NIOSH Mining: Emergency Management Topic Page

NIOSH Office of Mine Safety and Health Research Topic

Emergency management

Our nation's miners often rely on emergency responders to save their lives in the event of an underground emergency, such as a fire, explosion, roof fall, or water inundation. In 2009 there were 625 active underground coal and 247 underground metal/nonmetal and stone mines operating in the U.S. According to a recent Mine Safety and Health Administration survey, the U.S. has approximately 364 underground state and company mine rescue teams. These rescue team members must be provided with the latest personal protective equipment, be well trained and physically fit, and fully understand the hazards of rescue, exploration and recovery operations. Mine rescue teams are not the first responders on site. Miners, working at the mine, are often the first responders to a mine emergency such as a fire. As such, specialized fire preparedness training and response plans have proven to be effective, especially when combined with realistic training and technology. If escape is impossible miners need sound guidance and training on the use of refuge alternatives. Good communication and decision making skills are also important. Enhanced methodologies and training interventions are needed to ensure that mine personnel possess the communication and decision making skills required to "do it right".

The work in this topic area is supported by the NIOSH Mining Emergency Response and Rescue and Fire Fighting and Prevention programs. See the NIOSH Mining Products page for software, guides, training materials or other items related to this topic.

Emergency Management Spotlights

Development of a Gas Monitor Simulator and Mine Rescue Contest Field Trials (PDF, 346 KB, 2012)
Researchers from the U.S. Office of Mine Safety and Health Research (OMSHR) of the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) completed field trials during coal mine rescue contests using simulated gas detectors in place of placards

Guidelines for Instructional Materials on Refuge Chamber Setup, Use, and Maintenance (PDF, 416 KB, 2009-07)
NIOSH has created this document with suggestions for developing manuals and educational materials concerning refuge chambers for miners.

Impact of Air Velocity on the Detection of Fires in Conveyor Belt Haulageways (PDF, 245 KB, 2011)
This paper discusses the impact of ventilation airflow on alarm times of the smoke detectors and video cameras, CO levels, smoke optical densities and smoke obscuration, total smoke mass concentrations, and fire heat release rates, examining how these various parameters depend upon air velocity and air quantity, the product of air velocity, and entry cross-section.

Inundations Can Put Miners at Risk by Blocking Escape Routes (HTM, 13 KB, 2011)
The NIOSH Office of Mine Safety and Health Research has conducted studies on safe designs of impoundment areas and escape training in the case of inundation.

New Simulated Gas Detector Offers Realistic Training for Mine Rescue Teams (PDF, 147 KB, 2010)
This research investigation of a multi-gas simulated gas monitor system (GMS) that is a hands-on skills training designed to assist mine rescue team members or miners learn about gas detection, understand the significance of gas concentrations, and encourage subsequent decision-making actions by team members. The GMS technology was used by mine rescue teams instead of placards.

Radio 101: Operating Two-Way Radios Every Day and in Emergencies: Instructor's Guide (PDF, 960 KB, 2011)
This Instructor's Guide is part of a program to train miners in the use of two-way radio communication in the mines.

SCSR Capacity Report (PDF, 48 KB, 2011)
The NIOSH National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL) has a report on the capacity of one-hour-rated self contained self rescuers (SCSRs). This report is intended to help miners understand how SCSR duration may vary and what to expect under different conditions.

A Study of First Moments in Underground Mine Emergency Response (PDF, 153 KB, 2010-01)
Researchers conducted focus groups and interviews on what happens in the first crucial moments of a mine emergency. Results indicated that there were common themes in initial response, which included the importance of mine emergency planning and training, quantity and quality of communication providing information for decision-making, leadership and trust, plus individual personal issues.

Technology News 543 - Reverse Implementation of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Technology for Personnel Tracking in Underground Mines (PDF, 340 KB, 2011)
To develop a method for tracking underground mine workers that provides: (1) potential improvements in accuracy when compared to conventional, zone-based radio frequency identification (RFID) methods, (2) the ability to interface to a variety of mine communications infrastructures, (3) a higher degree of survivability after a mine disaster, and (4) ease of installation and maintenance.

