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Airborne Dust in Quarries and Mines: A Safety and Compliance Priority

In quarries and mines, some hazards are obvious like steep benches, heavy machinery, unstable ground. Others are harder to see but just as dangerous. Airborne dust is one of those risks.

Dust is more than a nuisance. In both quarry and mining operations, poor air quality affects health, safety, compliance and equipment performance. Left unmanaged, it can lead to higher operating costs, regulatory action and serious safety incidents.

The Safety & Compliance Challenges

When dust becomes airborne, the smallest particles are the most dangerous. These microscopic dust particles are invisible to the eye but can be breathed deep into the lungs, where they bypass the body’s natural defences. Over time, this can lead to respiratory issues and long-term health concerns for workers.

But health is only one part of the problem. Airborne dust can also:

  • Reduce visibility, increasing the risk of collisions and machinery accidents;
  • Hide surface hazards on haul roads and work areas, slowing reaction times;
  • Damage equipment, clogging filters and sensors and increasing maintenance costs;
  • Trigger compliance breaches if air quality limits are exceeded

For health, safety and environmental teams, dust is both a compliance issue and a safety priority.

Why DustChek is Different

Traditional liquid dust suppression methods require heavy storage and frequent reapplication.

DustChek takes a smarter approach:

  • Granular formulation – Easier to store, handle, and transport than liquids
  • Proven polymer technology – Over 23 years of field success in Australian conditions
  • Environmentally friendly & safe – OHS-compliant, safe for workers, equipment and surrounding land
  • Tailored solutions – Our specialists assess each site and create a program specific to its conditions

Proven Results in the Field

At Handlebar Hill Lead-Zinc Mine near Mount Isa where over20 million tonnes of overburden have been produced since 2007. DustChek’s stabilisation and dust suppression program delivered:

  • Up to 90% reduction in water use on haul and access roads
  • 50% decrease in grader hours over the first 60 days
  • Town water savings of ~20 megalitres per month
  • Reduced water truck hours, fuel costs, and maintenance demands

These gains were achieved while improving haul road surfaces and maintaining compliance with OHS dust standards.

Cleaner Air, Safer Operations

For the quarry and mine industries, effective dust control is not optional, but essential. DustChek helps sites:

  • Stay compliant with OHS and environmental regulations
  • Reduce operating costs through lower water and maintenance demands
  • Protect worker health and safety on site

Contact us today, to find out more about DustChek Dust Suppressant.

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