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RPME is the best practice to stop respirable dust

Jun 6, 2021

RPME is the Best Practice to Stop Respirable Dust

June 06, 2021

BreatheSafe Air Pressuriser System installed on a Komatsu PC490LC-11

RPME Respirable Particulate Mitigation Ecosystem:

A system, or group of interacting elements designed to protect the operator’s breathing zone environment

Bolting a pressuriser to a cabin without proper seals will not function well at all. Leaks in the cab will allow dust contamination to enter. The filters will be loaded by dust much sooner due to the higher volume (positive pressure) of air delivered to maintain a higher pre-set pressure (Positive pressure leakage).

The issues:

  1. A cabin by itself can no longer be assumed to resolve issues with respirable dust
  2. An environmental cabin serves as the primary method of dust control for operators for both surface and underground
  3. An environmental cabin/enclosure simply means that it can maintain a pre-set pressure level, for example: 20 pascals minimum.
  4. The effectiveness of the cab is maintained when the operator remains inside with doors and windows closed
  5. The HVAC must be well designed to cope with fresh air pressurisation (Hot/humid outside air)

BreatheSafe can assist with systems upgrades (Condensing) in very hot situations

  • The fresh air pressuriser is filtered with HEPA media to separate respirable dust
  • HEPA return air filters are fitted to control respirable dust inside the cabin (Particulate matter in shoes and clothes)
  • The benefit is HVAC internal components remain dust free; reducing unscheduled repairs and/or machine standing down due to failure.

Provisos:

– Auditing and testing the entire system

The cabin requires proper sealing to maintain positive pressure: Door and window seals must be replaced as soon as damage and/or leaks are detected.

WORK SMARTLY AND SAFELY

The best practice is to have a multitude of systems in place: Pre-cleaner and a fresh air HEPA pressuriser system matched to an environmentally sealed structure and which is pressurised to a controlled pre-set level. Procedures of sealing all gaps and making sure that window and door seals are in good working order are also required. The cabin must be kept clean always, with doors and windows remaining closed at all times.

Utilising a computer-controlled display system and citing an international standard such as EN15695 (Hazardous substances) is necessary as it states that the ideal pressure level is between 20 to 50 pascals for ONE person cabin. EN15695 imposes an absolute minimum: 20 pascals with a pressure display (Operator awareness) or 50 pascals without a pressure display.

Breathe-Safe system EN15695-4 system consists of:

  • Environmental cabin/enclosure (Tight against airborne particulate)
  • Pre-cleaner to expel coarse particulate (Extends the life of HEPA media)
  • HEPA filter forced ventilation (Fresh air pressuriser)
  • HEPA return air filter
  • Display (Operator awareness)
  • Remote Monitoring (Site management/maintenance)
  • Activated carbon media for Gaseous particulate
  • Fresh air volume minimum is 30m³/h for one person cabin to avoid CO2 build up

Exposure to respirable dust impacts worker health in the short and long term as well as on productivity for both man and machine. The other issue that needs to be understood is that fine dust does cause HVAC system contamination (HVAC internal restriction) over time and leads to unscheduled maintenance situations and other related issues such as underperforming climate control. The BreatheSafe ecosystem is effective at limiting respirable dust exposure to almost zero levels for the operator. Remote monitoring can be used for data management and systems review. It can also be used to provide training for operators where a window or door have been left open.

The conclusion is the sum of elements to protect the operator/s must remain effective over the entire lifecycle of the cabin/enclosure.

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OEM cabin filters were not designed to stop respirable dust

OEM cabin filters were not designed to stop respirable dust

Jun 6, 2021

OEM cabin filters were not designed to stop respirable dust

June 06, 2021

*OEM filter media is not designed to mitigate respirable dust.

Dust inside OEM airway immediately AFTER filter.

Fine dust contamination is the main reason for air conditioning-HVAC system underperformance and premature failures. Dust wears out electrical components quickly while dust accumulation inside the system restricts airflow increasing the entire system heat load.

This is due in part to the inefficacy of OEM filters and the harsh and dusty conditions at mine, quarry and construction sites

The design of the original HVAC system by the manufacturer is intended to deliver cooling capacity overall and may not be designed to perform in extremely dusty environments or to be effective at removing smaller fine dust.