Technology News 547 - Cost-Effective, Off-the-Shelf Wireless Links for Surface Integrated Mine Emergency Communications (PDF, 323 KB, 2012)
A surface network system using off-the-shelf components, consisting of two Motorola Canopy Subscriber Modules (SMs), one Canopy Access Module (AP), associated antennas, and legacy video converter, successfully established strategic communications links in a limited mine-simulated environment. When needed, the system could be expanded with additional hardware to establish a communications path over greater distances to link multiple communications devices and other monitor and control devices and their data to a command center (CC). A person with experience in aiming antennas and configuring wireless local area networks would be capable of setting up a secure system in a timely manner, and also address issues relating to obstructions due to local topography and foliage. The CC would be the hub of a secure centralized communications system that could link all the communications devices, data sources, and control functions. In a situation where the normal communications between the surface and underground are interrupted and an alternative communications path to the surface is established, the technology provides a least-cost solution for connecting the alternative communications path to the CC.

Training for Safety in Emergencies Inoculating for Underground Coal Mine Emergencies (PDF, 3234 KB, 2011)
Emergency training for underground coal miners can be developed using inoculation theory, which has been used to explain how people may resist unwanted persuasion attempts by preparing counterarguments in advance. The researchers used a NIOSH training module as an example of how the theory may be applied in a training context to prepare workers psychologically for emergencies in underground coal mines, but the concepts can be applied in other industries that require emergency safety training.

Underground Coal Mine Disasters 1900-2010: Events, Responses, and a Look to the Future (PDF, 113 KB, 2010-01)
This paper captures almost 110 years of history of underground coal mine disasters in the United States. The authors suggest that a key factor in meeting the goal of increasing successful mine escape and rescue while decreasing fatalities and injuries lies in the field of social-psychological research and human behavior interventions.

Underground Mine Refuge Chamber Expectations Training: Program Development and Evaluation (PDF, 1189 KB, 2011)
Refuge chambers are new devices for underground coal mines that provide approximately 96 h of breathable air, water, food, and supplies in the event of an emergency where miners are unable to escape. Researchers at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) developed a training program to prepare miners for what to expect psychologically and physiologically inside of a refuge chamber. The field tests of this training revealed that it was received very positively by miners and helped impart realistic views about the physical discomforts and psychological stresses of being inside a refuge chamber.

Escape From Farmington No. 9: An Oral History
Researchers conducted focus groups and interviews on what happens in the first crucial moments of a mine emergency. Results indicated that there were common themes in initial response, which included the importance of mine emergency planning and training, quantity and quality of communication providing information for decision-making, leadership and trust, plus individual personal issues.

How to Operate a Refuge Chamber: a Quick Start Guide
This training tool is used to teach miners how to operate refuge chambers based on the Quick Start Guides. It is intended to be used as a template and guide for mine instructors to use in creating their own customized presentations that reflect the refuge alternatives being used at their mines.

Emergency Escape and Refuge Alternatives
This training tool is used to teach miners about refuge alternatives (both inby and outby). Refuge alternatives are a technology that may be new to miners. This training is intended to provide miners with an introduction to the refuge alternatives. This presentation can be used as-is, or it can be customized to reflect the specific policies and refuge alternatives of the mine and requirements that may be unique to a specific state.

Lifeline Tactile Signal Flashcards
These flashcards are an easy way to go over the lifeline tactile signals quickly with the miners at your mine. Two files are available: the first file contains large-sized flashcards which can be used for larger meetings, such as pre-shift safety talks. The second file contains smaller flashcards which may be cut out and used for smaller meetings, such as crew pre-shift meetings. Simply print out the flashcards and laminate them if possible, and you will be ready for a quick practice session with the miners.

Overviews

Coal Mine Communications (PDF, 144 KB, 2006)
The tragic events at the Darby, Alma, Sago, and Brookwood No. 5 coal mines have highlighted the need for reliable communications between miners working inside a mine and those outside.

Emergency Response Planning for Small Mines: Who Needs It? (PDF, 8693 KB, 1994)
This paper discusses emergency response planning with a special emphasis on small minesites. It addresses the importance of an emergency response plan and offers some tips for developing a useful document.

