A beginner’s guide to Diesel Particulate Matter

What is Diesel Particulate Matter (DPM)?

Diesel Particulate Matter is the particles of microscopic material found in the exhaust of diesel engines. It includes fine carbon particles to which hazardous chemicals called poly aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) adhere. Because DPM can act like a gas and stay airborne for long periods of time, it can penetrate deep into peoples’ DNA. DPM is also known as Diesel Engine Exhaust Emissions (DEEE).

Where is DPM most common?

Because it is found in the emission of diesel engine exhaust systems, DPM is most common on construction sites and in workshops but can also be found anywhere diesel engines operate. It is at its most dangerous in underground mines, tunnels and enclosed workshops, where the confined space means it is unable to dilute if ventilation is not adequate.

Why is DPM dangerous?

In 2012 the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared DPM was carcinogenic to humans and placed it in the highest risk category, at the same risk level as asbestos. Particles of DPM are so small, they can penetrate deep into peoples’ respiratory system and mutate healthy blood cells into cancerous cells. The symptoms may not be evident for 10, 20 or even 30 years after exposure so the assumption that nothing is wrong, couldn’t be further from the truth.

Is the danger of DPM widely acknowledged?

Since WHO’s declaration, an increasing number of operations in affected industries have acknowledged the dangers of DPM. Awareness was further boosted in October 2019 when the new British Standards (BS) clearly stated the dangers of DPM and the importance of it being taken seriously by relevant industries. BS 6164 reported that exposure to diesel engine exhaust emissions should be controlled to prevent exposure to DPM. Primary control should be achieved by reducing emissions at the source, along with adequate ventilation. It also recommends considering real-time monitoring of DPM as part of ‘best work practice’ on all underground operations.

What is the potential impact of that finding?

As the British Standards may be applied to all Commonwealth countries, the impact of the decision should flow through to Australia, South Africa, Canada, New Zealand and India. “Best in class” and “early adopters” are expected to fall into line and introduce real time DPM monitoring into their operations. It will most likely see real-time DPM monitoring become an essential part of construction contracts in those countries and will likely mean employers will no longer be able to legally claim ignorance if a worker claims their health has been affected by DPM exposure. The liability now exists and directors in boardrooms around the world are taking notice, while insurers are also looking at this carefully with regards to litigation.

What can be done to protect against DPM?

The provision of adequate ventilation and the correct diesel particulate filters for each vehicle are the key to reducing the dangers of DPM. However, these controls should be accompanied by a stringent testing regime as this is the only way to know if a worksite has dangerous DPM levels. Prior to 2017, the only testing methods available required samples to be sent away for analysis – a process that could take three weeks and leave workers at risk in the meantime. In 2017, Pinssar launched the world’s first ultra-low maintenance continuous DPM monitor for harsh environments and confined spaces. The system feeds air quality results directly to management in real-time anywhere in the world, via smartphones, tablets, laptops and desktops. The real-time analysis of air samples enables operators and workers to feel confident that working conditions are monitored and safe.

How worried should I be about DPM?

There is no doubting that DPM is a significant health risk and no one wants to see DPM exposure become one of the great social disasters like lead, black dust and asbestos. But it is important for operators to consider that rather than being fearful of their DPM levels, Pinssar’s monitoring system is specifically designed to confidentially help companies by “monitoring to manage” DPM levels and trends over time. It has the unique ability to support risk mitigation by ensuring companies understand their DPM levels and verify that the controls they have put in place continuously minimise the risk of exposure, while having the necessary supporting data to protect themselves against false claims.

The video below gives a great overview of DPM and the Pinssar solution.

Pinssar announces UK distribution partner

Pinssar is excited to announce the appointment of RVT Group as primary distribution partner for Pinssar’s diesel particulate matter (DPM) monitoring solution in the United Kingdom.

Francois Velge, Managing Director of Pinssar is pleased to find a distributor who are equally dedicated to protecting worker health when on-site. “RVT Group is held in high esteem especially when it comes to providing solutions to protect the long-term health of workers on construction sites and in confined spaces, and are an obvious choice for representing Pinssar in the UK.”

