Diesels underground: overcoming a bad image

The health hazards arising from the use of diesels underground have been a matter of concern for many years. This article is based on a paper presented to the American Mining Congress' Diesel Committee in 1980 and on reports of work carried out for NIOSH; all of which conclude that miners working with or around diesel equipment underground do not suffer from respiratory ailments any more than those who are not exposed. Research is being carried out by USBM on an improved filter for the removal of particulates from diesel exhaust gases.