Mining Publication: Disaster Survivability for Refuge Alternative Relief Valves

Three mine disasters that led to Congress passing the Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response (MINER) Act occurred within the first five months of 2006. Arguably, this legislation brought about some of the most significant changes to underground coal mine safety and emergency response since the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977. The MINER Act was responsible for policy and rulemaking to improve preparedness and response efforts for mine disaster events. This comprehensive piece of legislation addressed key elements for disaster preparedness and response, including communications and tracking, emergency response plans, mine rescue teams, and underground refuge alternatives. The act set forth regulatory changes to be enforced by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) and critical research to be conducted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).

Refuge alternatives are intended to provide shelter from life-threatening conditions imposed on miners by fires and explosions in underground coal mines. While seeking shelter in underground mines is still considered secondary to escape, refuge alternatives and their components must be able to withstand human-survivable events prior to their deployment.

A major focal point of NIOSH research is to ensure that refuge alternatives and their components remain functional after survivable explosion events that occur in underground coal mines. As part of addressing technical issues surrounding refuge alternatives, the NIOSH Pittsburgh Mining Research Division, in cooperation with the MSHA Approval and Certification Center, has developed test methods and evaluated relief valves for their ability to withstand overpressure generated during a survivable mine explosion.