Update on Refuge Alternatives: Research, Recommendations, and Underground Deployment (PDF, 413 KB, 2009-12)
This document highlights NIOSH's research and recommendations concerning refuge alternatives, survivability evaluations of refuge chambers, and presents a brief review of the current deployment of refuge chambers in underground coal mines in the U.S.

History

An Oral History Analysis of Mine Emergency Response (PDF, 697 KB, 2004-04)
A compilation of accounts by 30 veteran mine emergency response experts. In their own words, the experts discuss the circumstances of specific explosions, fires, rock falls, and other mine emergencies from their personal experience, the procedures they and their colleagues used in responding to the emergencies, and lessons learned from those experiences.

Accidents & emergencies

Measurement & analysis

How Smoke Hinders Escape from Coal Mine Fires (PDF, 337 KB, 1992)
This study predicts the level of smoke that miners might meet while trying to escape a coal mine fire and describes how smoke would impede their safe escape.

A Profile of Workers' Experiences and Preparedness in Responding to Underground Mine Fires (PDF, 5633 KB, 1996)
The purpose of this study was to determine mine workers' state of fire-fighting preparedness and the technology being used to detect and respond to underground coal mine fires. To investigate this problem, 214 underground coal miners were interviewed. Frequency distributions of workers' responses are presented, along with segments of narrative accounts, to profile miners' fire-fighting capabilities. The data indicated that much variability exists from mine to mine and that there are several important changes operators may undertake in order to make miners better prepared to deal with fire underground.

Ranking Factors Impacting Survival During Coal Mine Fires (PDF, 675 KB, 1993)
This study ranks the factors impacting survival during a coal mine fire. These authors found that a combination of actions was most effective. This combination was: installing lifelines; moderately decreasing air leakage; and decreasing the fire growth rate.

Using Major Hazard Risk Assessment to Appraise and Manage Escapeway Instability Issues: A Case Study (PDF, 337 KB, 2007)
A Major Hazard Risk Assessment (MHRA) is a structured process that identifies the characteristics of major hazards, assesses and ranks the risk they present, and evaluates engineering and administrative controls to mitigate them. This paper provides a case study example as to how the MHRA approach might be used to mitigate the risk of roof instability and fire hazards in US underground mines.

Engineering controls

Emerging Technologies: Aiding Responders in Mine Emergences and During the Escape From Smoke-Filled Passageways (PDF, 135 KB, 2001-12)
Historically, underground mine rescue teams and miners training does not fully prepare them for the conditions that may be encountered in real escape situations, such as smoke filled entries. This paper describes technology and realistic training simulations that have been identified for the general workforce and mine emergency responders. Laser lights and lifelines were most beneficial in leading personnel to safety and out of the mine in smoke-filled passageways.

Evaluation of a Signaling and Warning System for Underground Mines (PDF, 1087 KB, 1997-05)
A report evaluating a wireless signaling and warning system for underground mines applicable to both coal and non-coal mines. A TeleMagnetic Signalling Systems wireless ultra-low-frequency electromagnetic signaling system was installed. A commercial smoke sensor was interfaced to a remote portable transmitter, and the alarm of the sensor was used to trigger the central evacuation and paging transmitter system during experimental mine fires.

Straight Line Walking and Path-Turn Identifying Algorithms for a Tracking Device Used in Underground Mines (PDF, 146 KB, 2010)
This paper describes two algorithms that can provide greater accuracy for underground miner tracking systems.

Administrative controls

Emergency Response Veterans Share the Lessons They've Learned (PDF, 1024 KB, 1996)
Since 1991, researchers have recorded extensive interviews with 30 individuals who are recognized as experts in the area of mine emergency response. These veterans related stories and observations from events experienced during as many as 47 years of response activities.

Fire Response Preparedness for Underground Mines (PDF, 2006)
This report deals with the preparedness of miners to respond to underground mine fires. It is intended to aid the mining industry in understanding the various roles of emergency responders and the training techniques used to increase their skill levels. The report also presents a technology overview to assist in effective response to mine fires.