Pinssar provides the gold standard for DPM monitoring and is the only practical solution which satisfies British Standard BS6164 for continuous, real-time monitoring of diesel engine exhaust emissions (DEEE).   RVT Group offer the Pinssar DPM monitoring solution via hire or contract sale arrangement.

To find out more about the dangers of diesel engine exhaust emissions and the Pinssar DPM solution, click here -> pinssar.com.au

To find out more about how RVT Group can help UK companies monitor DEEE and make every breath positive progress , click here -> DPM Monitoring

Pinssar heads to underground operators conference.

Attended by more than 1,000 mining professionals, the AUSIMM Underground Operators Conference is back in 2021.

Pinssar is very much looking forward to this popular event and as such our team will be attending and exhibiting in person as well as participating in the virtual conference platform. This 3 day event will be held on the 15th – 17th March 2021 at the Perth Convention Centre (and online).

Due to the hybrid nature of this conference, Pinssar looks forward to speaking with an even greater number of international and remote delegates about Pinssar’s globally adopted diesel particulate monitoring solution and how companies can partner with Pinssar to protect the long term health of workers.

For delegates attending in person, we invite them to visit us in the Exhibition Hall at Booth 86, or pop online to the virtual exhibition where you can access and download relevant information about diesel engine exhaust emissions underground.

To read more about the AusIMM Underground Conference, click here ->  UGOPS 2021

To find out more about the dangers of diesel engine exhaust emissions and the Pinssar DPM solution, click here ->  pinssar.com.au

Pinssar granted US patent

Pinssar announced today the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has officially granted a patent for their Particulate Matter Measuring invention.

The granting of this patent, allows Pinssar to protect the intellectual property of its diesel particulate reader in the United States and provides a platform for growing and protecting the brand in international markets.  It gives Pinssar exclusive rights to exclude others from making, using, selling or importing the technology for 20 years.

According to Francois Velge, Managing Director of Pinssar, the patent is the latest in a series of recent achievements for the company.

“We are extremely pleased to receive news of the granting of the US patent.  Pinssar’s diesel engine emissions monitoring of diesel particulate matter is an essential technology to protect workers in harsh environments and confined workspaces, such as underground mines and during tunnel construction. The real time, continuous monitoring of this deadly carcinogenic will help to protect workers health and maintain worksite progress”

Pinssar is currently completing national filings for the same patent in additional jurisdictions including Australia, China, Hong Kong, Europe, South Africa, Canada, Mexico and the United Kingdom.

About the technology

The Pinssar diesel particulate matter (DPM) reader is now protecting workers in the mining and construction sectors across the world. Its innovative design allows the technology to continuously monitor deadly DPM particles that are so small, they are invisible to the human eye. Critically, even in the harshest of environments, the data is available instantly for immediate feedback about the air quality in the working environment and can be used to warn workers about diesel exposure exceedances to protect their health and well being. Not only that, but having real time insights allows for advanced data driven decisions leading to better operational outcomes. To find out how the Pinssar solution can help you protect your workers and progress your projects, contact us.

What is British Standard 6164

The latest edition of British Standard 6164 (known as BS 6164) was released on October 31, 2019 and section 16.1 has formed the regulatory framework relating to monitoring requirements of diesel exhaust emissions in the Tunnelling and Construction industry which will have a positive impact on the global industry.

This revision is the first time monitoring of diesel emissions are specifically addressed and comes seven years after the dangers of diesel engine exhaust were clearly defined by the World Health Organisation (WHO), which declared it is carcinogenic to humans and placed it in the highest risk category, at the same risk level as asbestos.

The BS 6164 16.1 states:

“Exposure to diesel engine exhaust emissions should be controlled to prevent exposure to DPM. Primary control should be achieved by reducing emissions at source along with adequate ventilation. Until further guidance is issued by HSE, a limit value of 100 ug/m3 as a 15-minute time-weighted average, and measured as elemental carbon, should not be exceeded”.

