance with the current Workplace Exposure Standard (WES) of 0.1 mg/m 3 , measured as submicron elemental carbon, and a proposed limit of 0.01 mg/m 3 , assessed as respirable elemental carbon. R and R-Studio were used to generate summary statistics comparing compliance to the current and proposed limits, stratified by industry and occupational groups. To examine temporal trends, a zero-adjusted gamma model was used to assess whether expected sample means changed over the past ten years, using commodity and location as covariates. DPM exposures have declined significantly over the past decade, and modelling indicates compliance with the current WES. However, the proposed limit introduces both a lower limit and a different sampling method, which present challenges. The sector most affected by these changes is underground gold mining. Several occupational groups, such as ground/roof support, shotfirer, long hole drill and blast, and production and services, are at highest risk of non-compliance. Meeting future exposure limits will require enhanced control strategies, including, cleaner fuels, reduction or elimination of diesel-powered machinery in underground operations and appropriate and regulated use of respiratory protective equipment when assessing compliance.

Keywords: mining industry; occupational hygiene; respirable elemental carbon; underground mining; workplace exposure limit; workplace exposure standard (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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