1 this complete mine emergency training program developed by the division of mines (dm) was designed...
TRANSCRIPT
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This complete mine emergency training program developed by the Division of Mines (DM) was designed to increase the technical knowledge and safety awareness of mining personnel and to provide up-to-date mine emergency training materials and a 90-Day Mine Emergency Evacuation and Firefighting record book.
Mine emergency preparedness and emergency incident training efforts have been intensified with special emphasis devoted to Virginia fires/inundations, explosions and mine explosion, fire and inundation training exercises and gas detection training.
As Virginia and national coal mines advance in close proximity to old abandoned mines, the recognition and reaction to possible inundations of water, methane and blackdamp (low oxygen) present a tremendous potential for explosions, serious accidents and fatalities. Nothing is more important than mine emergency training.
This instructor’s guide and associated PowerPoint presentation was developed for local and national use by DM, industry, MSHA, private and educational institution trainers.
This guide will enhance the capability of instructors to provide quality, effective mine emergency training and can be used in various types of training classes including: (1) new miner; (2) annual refresher; (3) experienced miner training; and (4) supervisory retraining.
VIRGINIADIVISION OF
MINESINSTRUCTORS GUIDE
HAZARD ALERT LIVE
TOMORROW
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MINE EMERGENCIES MINE EMERGENCIES EXPLOSIONS – FIRES - INUNDATIONS EXPLOSIONS – FIRES - INUNDATIONS
The disasters at Sago, Alma and Kentucky Darby has made each of us realize that we must re-evaluate the quality and effectiveness of our mine emergency preparedness.
Conditions in the mine as well as training, especially the donning of SCSR’s, always provide potential risks if we aren’t fully prepared and react properly to any mine emergency situation.
Effective emergency escape procedures and donning of SCSR’s has become paramount as miners lives have been lost.
We must do more and do it better to fully prepare ourselves and our nations miners to be able to safely react to any mine emergency situation.
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MINE EMERGENCIES MINE EMERGENCIES EXPLOSIONS – FIRES - INUNDATIONS EXPLOSIONS – FIRES - INUNDATIONS
The following are basic mine emergency safety keypoints in addressing mine explosions, fires, gas and water inundations, etc. that all trainers and coal miners should be familiar with. A lack of effective training or knowledge of emergency procedures could result in serious injury or even death if you aren’t properly trained and don’t know how to react properly to a mine emergency.
Always Remember: If you fail to plan, then you can plan to fail.
Never Forget: Nothing is more important than mine emergency and SCSR training.
I. You must always be confident that you know how to properly donn an SCSR. You never know when you may have to exit the mine wearing one. Underground coal miners have perished when a mine emergency occurred and the miners could not properly donn an SCSR due to inadequate, ineffective training. If you don’t wear an SCSR on your person, then always keep it readily accessible at all times and know where other SCSR’s may be stored underground.
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II. Know your mine ventilation and emergency escapeway systems. Know how the air flows in your mine. Know where and how water drains in your mine and how water accumulations affect the mine ventilation system(especially travelways and escapeways). Make sure all miners are familiar with the emergency escapeway routes and where the lifeline is located. Always keep the lifeline advanced to at least the loading point/section transformer area. EVERYONE’S LIFE MAY DEPEND ON IT!!!
III. Keep your escapeway map up-to-date and know where it is located at all times. You never know when this map may have to be used to escape safely from the mine.
IV. Know the elevations of your mine. Be familiar with all low places in your mine, because water and or low oxygen that enters your mine will flow to these low-lying areas. Be familiar with water drainage and pumps located in the travelways and escapeway entries and other areas of the mine and what may happen if the pumps are deenergized.
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V. Be familiar with your mine map, underlays, overlays, etc. and know where any old mines adjacent to, under or over your mine are located. You must recognize and understand possible warning signs and hazards associated with mining near abandoned works or old mines. Review and know the signs that may indicate your mine is mining in close proximity to old workings in your mine or another mine. Can you name three (3) indicators of mining in close proximity to old works?
VI. You must understand the information provided on mine maps. What does the “extent of mining or mining boundaries” identified with “dotted lines” indicate? Dotted lines signify that such mine workings or boundaries MAY OR MAY NOT be accurate. But, this does not mean that old mine workings or boundaries identified with “solid lines” are always 100% accurate.
1.1. 1. Changes in color, texture or softness of the coal,
2.2. 2. Water coming thru the coal, mine floor, roof or ribs,
3. 3. Cracks in the coal, mine floor, ribs, etc.