The OEM filters are normally intended to filter out coarse dust but not hazardous respirable particulate.

OEM filter from a Volvo EC480 and a CAT 972H

OEM filter from a Volvo EC480 and a CAT 972H


For instance, if HEPA filters were to be retrofitted to an original system, the end result is a system that may not be capable to cool down the cabin from higher air restriction of HEPA filters. The best practice is to use a multitude of controls combined with an environmental cabin (tight against particulate) that is precisely designed with fresh air pressurisation with HEPA filters to control respirable dust.


The BreatheSafe design is a custom system that regulates the correct volume of fresh air delivered to the air conditioning- HVAC system. Thus, minimise the amount of hot ambient air being blown into the cabin – reducing the heat load on the HVAC. The system can effectively keep the operator comfortable even in very hot and humid conditions.


The worst scenario is an air conditioning-HVAC system that is not effective at cooling the working environment leading to unsafe practices such as the operator opening a window for ventilation risking high exposures and allowing the cabin to be contaminated with respirable dust. This situation is hazardous because once respirable dust is inside the cabin; it will continue to be recirculated by the air conditioning system.

This BreatheSafe system has been installed with HEPA primary and HEPA return air filter for equipment working at a cement shed with 8000 hours of operation. It has kept the cabin clean and it has kept the internal HVAC components clean and dust-free.

*Some OEM’s offer a HEPA option.

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DPM (Diesel Particulate Matter) is a group one carcinogen

Jun 6, 2021

DPM (Diesel Particualte Matter) is a group one carcinogen

June 6, 2021

Aerosol & DPM: controlling hazardous submicron respirable particles

At mineral processing sites, there are lots of substances that can remain airborne for days depending on the size of the particulate matter (PM).

There are sites that must mitigate against sulphur dioxide and other toxic gases with mild to dangerous health effects depending on concentration.

The emerging issue is diesel exhaust emissions emissions which are classified as DPM (Diesel Particulate Matter) these may be the some of the most hazardous exposures at underground mines and above ground operations. The composition of diesel particulate matter is complex and the reason that there is so much potential risk to health.

Diesel exhaust includes more than forty substances that are listed as hazardous air pollutants and fifteen are listed as carcinogenic to humans.

Furthermore, chemical reactions in the atmosphere contribute to secondary particulate matter reactions; again, with carcinogenic properties. Diesel combustion particles are made up of fine particles (PM 2.5) combined with a high level of ultrafine particles (PM 0.1) The particulate that is in the PM2.5 range deposit in the deep tissue of the lung exactly where the human body is not able to expel these.

The fraction at PM 0.1 has been shown to cross from airways into our bloodstream.

The solution is well ventilated areas with isolation measures and the best practice is to utilize a multitude of controls. An environmental cabin / enclosure equipped with fresh air pressurisations is the best practice to ensure a safe work environment for the operator (Doors and windows must remain closed always).

The cabin / enclosure must be installed with HEPA filtration to separate airborne fine particles.

The cabin / enclosure must also be equipped with an activated carbon filter phase to adsorb airborne ultrafine particles.

Sites in Western Australia utilising HEPA filters in a fresh air pressurised cabin have halved their exposure values.

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Silica (RCS) is twenty times more toxic than coal dust

Silica (RCS) is twenty times more toxic than coal dust

Jun 6, 2021

SILICA (RCS) respirable crystalline silica

Respirable mine dust in high concentrations cause lung disease due to overloading the defences of the respiratory system as particles start to deposit in the lung.

Silica airborne particles are 20 times more toxic to the lungs than coal dust alone; nevertheless, Silicosis is the world’s oldest known occupational disease. Workers who are exposed and inhale invisible Silica (RCS) particles are at increased risk of developing serious – and often deadly – silica related disease.


In the United States the Mines Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has introduced a new rule that has lowered the concentration limit for respirable coal dust from 2.0 mg/m³ to 1.5 mg/m³.In regard to Silica the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) new rule has been brought in and is expected that MSHA will follow suit. The new limit from OSHA’s new rule cuts the permissible exposure limit (PEL) in half from 100 to 50 micrograms (as an 8-hour time weighed average)


HEPA filtration system is effective at controlling respirable dust exposure as long as the operator remains inside.


