Mining Publication: Self-escape Core Competency Profile: Guidance for Improving Underground Coal Miners' Self-escape Competency

This Information Circular (IC) is intended as a framework (or “competency profile”) for self-escape training for underground rank-and-file coal miners. NIOSH researchers define rank-and-file miners as hourly workers with no formal self-escape leadership training or expectation to serve in a leadership role during the initial stages of emergency response but who, nonetheless, must be able to self-escape in the event of a mine emergency.

The framework includes a set of nine core self-escape competency areas and related performance criteria. Mine safety personnel may use this document as a blueprint for planning and implementing competency-based training and assessment strategies at their mine sites. To help integrate this framework into current self-escape training practices, this document also includes guidance on how to introduce competency-based strategies into already required training activities (e.g., new miner training, annual refresher training, and quarterly escapeway training).

The self-escape competency profile for underground coal miners is based on the results of a four-year research project carried out by NIOSH in response to recommendations made by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to advance self-escape training. An in-depth description of the purpose and scope of this research, including stakeholder consensus building and validation exercises, is provided in this IC’s companion publication, Advancing Self-escape Training: A Needs Analysis Based on the National Academy of Sciences Report, “Improving Self-escape from Underground Coal Mines."