Mining Publication: Using Performance Management Strategies to Improve Mine Emergency Training and Preparedness

The MINER Act of 2006 called for significant improvements to emergency response training and preparedness at U.S. underground coal mines. Yet, results from a recent survey on self-escape competency by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) suggest that underground coal mineworkers may still be underprepared for self-escape. These findings can motivate safety trainers to identify strategies for improving the workforce’s self-escape preparedness for every worker during every shift in the event of an underground mine emergency.

In this article, the authors report on one company’s efforts to improve its mineworkers’ self-escape competencies after participating in the NIOSH survey. The company has implemented competency-based performance management strategies, including assessment and remediation processes, which it incorporates into its mandated training to monitor and improve self-escape competence throughout the year.