Amendments to the Mine Health and Safety Act (MHSA) in 2025 now classify diesel particulate matter (DPM) as a regulated airborne pollutant in underground and enclosed mining environments and the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR) has set legal occupational exposure limits for DPM concentrations.

HJS Emission Technology South Africa (HJS SA) provides emission control solutions for mining and heavy-duty industries, engineered to reduce DPM at source.

The company explains that DPMs consist of microscopic soot particles from diesel exhaust emissions. These particles contain toxic chemicals and heavy metals that are recognised as a Group 1 carcinogen, or cancer-causing substance, by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.

DPMs affect workplace safety in several ways, with confined spaces such as underground mining environments posing an even higher exposure risk. Short-term exposure effects include headaches, dizziness, and irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, while long-term exposure can lead to lung disease, cardiovascular problems, and cancer risks.

Modular diesel particulate filters (DPFs) from HJS SA are specifically developed to reduce the pollutant emissions of mobile underground mining and construction machinery such as industrial forklifts, trucks, wheel loaders, back-hoe loaders, and specialised vehicles.

The company notes that the sintered metal filter (SMF) is the core of its exhaust system offerings, effectively reducing soot and fine particulate emissions with over 99% efficiency.

HJS SA range of SMF products includes:

• SMF-ER, external regeneration: Particles are collected in the filter; provides an economical solution for equipping an entire fleet of similar construction.
• SMF-AR, active regeneration: suitable for applications of varying profiles and low exhaust gas temperatures.
• SMF-CRT, continuous regeneration trap: for higher temperature exhaust gas, for applications in the medium to high kW range of performance.
• S-CRT, selective catalytic reduction + trap: for the reduction of gaseous pollutants in combination with the diesel particulate filter.

Visit the HJS SA stand at the upcoming Electra Mining Africa exhibition to view their tailored, end-to-end solutions designed to reduce emissions at source and improve workplace health and safety.