Originally posted by Pevy:

Originally posted by SubsidedLemon:

If you destroy the nests, you only stop the nests from producing greydwarves.

If you want to mine safely, create a perimeter by either digging or placing stake walls. Also workbench circles prevent spawns, but also attracts enemies that spawn just outside the circle.

Its not only workbenchs that does this, even standing torches does this.