With over 550 Queensland coal miners diagnosed with preventable occupational lung illness as a result of dust exposure in Queensland coal mines (including workers who have only worked in open-cut mines), Queensland mine operators hit a key deadline that was declared by RSHQ. All machines cabins were to meet Recognised Standard 20 by the following dates and types of machines:
30/9/22
Blast hole drills
Hyrdraulic excavators/shovels > 100t
Tracked dozers
30/6/23
Hydraulic excavtors/shovels <100T
Scrapers
Loaders
Wheeled Dozers
Forklifts/Telehandlers
31/12/24
All other HME such as
Trucks
Graders
Water trucks
Service trucks
Dragline cabins
This means if any operator is operating a machine from the above list, as of 1 January 2025, and the machine cabin is not meeting standard, the machine should be tagged out until it meets standard. Evidence of doing this is important if the operator fears retaliation for pulling a machine from production. Companies have had four years to bring machine cabins to standard and were involved with RSHQ when the deadlines were made.
Alternatively, anyone who sees machine cabins not meeting standard, and is not willing to remove machines from production for fear of reprisal, can make a confidential complaint to the Inspectorate of Occupational Hygiene at RSHQ:
Senior Inspector of Mines (Occupational Hygiene): Mr. Fritz Djukic
4999 8504
Inspector of Mines (Occupational Hygiene): Mr. Andrew Batterson
4999 8502
Fixed and mobile cabin design
Generally conventional HVAC systems are not adequate to handle high volumes of dust for long periods of time. It is also likely that standard cabin filters do not sufficiently protect operators from airborne mine dust.
Fit for purpose cabins on mobile and fixed plant can provide a means for thermal comfort and primary dust control. For cabins that are used in potentially high concentrations of airborne dust, it is critical that these systems are capable of preventing the ingress of very fine airborne dust particles.
The majority of cabins used on surface coal mines are on mobile plant. When selecting equipment or undertaking major overhauls on existing mobile plant, the SSE shall give consideration to ensuring the following capabilities:
ability to supply pre-cleaned and filtered air to the cabin that passes through a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter of minimum Class of H13.
The ability to pressurise the cabin to sufficient levels to prevent inward ingress of dust. Some studies show significant cab environmental benefits when cab pressures exceed 20 Pascals (Pa). Some commercial systems currently available constantly adjust to maintain 35 Pa positive pressure.
The ability to continuously monitor cabin pressure with a system that alarms when the pressure is not adequate. Further guidance on the use of HEPA filtration in fixed and mobile cabins can be obtained from:
British Standard EN ISO 16890:2016 – Air filters for general ventilation The EN Standard 14695-1: 2017 states “The air delivery system shall cause a positive differential pressure within the cab of:
(a) 50 Pa minimum; or
(b) 20 Pa minimum, if a device informing the operator when the pressure drops below 20 Pa is provided.
Want to know more about cabin ventilation? Read QCMA article about cabin pressure systems.