Haul Road Dust Control Solutions

If you are looking for information on rural road dust solutions then please go to our Rural Road Dust Control page.

Haul road dust is usually controlled by water carts periodically spraying the road. Haul road dust suppression presents unique challenges in Australia due to the scale and demanding conditions of the mining industry. The following are some of the options to improve on this approach.

Controlling dust on haul roads involves challenges such as maintaining safety, minimizing environmental impact, and ensuring operational efficiency. Many dust suppression solutions can be applied using existing water carts, making implementation straightforward.

Haul roads are essential routes within mining operations, critical for transporting ore and other materials across the site. Effective dust suppression is especially important in the mining industry to ensure safe, efficient, and environmentally responsible operations.

Introduction to Haul Roads

Haul roads are the backbone of any mining site, providing essential routes for the movement of heavy machinery, equipment, and materials throughout the operation. These roads are specifically designed to handle high traffic volumes and the weight of heavy vehicles, but their constant use can lead to significant dust generation. Without proper haul road dust control, airborne dust can quickly become a major safety hazard, reducing visibility and increasing the risk of accidents. In addition to safety concerns, uncontrolled road dust can negatively impact the environment and the overall efficiency of mining operations. Implementing effective road dust control measures is crucial for maintaining safe, productive, and environmentally responsible mining sites.

The Importance of Dust Suppression

Dust suppression plays a vital role in maintaining the quality and safety of haul roads. Fine dust particles generated by the movement of vehicles and equipment can easily become airborne, leading to low visibility and posing serious health risks to workers through respiratory exposure. Traditional methods of dust control, such as frequent watering and grading, often fall short in providing long-term solutions and can result in high water consumption and ongoing maintenance costs. To achieve effective dust suppression, mining operations are increasingly turning to advanced products and technologies that not only reduce dust levels but also help conserve water and protect equipment. By prioritizing dust suppression, mine sites can create a safer, healthier, and more efficient working environment.

Key Benefits of Effective Dust Control

Implementing effective dust control strategies on haul roads delivers a wide range of benefits for mining operations. By keeping dust levels in check, sites can significantly improve safety by reducing the risks associated with airborne dust and low visibility. This also helps to minimize equipment wear and maintenance costs, as dust particles can cause damage to machinery over time. Effective dust control measures contribute to lower water consumption, supporting both operational efficiency and environmental sustainability. Additionally, using environmentally friendly dust suppression products helps mining operations reduce their environmental impact and carbon footprint. Overall, maintaining clean and well-managed haul roads leads to safer, more cost-effective, and environmentally responsible mining practices.

Haul Road Dust Control Chemicals

There are a large range of chemicals which can be used for dust suppression. Selecting the appropriate material for haul road dust suppression is crucial to optimize road durability and performance. These chemicals can be used to reduce dust, improve road structure and most commonly to reduce water truck and water usage. 

The following are some of the key products. All Wet Earth chemicals are environmentally friendly.

DustWorx® GX

DustWorx® GX is a concentrated polymer based product which is used as an additive to water trucks. Some of the benefits include:

  • Designed for mine haul roads
  • Easily applied - liquid and non gelling
  • Polymers bind and hold fine dust particles
  • 100% environmentally safe
  • Zero harm to application equipment
  • Can be used in fresh, KCl and salt water
  • Cost effective
  • Does not increase road slipperiness
DustWorx® GX low application rate of 1L per 5,000L of water means that DustWorx® GX is cost effective and through reduced water cart usage sites can actually save money in addition to reducing haul road dust.

DustWorx® GX can be also be applied at a higher concentration to maximise the time between watering. For example for Haul Roads when diluted at 1:500 (0.5L per m2) it can eliminate watering for up to 2 days and an application rate of 0.3L per m2 (diluted in 1L of water) can eliminate watering for up to 2 months.

Please note that the performance of polymer-based dust suppressants like DustWorx® GX may be reduced on loose gravel surfaces, especially in areas with frequent vehicle turning, as the loose gravel can disrupt the bonding process.

Wet Earth can supply water truck based and standpipe based dosing systems for DustWorx® GX. These system make it simple to dose each water cart as it fills.

For more information please visit our DustWorx GX page.

Zero

Zero is a environmentally friendly ‘Synthetic Organic’ formulation which coats the fines and binds them to the road surface. A single application of Zero can prevent 100% of dust without the need to regularly water the road for up to 12 months. Reapplication usually only requires 30% of the original dosage. Zero is deal for car parks, storage yards and roads where DustWorx is not an option.

For more information please visit our Zero page.

Haul Road Dust Control Spray Systems

Wet Earth can design and supply automated spray systems for both open pit and underground mine haul roads. These spray systems include the following:

  • elimination of water trucks off haul roads
    • potential cost savings if water truck numbers can be reduced
    • productivity benefits if water truck are a cause of haul road congestion
    • ability to utilise water trucks elsewhere - eg water disposal
  • high frequency watering with lower application rates
    • improved dust suppression
    • improved road surface conditions can help reduce rolling resistance, leading to greater operational efficiency
    • reduction in haul road wear caused by over watering
    • reduced risk of slippage due to over watering
  • more control of watering frequency and amount of water delivered each pass
  • designed for site specific road width, lengths and elevation changes
  • control system can be customised to suit site standards and CITECT systems
Please follow the link for more information on Haul Road Dust Control Spray Systems.