Innovative Strategies for Mine Fire Preparedness (PDF, 152 KB, 1998)
During the past 15 years the number of reportable mine fires has declined. A decline in the number of reportable fires is a gross indicator that allows experts to say something about the underground coal industry generally: There has been some improvement in overall mine fire preparedness. However, such an indicator is less reliable as a predictor of readiness at any particular operation.

NIOSH Docket Number 125: Refuge Alternative Research (HTML, 10 KB, 2008-02)
NIOSH prepared a report to summarize the findings of its research into refuge alternatives in underground coal mines, as mandated in Section 13 of The Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act of 2006 (MINER Act). This docket contains the supporting information and key reference materials concerning the utility, practicality, survivability and cost of various refuge alternatives.

An Underground Coal Mine Fire Preparedness and Response Checklist: The Instrument (PDF, 1179 KB, 2000)
Provides a detailed description of a data collection instrument used to profile the fire prevention and response capabilities of a mine site.

Personal protective equipment

Training packages

Training exercises

The Emergency Communication Triangle (PDF, 256 KB, 1999-10)
The content of emergency warning messages has been shown that people often do not get the information they need for the purpose of taking appropriate action. This safety talk presents a procedure, using mental cues that can be used by senders and receivers of emergency warnings.

Refuge Chamber Training Products and Guidance (HTM, 15 KB, 2010)
NIOSH is developing a suite of refuge chamber training packages to help instructors teach miners what alternatives to consider when deciding whether to enter a refuge chamber, what to expect physiologically and psychologically when seeking shelter in a refuge chamber and how to operate a refuge chamber.

The Emergency Communication Triangle
Research has shown that when an emergency occurs, people often do not get the information they need for the purpose of taking appropriate action. This safety talk presents a procedure, using mental cues that can be used by senders and receivers of emergency warnings.

Training

Expectations Training for Miners using Self-Contained Self-Rescuers in Escape from Underground Coal Mines (PDF, 140 KB, 2008-10)
This study investigated human response issues related to wearing a self-contained self-rescuers (SCSR). The goal was to develop training to educate miners on what they could expect from their units during an escape. Results identified nine key areas of concern: (1) starting the unit, (2) unit heat, (3) induction of coughing, (4) unit taste, (5) difficulty in breathing while wearing the unit, (6) quality of the air supplied, (7) nose clips, (8) goggles, and (9) the behavior of the breathing bag.

Mine Emergency Response Command Center Training Using Computer Simulation (PDF, 155 KB, 2002)
This paper discusses the Mine Emergency Response Interactive Training Simulation (MERITS), a computerized simulation for providing mine emergency command center training.

Refuge Chamber Expectations Training: Instructor Guide and Lesson Plans (PDF, 310 KB, 2009-10)
Refuge Chamber Expectations Training was created by a multidisciplinary team at NIOSH to inform miners of what to expect psychologically and physically if it became necessary to use a refuge chamber in a mine emergency.

Technology News 537 - NIOSH Develops New Mine Refuge Chamber Training (PDF, 182 KB, 2009-11)
NIOSH has been performing research to provide effective training on refuge chambers for underground coal miners.

Videos

Recovery of Farmington #9: An Interview with Danny Kuhn
This video is designed to acquaint mine rescue personnel with certain aspects of rescue work that are not traditionally taught - the strain caused by continual work under adverse conditions; the problem of "survivor guilt" - being spared the fate of one's deceased buddies; and the possibility that post-traumatic stress can occur during the sometimes lengthy task of body recovery.

Escape from Mine Fires
This videotape deals with the experiences of two miners in escaping an underground coal mine fire in 1988. It illustrates the importance of knowing effective self-rescue and escape procedures.

Training theory & methodology

Knowledge Management and Transfer for Mine Emergency Response (PDF, 100 KB, 2006)
US coal mining organizations are losing the knowledge they need in order to be able to respond to emergencies. Knowledge management provides a useful perspective from which to view the problem, but the debate about what constitutes knowledge should be broadened to include a debate about what constitutes management.