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VII. Barometric pressure – coal miners must have a basic knowledge of barometric pressure to fully understand the relationship of weather fronts moving through with the barometric pressure dropping and methane liberation in a coal mine.
1. The barometric pressure drops when weather fronts (cold, rain, snow, etc.) start moving in and through the area;
2. As the pressure drops, more methane is liberated because the normal barometric pressure that helps stabilize and hold the methane in place is reduced;
3. More methane is liberated out into active mine workings behind seals etc.
4. More methane will be liberated in mines that normally liberate gas on a regular basis and methane may be found in mines where not normally detected except when weather fronts are moving through and the barometric pressure is dropping.
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VIII. The first action that should be taken underground if a mine emergency such as an explosion, fire or inundation of gas or water does occur is to account for all miners underground in your assigned work area, face, belt drive, etc. The outside (surface) person should be properly trained that his/her first course of action after receiving report of an underground emergency is to attempt to contact and inform everyone located underground about the type and location of the emergency. The outside person should also be properly trained on how to notify State, Federal and mine rescue officials. Miners located in all areas of the mine should be alerted to the emergency as soon as possible to also expedite their timely evacuation. This timely notification of miners located on a different working section during the Pennsylvania Quecreek mine water inundation saved the lives of nine (9) coal miners and timely notification/evacuation from a Virginia coal mine in which an ignition/mine fire occurred in 2005 may very well have saved the lives of 93 underground miners. NEVER FORGET: Lives are at Risk. Timely notification and evacuation has to happen and everyone that goes into the mine must be properly trained in the emergency procedures to be followed.
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IX. Rehearse fire fighting and mine emergency escape procedures. Everyone should know what they should and should not do and where they should go from any location in the mine if a mine emergency occurs. Miners should be trained and retrained during ninety-day emergency evacuation/fire drills and annual retraining to proceed immediately to a designated location and all miners accounted for at a designated location if a mine emergency does occur. The designated location on a working section should usually be the mantrip station, which in most cases will be in or near the intake escapeway and lifeline entry.
X. Remember: if your mine fan is exhausting and your mine cuts into another mine, then contaminants including methane, carbon dioxide, low oxygen, etc. will be drawn out of the old mine into your mine. The rate of flow of gases into your mine will depend on the mine ventilation system, elevations of both mines in relation to each other, and whether or not mine gases in the old mine are pressurized. If your mine fan is blowing, then your mine’s ventilation will have a tendency to keep pressure against the mine gases from the old mine, but pressurized mine gases from the old mine could override your ventilation system and enter your mine. Know and understand your mine ventilation system. Know how the beltline entry is ventilated and in what direction a fire and/or smoke would travel if located in the beltline entry.
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• Where and what happened; conditions present at incident area;
• Any miners to be left in the mine and their condition, location, etc;
• Time and number of crew members leaving a particular location;
• Method and direction of escape (walking, crawling, riding, and entry traveled, etc.).
The surface person should attempt to alert other miners in the mine immediately upon receiving information about the emergency.
XI. Never use a SCSR to enter a known or suspected dangerous atmosphere (smoke, cut into old mines, etc.) other than to escape. Only mine rescue teams wearing proper apparatus should enter such areas. SCSR’s should only be used for escape purposes.
XII. If a mine emergency does occur: The person or persons discovering an emergency situation should immediately attempt to contact and inform surface personnel from the first accessible telephone of the following:
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XIII. Never reverse or change existing ventilation direction, except under the direction of DM, MSHA, company and mine rescue officials. Coal miners are trained and retrained to exit a mine using the intake escapeway entries during mine emergencies and reversing or altering ventilation in the designated intake escapeway entry(ies) could cause serious injuries or death to the miners.
XIV. No person should enter a mine to attempt rescue of miners where a mine emergency exists, except under the direction of DM, MSHA, company and mine rescue officials.
XV. Mine fires create special dangers to workers located underground including: (1) restricted or zero visibility while attempting escape from the mine; (2) extreme heat that affects the body, lungs and the mine roof; (3) smoke; (4) carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and toxic smoke tars.
XVI. REMEMBER: Most underground fires that aren’t controlled in 30 minutes usually result in sealing the mine, hopefully with everyone out of the mine. 30 MINUTES – Is the “Golden Time” that we live by in the coal mining industry to get an underground fire under control or else usually the mine will have to be sealed.
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VIRGINIA - INUNDATIONS1995 – 2006: Virginia has experienced 54 incidents of unintentionally mining into abandoned mines, old works, sealed areas, etc. Virginia has experienced 20 of these type incidents from 2000-2006.