“Real-time monitoring of DPM using light scattering technology should be considered, however appropriate correction factors should be applied to ensure differentiation between DPM and mineral dust along with aerosols in the tunnel environment. Analytical monitoring for DPM should be carried out in accordance with BS EN 14530”.

“Continuous real time monitoring should be undertaken”

The British Standards may be applied to all Commonwealth countries, which means the impact of the BS 6164 latest revision should flow through to Australia, South Africa, Canada, New Zealand and India.

Continuous Real – time DPM monitoring is becoming an essential part of construction contracts and will likely mean employers will no longer be able to legally claim ignorance if a worker claims their health has been affected by DPM exposure.

Ultimately, no one wants to see DPM exposure become one of the great social disasters like lead, coal dust and asbestos.

At the end of the day, continuous real-time DPM monitoring enables the workplace to make decisions much faster and ultimately save lives – there’s no denying it.  To find out how the Pinssar solution can help you protect your workers and progress your projects, contact us.

Pinssar making a difference globally

Pinssar’s latest CE certified units have been loaded up and are ready to get to work anywhere around the world.

With our gold standard in diesel emissions monitoring technology making a difference to the safety and well being of workers in harsh environments such as tunnels and mines including throughout Europe, USA, Canada, Australia and South Africa.

If you want to learn more about how Pinssar’s technology can protect against the dangers of diesel engine exhaust emissions, contact us.

Have you got DPM on your agenda?

Each year around the world potentially hundreds of thousands of workers are being exposed to diesel particulate matter (DPM), putting them at serious increased risk of lung and bladder cancer.

What is DPM exactly?

DPM (diesel particulate matter) are the small particles of microscopic material found in the exhaust of diesel engine emissions. In confined spaces, such as in tunnels and underground construction sites, workshops and mines, the risk of DPM-related health issues is significantly higher. It is also referred to as DEEE (diesel engine exhaust emissions).

The World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2012 declared DPM as carcinogenic to people and placed it in the same risk level as asbestos.

Read our beginners guide to DPM here

What the experts say

The Cancer Council states that up to 1.2 million Australian workers were exposed to diesel engine exhaust (DEE) in 2011, much of it containing solid but microscopic DPM material, which “increases your risk of developing long-term health problems” when exposed.

“This includes lung cancer and possibly bladder cancer,” the Cancer Council continues. “In Australia, diesel engine exhaust is the second most common cancer-causing agent (carcinogen) workers are exposed to, behind ultraviolet radiation exposure.”

The UK’s national standards body, British Standards Institution (BSI), goes further by stating that workers employed in the British construction sector account for a disproportionately higher percentage of cancer diagnoses annually than the general population.

“Construction has the largest burden of cancer amongst all industrial sectors, accounting for over 40% of occupational cancer registrations and cancer deaths,” BSI’s EMEA Product Champion for Occupational Health, Stephen Griffiths states in the Construction: Towards a safer, healthier industry White Paper.

“Past exposures in the construction sector is believed to have caused over 5000 occupational cancer cases and approximately 3700 deaths annually.

Why is DPM such a risk?

“Above-ground sites often enjoy good natural ventilation which dilutes the DPM levels, so they are less hazardous to the workforce, but in underground and confined spaces, dilution of DPM particles relies on the right amount of mechanical controls, such as ventilation. When these controls change or fail, workers in these environs are exposed to higher than expected levels of DPM. The lack of real-time information showing what the DPM levels are, means the operation cannot quickly respond, which exponentially increases the risk,” Pinssar Managing Director Francois Velge explained.

“Historically this has been the case – partly because there hasn’t been the technology available to provide the necessary continuous, real-time data within a harsh environment which enables actions and responses to a group one carcinogenic. You simply can’t manage what you don’t monitor.”

What can be done about it?

