Safety is a critical priority in tunnelling and underground mining, where workers face unique and often severe hazards, including airborne dust.

The recent spotlight on silicosis cases in tunnelling has reinforced what industry professionals have long understood — dust control isn’t a single-solution issue. It requires a comprehensive, well-integrated management plan that combines multiple complementary control measures.

The hierarchy of controls is widely accepted approach for reducing or eliminating occupational hazards and ensuring worker safety, while optimising operational efficiency. Developed by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and widely adopted globally, this model ranks control measures by their effectiveness, from the most impactful to the least.

In today’s episode Dr Peter Stowasser and Andrew Fanning talk through each of the levels (Elimination, Substitution, Engineering Controls, Administrative Controls and PPE) and provide some practical advice and insight into what can be done to manage risks from dust and fumes.

This episode explores the importance of ducting design and decision-making processes in sizing dust collectors.

Dr Peter Stowasser also shares insights on his doctorate in Mathematics, his research on Epistemic Cognition and draws correlation between mathematics and his involvement in dust control.