Results of these incidents:
Water inundations
Blackdamp (low oxygen, carbon dioxide)
Explosive gases (methane concentrations)
Remember: Pressure differentials between active and
abandoned works can result in rapid flow of gases from
old works, especially when exhausting mine fans are used
and scrubbers are on a miner that holes through!!
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MINE SITE TRAINING ON INUNDATIONS
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Accidental Cut Throughs can lead to:
• Inundation of water.
• Inundation of oxygen deficient air and/or methane.
• Downtime• Loss of equipment.• LOSS OF LIFE!
200 Ft. MINING LIMIT
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200 Ft. MINING LIMIT
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PREVENT ACCIDENTAL HOLE THROUGHS INTO ABANDONED MINE WORKINGS
SAFETY KEYPOINTS:
• Consider all mine workings (active and abandoned) located adjacent, above or below mining areas; determine location of workings and water levels. De-water mine workings if necessary.
• Perform a diligent search for the final, dated, and signed maps of old workings in mines above, below, or adjacent to mining areas.
• Gather information about mining in or near old or abandoned mines by interviewing local sources, former miners, and walk or examine outcrops.
• Evaluate surface subsidence and geological structures; rock strata make-up, dip and pitch of the seam, elevations, and faults.
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• Analyze prudent mine design; provide sufficient barrier pillars and evaluate interburden thickness; compare mine surveys from a common base line.
• Consider the use of directional, long-hole drilling to ensure adequate barriers around mining areas.
• Drill bore holes in advance of mining activities as required by State and Federal laws.
• Have a specific emergency response plan when mining near old works. Consider and review elements of that plan frequently with all affected miners.
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GAS/WATER INUNDATIONS – SCENARIO TRAINING Part I
1. The location and extent of the gas or water inundation, if known, shall be reported immediately to the authorized person located on the surface. The authorized person located on the surface shall do the following immediately upon receiving information that a gas or water inundation has occurred.
a. Contact the responsible person or designee at the mine, supervisors and/or personnel in all available areas of the mine;
b. Notify Division of Mines and MSHA officials immediately, at once without delay after confirming the incident and within 15 minutes;
c. Notify mine rescue teams and other support personnel as directed by the responsible person or his designee.
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Underground personnel evacuating should, if possible and time permitting, contact surface personnel from the first accessible telephone and provide the following information:
1. Location and extent of gas or water inundation, if known, and conditions present at your location;
2. Any miners evacuating from the mine and their location, conditions, etc;
3. Number of miners leaving a particular location;
4. Direction, entry and method of evacuation (riding, walking, crawling, etc.)
2. All mine personnel not required for emergency response shall evacuate form the mine by the quickest, most practical means, which may very, depending on the situation, post-inundation conditions, availability of transportation equipment, etc.
3. All underground personnel shall be accounted for, assembled to prepare for evacuation and withdrawn to a location designated by the responsible person or his designee.
4. The electrical power to the affected equipment and/or area of the mine shall be deenergized as directed by the responsible person or his designee.
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5. All underground personnel not required for emergency response shall evacuate from the mine – identify primary escapeway and alternate (secondary) escapeway entries.• FIRST CHOICE – The entry traveled during your normal mode of
transportation into and out of the mine is usually the quickest and is usually the primary or alternate (secondary) escapeway. The entry traveled into and out of the mine should be traveled until conditions such as physical obstructions prevent further evacuation in this entry. Diesel-powered equipment will become inoperative in high concentrations of methane and in irrespirable atmospheres. Battery-powered equipment must not be operated in explosive atmospheres. This decision should be based on the entry which would provide the most practical safest and most expedient evacuation from the mine. REMEMBER: You can always ride faster than you can walk or crawl and with conditions permitting, ride as far as you possibly can.
• SECOND CHOICE – Generally, the other escapeway not normally used to enter and exit the mine.
• THIRD CHOICE – An alternate entry not selected as the first or second choice.
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6. Each miner shall have an SCSR in their possession and an additional SCSR readily accessible or on the transportation equipment. The additional SCSR storage locations are shown on both the mine map (surface) and escapeway map. Identify locations of stored SCSR’s, if applicable. Miners should don a self-rescue device when smoke, odor, fire, or any contaminated atmosphere is encountered. Miners are encouraged to don self-rescue devices whenever they believe they are exposed to a toxic or irrespirable atmosphere. Mine operators are encouraged to provide air quality detectors so that miners will be able to better identify hazardous atmospheres.
7. Lifelines or equivalent devices are provided in both the primary and secondary (alternate) escapeway entries.
8. Additional SCSR’s are stored on active working sections; sections being installed or removed; and at rehabilitation sites; and are located at crosscut no.(s) ____ and ____ and are physically attached to the lifelines or equivalent devices. Reflective, direction signs are conspicuously posted in each entry that identify each storage location.