The health risks associated with exposure to RCS can be controlled with the use of effective systems installed in environmental cabin/enclosures to isolate workers. Respirable crystalline silica (RCS) is one of major issues brought to the attention of the Queensland Parliament – Coal Workers’ Pneumoconiosis Select Committee Inquiry. The select committee will be looking at evidence of silica exposures of Brisbane’s tunnel workers.

“Silica is probably more dangerous than coalmine dust. We talked about the toxicities earlier. Quarriers, tunnelers, metal miners—anyone who is disturbing the earth’s crust and drilling through rock is at risk for quartz and silica exposure. There should be industrial hygiene monitoring of the exposure levels. We just lowered our exposure level to silica from 0.1 milligram per metre cubed to 50 micrograms or 0.05 milligrams per metre cubed because of the horrendous diseases that occur from silica.

Aside from the diseases we have already talked about for coalmine dust, silica is actually a lung carcinogen. It is an International Agency for Research on Cancer, IRAC, class 1 human carcinogen. It causes renal disease and causes other autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and other things.”

Dr Cohen

To mitigate exposure to respirable dust a multitude of controls must be used. Then it should follow that fresh air pressurisation systems should be installed with HEPA filters in a two-stage setup: primary and return air stages to filter outside fresh air and also to filter the air that is inside the enclosure to same HEPA standard.

This process maintains the HVAC system dust free thus extending the lifecycle of the system and maintains the cooling capacity by avoiding air restrictions caused by dust contamination. These aspects must be considered, as it will result in costs reduction over the service life of the system. Specifically, reduce the overall costs of servicing & repairs of the HVAC system due to dust ingress contamination.

Finally, Its widely known and common practice that respirable fibres (Asbestos) must be removed using HEPA vacuum cleaners. The same principle applies in controlling respirable particulate inside the cabin.

Find out more about HEPA fresh air pressurisation technical guide.

The Invisible Risks of Fine Dust

The Invisible Risks of Fine Dust

Jun 3, 2021

The hidden risk factors from fine dust that impacts on the health and safety of operators.

The real issue is respirable dust (particulate) inside the breathing zone and the emphasis must be to prevent disease for the entire working life of operators. It is invisible to the human eye but it is found whenever extracted and processed minerals have been crushed, milled, screened, blasted, drilled, shovelled and conveyed.

Fine Dust Definition: “Dust of less than 10 microns which is capable of penetrating deep into the alveoli”

BSEN 481

The Task

Mining machines operate 24/7 in hot, dirty, dust-laden environments. Keeping the operator’s environment safe and healthy is an extreme task for equipment designers and maintenance crews.

In effect, the installed air quality (filtration) system is an essential component of a well-designed operator cabin. Environmentally controlled cabins reduce exponentially operator exposure to harmful particulates such as respirable crystalline silica, aerosols, particulate matter and other airborne contaminants or toxic gases.

The Risk

The very same respiratory hazards of fine airborne dust causes that shorten the life of air conditioning systems and other electrical equipment.

Dust exposure causes irritation and inflammation of the eyes and worsens pre-existing conditions. It has a drying effect with skin contact that can result in dermatitis. Prolonged exposure to fine dust results in increased nasal and respiratory conditions such as coughing. The result of high and prolonged exposure leads to inflammation of the lining tissue of the respiratory system with further complications such as bronchitis and pneumonia. Respirable dust (diameter <5 micron) is suspended in air that can travel to the deep tissue of the lung and pass through to blood stream associated with higher risks to health.

The Solution

The mitigation process is a multi-level approach with dust separation techniques with well-designed engineering controls.

There is evidence available to recommend BreatheSafe technology which can protect workers in situations where they are exposed to several respirable hazards from low to high exposure concentrations at their working environment in mineral processing sites, construction sites, waste and landfills and agricultural settings.

The methods to isolate and protect a worker are:

  1. Integrated system The ecosystem BEGINS with a sealed (environmental) cabin with fresh air pressuriser in a climate controlled environment (HVAC). With the following features: HEPA filtration, auto pressure control, digital display with alerts and warning, remote monitoring, brushless long life pressuriser motor.
  2. HEPA filtration The system to control respirable dust / particulate matter with a two-stage high efficiency filter media (Fresh air & return air filtration)
  3. Remote monitoring / on board display Management of data to analyse and review internal environmental conditions and operator awareness/alerts that the system is working.