NO2 - Measuring project Swedish underground mines Social Dialogue Committee Extractive Industries 29 November 2013 Cecilia Andersson, SveMin Lars-Erik Folkesson, IF Metall 1

NO 2 - measuring project Swedish underground mines 2013 Purpose To investigate levels of NO 2 in Swedish underground mines To investigate the level of exposure for employees in different operations (loading, drilling, charging, maintenance, works management) To compare results from logger instruments and diffusion instruments 2

NO 2 - measuring project Swedish underground mines 2013 Conditions 6 mines attended ( employees) 8-hours values was analyzed 235 measurements in different operations (loading, drilling, charging, maintenance, works management) - Diffusion instruments were used in 104 measurements - Logger instruments were used in 131 measurements 3

NO 2 - measuring project loading 4

NO 2 - measuring project loading 8-hour value 5

NO2 - measuring project Swedish underground mines 2013 Results 27 measurements (11%) exceeded the proposed 8-hour limit value of 0,5 ppm (10 diffusion instrument and 17 logger instrument) Highest values in loading operations Max-levels over 1 ppm is common in the loading operations. Probably we will have even more problem with the short time (15 min) limit value of 1 ppm (no analyze of 15-min value has been done in this project) There are small differences in results between logger and diffusion instruments. Measuring low levels is easily biased 6

Socio-economic and technical impact Measurement problems SCOEL recommend chemiluminescence as a method for measurements - Not a common method in mines (method for laboratory use) Measuring low levels (0,5 ppm and below) the margin of error for diffusion and logger instruments is +/- 30% - The results are biased by humidity and personal handling - The instruments need continous calibration Impact Replacement of measurement instruments and purchases of new alarm system for airborne NO and NO 2 Need for training for all users (employees) of the gas alarm system to guarantee correct use of the instruments 7

Socio-economic and technical impact Estimated costs for measurements (calculations from one company) Replacement of measurement instruments and purchases of new alarm system for airborne NO and NO 2 – Euro (singel cost) Gas for calibration – Euro / year Extra staff – Euro / year Extra staff on initial project – Euro (singel cost) Training on new equipment – Euro (singel cost) 8

Socio-economic and technical impacts Dimension and extension of ventilation system It will be necessary to take measures in the ventilation system For example: - Automatic control of ventilation (high level of gas – more ventilation) - Find and stop leaks in the ventilation system Estimated costs - ventilation system (calculations from one company) Investment costs for extension of ventilation system and automatic control of ventilation – Euro (single cost) Operation costs, for example find and stop leaks – Euro / year Approx. total costs for measurements and ventilation (one company) Euro (single costs) Euro / year 9

Socio-economic and technical impact Replacement of vehicles - Replacement to electrically driven vehicles - Change to new alternative fuels Restrictions for vehicles and driving in underground mines - No personal cars in the mine (replacement to electrically driven). - Public transports with busses - Scheduled transports of goods Estimated costs - ?? 10

Conclusion The proposed OEL for NO 2 of 0,5 ppm (8 h) and 1 ppm (15 min) are not impossible to reach but it would require new technology for engines and fuels. With this follows notable costs. Reliable and standardized measuring methods are key factors to guarantee correct values – Need for new methods A sufficiently long period of transition is important. 11

Thank you! Cecilia Andersson, SveMin (Swedish Association of Mines, Mineral and Metal Producers), newly appointed chair of the Euromines H & S Lars-Erik Folkesson, IF Metall (Swedish trade union for mines, steel- and metal works) 12