PURPOSE:  To improve the state of readiness for emergency responders and increase the chances of survival for personnel escaping from underground emergencies.

RESEARCH SUMMARY:  Our Nation’s miners often rely on emergency responders to save their lives in the event of an underground emergency, such as a fire or explosion. Approximately 650 underground coal mines and 240 underground metal/nonmetal mines operate in the United States and employ a workforce of 44,000 miners. There are currently 260 mine rescue teams with about 1,700 members. These dedicated groups of miners often put their lives in jeopardy to save others. It is important that team members are provided with the latest personal protective equipment, be well trained, physically and mentally fit, and fully understand the hazards that may await them during rescue operations. Miners are often the first responders to an emergency, such as a fire, and must decide if they should fight the fire or evacuate the mine.

This project enhances the safety, preparedness and effectiveness of mine emergency responders, including evacuating miners, fire brigades, and mine rescue teams, by developing and conducting realistic training simulations and improving technology for rescue, exploration, recovery, fire fighting and evacuation. The mine fire preparedness and response capabilities of mining operations are assessed by the development of comprehensive checklists. Methodologies and training interventions to enhance the accurate communication of information and decision making during the initial phase of mine emergencies are also being developed, evaluated and implemented.

Realistic training simulations for mine emergency responders have and continue to be developed, conducted and evaluated in collaboration with State mining agencies and mining companies. These simulations are held at the NIOSH Lake Lynn Laboratory and at operating mines and include training for exploration, rescue and recovery operations, combating liquid fuel and conveyor belt fires, and the evacuation of miners in smoke filled passageways. Over 135 mine rescue simulations have been conducted and over 2,500 miners participated in the various training exercises. The participants gain a better awareness of the hazards associated with mine emergencies, increase their response skills and confidence levels, and enhance the operational effectiveness of rescue teams and command centers. Improved technologies for mine emergency responders have also been identified and evaluated. These include chemical light shapes, lighted vests, strobe lights, laser pointers, lifelines, a patented lighted team link line, wheeled stretchers, thermal imaging cameras, and state-of-the-art communication systems.