Dust-A-Side Australia wants to lead the charge when it comes to safety and dust control.
In the dynamic mining environment, ensuring safety via effective dust control is paramount.
Dust-A-Side Australia is one company aiming to be at the forefront of combating this challenge by leveraging decades of experience and a global network to deliver innovative solutions that prioritise health and operational efficiency.
The company’s approach to dust control goes beyond traditional methods like the application of water.
“The costs associated with relying on water for dust control can be quite high, not to mention the fact that wet roads create other dangers, including vehicle instability and slippage,” Dust-A-Side Australia managing director Shaun Cockman told Safe to Work.
Dust-A-Side Australia employs advanced dust suppressants with binding properties, eliminating the need for constant re-watering and reducing the risk of slippery surfaces.
The company’s flagship suppressant – DAS Product – has been successfully applied around the world for more than four decades. This emulsion of bitumen in water is specifically designed and formulated to physically bind road materials together and suppress dust.
This method not only mitigates road damage and the formation of potholes but helps to enhance production efficiency by minimising downtime.
areas, crushing plants, and stockpile feeds. Image: Dust-A-Side
“Understanding that effective dust control requires a holistic perspective, we implement solutions across all stages of mining and construction processes,” Cockman said. “This includes not just haul roads but also production and processing plants, where workers are directly exposed to dust in confined spaces.”
Dust-A-Side Australia’s standard and custom-designed dust suppression systems have proven to reduce respirable dust by over 80 per cent in key areas such as run of mine and tip areas, crushing plants, and stockpile feeds.
The company’s haul road maintenance programs and technologies have been found to reduce operational dust levels by more than 90 per cent.
“In a recent trial at an open-cut mine, we could demonstrate the efficacy of our HydroTac solution, for instance, which is a biodegradable dust binder,” Cockman said. “The project saw an average dust reduction of 80 per cent on service roads and 50 per cent on heavy vehicle access roads.”
Cockman said Dust-A-Side Australia is able to help a site reduce equipment usage by 70 per cent, highlighting the operational efficiency and cost savings achieved.
“HydroTac not only reduced fugitive dust but also improved road performance and safety,” he said.
To further enhance dust control, the company uses next-generation monitoring software that enables the real-time analysis and identification of haul road defects.
This proactive approach is designed to ensure dust levels are consistently within safe limits, thereby protecting workers’ health and improving overall site safety.
Another standout technologies the company offer is its high-pressure dust suppression systems.
Unlike traditional low-pressure water sprays, these systems use a fine atomised mist to capture and subdue airborne dust particles. This includes including PM10-sized dust, which are particles with a diameter of 10 micrometres or less, which means they are small enough to pass through the throat and nose and enter the lungs.
This method is highly effective, reducing PM10 dust levels by over 80 per cent and significantly improving both safety and environmental outcomes.
And the company’s commitment to safety extends beyond dust control.
Dust-A-Side Australia aims to ensure its clients can meet stringent occupational exposure limits for coal and silica dust, safeguarding the wellbeing of their workforce.
As part of Colas Group, Dust-A-Side Australia is supported by a strong upstream industrial network. Operating in 50 countries across five continents, the group carries out more than 50,000 projects each year with over 65,000 employees.
This feature also appears in the September-October issue of Safe to Work.