In response to this, Pinssar launched its continuous, real-time DPM monitoring system and the early adopters of the Pinssar system across Australia, Europe, the US, South Africa, South America and Canada are now enjoying the benefits by understanding their DPM loads and responding to the reported DPM trends.

Award-winning case studies like the one produced by the 57km cross-border section of the Lyon to Turin tunnel project managed by SMP4 in 2018, confirmed the effectiveness of this technology.

“Prior to 2017, there was only random sampling being undertaken. DPM levels at a site could be measured by taking gravimetric samples, sending them off for testing and waiting for the results,” Mr Velge added.

“The process could often take as long as three weeks. If there was a problem with DPM levels at a site, the workers could potentially be exposed for three weeks before the results were returned, and before action could be taken.

“One alternative was to use handheld technology but that only provided a random measure of DPM at a specific point in time.

“Thankfully, many in the sector acknowledge that this is not good enough and now technology is available to overcome these challenges and maximise worker safety.

“The health and safety of workers on site is mandated by the requirement for employers to provide a healthy and safe working environment, and not just the moral obligation of the employer. It is also necessary to maintain the reputation and safety record of the company and to ensure compliance with Workplace Health & Safety requirements as well as local standards.”

For more information around DPM solutions for your workplace, contact us.

Using data to drive health and wellbeing strategies in construction

In a recent article published by Construction Health and Wellbeing UK, Pinssar’s real time DPM monitoring system was identified as an exciting advancement in technology. The article said this innovation provides critical data which could be considered as part of a construction company’s health strategy. Jennie Armstrong, Managing Director, states that these technologies will definitely help our industry understand risk and be able to respond much quicker to the hazards around us.

Read the full article here

Changing the face of safety in South Africa

The South African mining industry’s focus on the health and safety of its workers makes it uniquely placed to adopt world best practice in the real-time monitoring of Diesel Particulate Matter in confined spaces. That’s the view of an Australian businessman whose company has developed the world’s first continuous, real-time DPM monitoring system that is set to revolutionise the safety of mining operations across the world – as reported in First Mining DRC-Zambia magazine.

Click here to read the full article.

Pinssar’s diesel particulate matter monitoring system in the world spotlight

Pinssar’s DPM monitoring system shines at the 2019 Tunnelling Awards

A Diesel Particulate Matter (DPM) monitoring system developed by Australian company Pinssar has shone on the world stage, taking a Highly Commended award at the 2019 Tunnelling Awards in London.

The system allows management of mining and tunnelling operations, workshops and all enclosed environments where workers are exposed to diesel engine exhaust emissions and DPM, to receive reliable DPM data in real time, via smartphones, tablets, laptops and desktops.

It is being hailed as a major step in protecting workers in environments where diesel engine exhaust emissions present a serious health threat.

Owner, Managing Director and driving force behind Pinssar, Francois Velge, said the monitoring system’s success in the Innovation in Instrumentation and Monitoring category of the awards was exciting for the company.

“This is a major coup for Pinssar as the awards are designed to recognise and reward projects, teams and companies that are driving the tunnelling sector forward internationally, so it is clear that we are now in an elite field,” Mr Velge said.

He and Pinssar’s National Business Development Manager, Wayne Hose, attended the awards and the 2019 Tunnelling Festival, where they were approached by several leaders in the international tunnelling industry who were keen to know more about the monitoring system and the role it could play in protecting their workers.

“They have been impressed by the technology we have developed, particularly the system’s ability to withstand harsh environments, detect diesel particulate matter in the sub-800 nanometre particle range and deliver real-time results to smart phones, tablets, laptops and desktops anywhere in the world,” Mr Velge said.

“These are people who are currently relying on old technology that means the analysis of diesel particulate material monitoring results takes several weeks, so they are excited by the prospect of having those results in real time and being able to take immediate action to protect their workers.

“So while having a Highly Commended award to our name is thrilling, the international exposure the company and our monitoring system has received is invaluable and promises big things for the future, not only for Pinssar but also the safety of the tunnelling and mining industries.”