Monitoring Diesel Exhaust Emissions - What You Should Know.

Guidelines for the management of diesel engine pollutants in underground environments.

The recently produced (April 2008) Guidelines for the management of diesel engine pollutants in underground environments outlines some important mine safety issues.

"The use of diesel engines in an underground environment is considered a hazardous activity potentially associated with short and long term adverse health effects."

The guide (click here for a copy of the guideline) outlines details of emission testing practices that should be carried out periodically on diesel engines entering an underground environment. It recommends at least once a week the diesel exhaust emissions are tested.

"At least once every week each diesel engine shall be tested to ascertain whether the limits specified in SECTION 2 GENERAL HEALTH RISKS are exceeded in the mine atmosphere."

SO HOW CAN I TEST MY ENGINES ONCE A WEEK?

We'd like to introduce the Testo 335 portable gas analyser - mine kit

"Gases shall be analysed by means of an appropriately calibrated portable digital or analogue gas detector but not a tube type gas detector."

Above is the testo 335 portable gas analyser. It can be configured to measure O2, CO and NOx as required.

It is a small but robust unit suitable for industrial environments. It has a specially designed "engine" probe to enable quick and easy measurements. It features internal data logging and file system, enabling data to be stored for individual engines, which can later be downloaded to a PC for easy reporting.

"3.3 DOCUMENTATION
Accurate records should be kept in a plant safety file for all stages throughout the lifecycle of the diesel engine, particularly:
a) The pollutant generation signature levels for each type of diesel engine.
b) Emissions characteristics prior to entry into the underground environment."

Want to know more? Please contact us by the link at the top left of this page.

All quotes taken from the Guidelines for the management of diesel engine pollutants in underground environments produced by the dpi April 2008