Mining Publication: Advancing Self-escape Training: A Needs Analysis Based on the National Academy of Sciences Report "Improving Self-escape from Underground Coal Mines"

In 2011, NIOSH commissioned the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to investigate the effectiveness of its research in mine emergency preparedness and response and to identify any areas still in need of improvement. This investigation led to the development of several recommendations for NIOSH, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), and other interested parties to act upon to improve self-escape from underground coal mines.

This report summarizes a needs analysis and actions taken by NIOSH based on the NAS recommendations specific to advancing self-escape training, with an emphasis on preparing rank-and-file mineworkers for self-escape. This report also provides the foundation for the practical guidance offered in its sister publication, Self-escape Core Competency Profile: Guidance for Improving Underground Coal Miners’ Self-escape Competency, which offers an evidence-based self-escape competency framework derived from the results of this work.