The MINER Act of 2006 and Related NIOSH Activities |
Mine Emergency Communications Partnership |
Overview
NIOSH organized the Mine Emergency Communications Partnership (MECP) to facilitate the development, evaluation, and implementation of communications system technology that would allow workers in mines to communicate with personnel on the surface post-accident. Post-accident worker tracking technology is included. The primary goals are to:
- establish general performance expectations for mine emergency communications systems,
- establish uniform and fair criteria for testing and evaluating systems,
- conduct in-mine tests on systems under consistent conditions, and
- report the findings.
A secondary goal is to identify gap areas that should be addressed through research.
The MECP includes representatives from state and national mining associations, labor unions, state and federal regulatory agencies, manufacturers, and university and government researchers. Each partner may name one person and one alternate to represent that partner's positions and views. Otherwise, there is no restriction on attendance or participation. As with other NIOSH partnerships, the MECP operates by consensus.
Periodic meetings are held face-to-face or by telephone. Partners are expected to share their knowledge of and experiences with communications and tracking systems and provide mine sites where tests and demonstrations of communications and tracking systems can be conducted.
The initial thrust of the MECP has emphasized coal mine applications. However, systems are also needed in metal/nonmetal mines, and many system principles will apply to both coal and noncoal. Consequently, metal/nonmetal partners are encouraged to participate from the start and, when appropriate, a subgroup for metal/nonmetal mines testing will be formed in addition to coal.
Meeting Minutes
Tests and Demonstrations
Various communications and tracking system tests and demonstrations have been and continue to be conducted at partner mine sites. These include:
- ARCH Coal Skyline Mine
- CONSOL Energy McElroy Mine
- Geosteering
- Innovative Wireless
- Kutta Consulting
- Rajant
- Time Domain/Concurrent Technologies
- Transtek
- Foundation Coal
- International Coal Group Viper Mine
- Active Control Technology Inc.
- NIOSH Bruceton Safety Research Coal Mine
- Briar Tek Incorporated
- Geosteering
- Grace Industries
- Helicom
- InSeT Systems, LLC
- MiraTrek
- NIOSH Lake Lynn Experimental Mine
- Eakahau
- Embigence
- MiraTrek
- Rajant (by Hannah Engineering)
- Transtek
Documents
Presentations
- Mine Emergency Communications Partnership - Systems Testing and Performance Progress Review Meeting
Hilton Garden Inn Pittsburgh/Southpointe, November 15, 2007
- A Proposed Implementation 'Roadmap' for a Survivable Mine-wide Communications System (PDF, 955 KB)
Snyder-D | National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health presentation, April 2007
- The Approval Process and Recent Efforts in the Area of Communication and Tracking Systems: Presentation for the Partnership (PDF, 782 KB)
Mine Safety and Health Administration presentation, 2006
- Emergency Communication and Tracking Systems - MSHA Technology Evaluation (PDF, 4922 KB)
Mine Safety and Health Administration presentation, 2006
- Underground Coal Mine Communications for Emergencies and Everyday Operation (PDF, 4998 KB)
Schiffbauer-WH; Brune-JF | National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health presentation, 2006
- Communication and Tracking Technology...What are the Options? (PDF, 384 KB)
Welsh-JH | National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health presentation, 2006
Contacts
For more information about the MECP, please contact:
| David P. Snyder |
| Senior Mine Electrical Engineer |
| Office of Mine Safety and Health |
| P.O. Box 18070, Cochrans Mill Rd. |
| Pittsburgh, PA 15236 |
| 412-386-5304 |
| DPSnyder@cdc.gov |
| Jeffrey H. Welsh |
| Deputy Director, Pittsburgh Research Laboratory |
| P.O. Box 18070, Cochrans Mill Rd. |
| Pittsburgh, PA 15236 |
| 412-386-4040 |
| JWelsh@cdc.gov |
|