Indoor air quality matters in offices, schools, and gyms, but risks in mining environments often go unnoticed.
Mining sites are often seen as dusty, dark pits. The industry invests in dust control and ventilation to improve production. Yet, the sector is just starting to address indoor air quality risks at mining sites.
According to studies, indoor air quality in portable mining site offices, camps, Fly-In-Fly-Out (FIFO) accommodation pods, and mess halls is more elevated. Worker health is absolutely precious, and if we are truly serious about protecting workers, it is high time we moved beyond the cabin and considered every communal space.
This blog post discusses indoor air quality challenges in mining sites and communal spaces. We will also discuss how filtration can help protect workers’ health and their physical and mental well-being.
What’s Really Hidden in Communal Air?
Indoor air quality in mining sites and communal spaces is poor, as it contains a mix of contaminants. It is so highly contaminated that even the dirtiest manufacturing sites do not have poor air quality to such an extent. Let’s break down four primary sources of contamination.
Diesel-powered vehicles are used underground for mining purposes. These vehicles emit airborne diesel particulate matter (DPM), which is extremely dangerous when inhaled. Mining workers carry these particulates on their clothes, skin and hair from underground areas to mess halls, site offices and other communal spaces. These ultra-fine particles are spread all over the place, even if a worker shakes a jacket, increasing the risk of exposure for other occupants. Diesel particulate matter is a known carcinogen – prolonged exposure can cause cancer in the long run.
The use of chemical agents for disinfection is common practice in remote mining sites. Moreover, their use has increased tenfold to prevent common viruses and infections, including coronavirus and norovirus. These chemical disinfectants release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air, leading to poor indoor air quality. On top of that, VOCs have no way of escaping when they are released in an enclosed space with no ventilation. Exposure to VOCs can cause skin rashes, dry eyes, allergies, and respiratory issues.
Another hidden source is the mud that sticks to workers’ boots. It is not just dirt; it contains a combination of heavy metals, silica and explosive residue. When workers walk through mess halls, FIFO accommodations and site offices, the floor becomes covered in the same dust, which then becomes airborne when a cleaner sweeps it or the HVAC system turns on.
FIFO workers sleep in enclosed quarters, breathing poor air for eight hours, and meeting rooms host several people for hours. These rooms have poor ventilation; therefore, carbon dioxide levels are elevated, affecting cognition, decision-making abilities, and performance.
What Does the Law Say?
The Queensland Government has rolled out exposure limits for dust in coal and mineral mining sites. The following tables have been extracted from the official website of the Queensland Government.
Queensland mining legislation states that dust exposure must not exceed the stated limit. While these are the set standards, individual susceptibilities may vary, resulting in some people experiencing health effects even below the set limit. For more information about the legal advisory, click here.
What’s the Solution?
Fixing poor indoor air quality in the mining sector is not difficult – you just need a shift in specifications. Let’s discuss what we can do to support and protect worker health and mental well-being, and show that we actually care beyond cabins.
Install HEPA filtration technology: Mining camps are usually equipped with filtration technology having a MERV rating of 8. This is a popular choice for eliminating everyday pollutants, larger dust particles, and pollen. However, installing it in a mining camp or office is not a smart choice, given the presence of smaller airborne particulates and ultra-fine dust particles. Therefore, HEPA air filters with a MERV 13 rating are recommended to eliminate VOCs, heavy metal particles, viruses, and DPM.
Euromate Pure Air offers a dedicated air purifier – the Dust Free Industrial – that selectively targets industrial-grade dust particles. It captures 90% of dust particles and features HEPA 14 technology. The DFI series also features SmartGrid and SmartThrust to reach hard-to-reach areas. Click here to read more about the product.
Install a CO2 monitor: Deploy CO2 sensors to monitor carbon dioxide levels. Euromate Pure Air enables people to maintain optimum indoor air levels by providing real-time air quality data, detection of multiple contaminants along with carbon dioxide, and high measurement sensitivity.
Switch to green and organic products: Instead of using chemical disinfectants and cleaning products, it is better to switch to green products.
The Bottom Line
The mining sector is often overlooked when it comes to indoor air quality and worker health. But here is a reality check: surviving in a contaminant-filled environment is a challenge. Improving air quality in mining sites, mess halls, FIFO accommodations, and camps should not be an afterthought – it is a must-have strategy to protect the health of mining workers. Ask yourself this question: Are you really looking into the dust that spreads through mess halls and FIFO pods? If not, then there is a gap in your duty of care for your workers.