9. During evacuation, the miners should get an escapeway map, if applicable, to take with them.
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10. If walking or crawling, the supervisor should travel in front with all persons using the lifeline to ensure no one is left behind. The miners should regulate their travel speed to accommodate the slower personnel in the group.
11. All miners should know and understand the following:
The mine emergency escapeways;
Mine gases including methane, low oxygen, blackdamp, carbon dioxide, etc. would enter your mine from another mine or from underlying, overlying or adjacent strata;
The rate of flow of gases into your mine depends on your ventilation system, elevations of other mines, if applicable, in relation to your mine and whether or not the mine gases are pressurized;
Mine gases will have a tendency to be drawn into your mine from adjacent/underlying/overlying strata, old mines, etc., if your mine fan is exhausting;
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Mine ventilation associated with a blowing fan will have a tendency to apply some pressure against the inundating mine gases
but pressurized gases entering your mine could override your mine ventilation system.
The mine ventilation system;
Mine elevations (coal contour lines) and all low places, dips, etc. in your mine – water and blackdamp (carbon dioxide) will flow
to low-lying areas;
Where and how water drains in your mine and how water accumulations affect the mine ventilation system, especially in escapeway entries;
The mine water drainage system and pumps located in the emergency escapeway entries and the result when such pumps
are deenergized.
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12. The miners should consider traveling to the highest, most accessible area of the mine and/or barricading or entering a refuge chamber only when all escape routes are blocked or too hazardous to travel and should only be considered as a last resort. If all possible means of escape are exhausted and moving to higher ground or barricading is the only alternative, then barricade using all available resources to make the barricaded area airtight as possible while knowing that one (1) cubic yard of air per person per hour is required for survival. A note should be left outside the barricade indicating the number of miners and time the barricade was built. Oxygen tanks, water, food, all available SCSR’s and a sounding device for striking roof supports for seismic location from the surface must be taken into the barricade.
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GAS/WATER INUNDATION – SCENARIO TRAINING Part II
MINERS – ON SECTION, OTHER SECTIONS AND OUTBY AREAS
A. Account for and assemble applicable personnel to prepare for evacuation. The responsible person will initiate and conduct immediate evacuation when imminent danger exists.
B. Report type, location and extent of gas or water inundation, if known, to surface personnel.
C. Evacuate all personnel not required for emergency response.
D. Evaluate status of ventilation and ventilation controls: altered, destroyed, removed, installed, etc.
E. Evaluate air qualities and quantities in areas of the mine.
F. Evaluate status/location of electrical and mechanical equipment/vehicles.
G. Evaluate extent of the gas or water inundation area.
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EVACUATION PROCEDURES
Transportation Equipment Available
Travel by transportation equipment the safest and most expedient entry (primary or alternate escapeway) to the surface, shift/slope bottom, etc.
Transportation Equipment Unavailable
Travel (walk/crawl) the primary or alternate escapeway entry – whichever provides the safest and most expedient travelway to the surface, shaft/slope bottom, etc.
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• Miners should don a self-rescue device when smoke, odor, fire, or any contaminated atmosphere is encountered.
• Miners are encouraged to don self-rescue devices whenever they believe they are exposed to a toxic or irrespirable atmosphere.
• Mine operators are encouraged to provide air quality detectors so that miners will be able to better identify hazardous atmospheres.
CONDITIONS REQUIRING IMMEDIATE DONNING OF SCSR’S
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MINE EMERGENCY - INUNDATIONSMINE EMERGENCY - INUNDATIONS
Why is quality mine emergency training so important?
LIVES ARE AT RISKLIVES ARE AT RISK
REMEMBER:
Lives depend on the quality and effectiveness of this training. We never know when we may need this training but we must always train to be prepared!
ARE WE PREPARED FOR THIS?
Quecreek Before
Quecreek After
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Quecreek Water Inundation
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Mine Emergency Inundation Exercise2006
Scoop Miner Bolter
P.C.
Phone
Phone
Pump
Std.S.C.
Off Std. S. C.
D CC #43
#5#4#1
X MantripsCC
C
CCC
C
C
2
00 ft.
Drill Zone
1460
1480
1490
#2 #3 (Belt)
1470
1450
1440
1430
No. 4 belt drive (No. 3 and 2 drivesare at 1000’ intervals going outby.#1 is on the surface. Mine phones are located at each belt drive.
Mining Height – 42”
Got Rich Coal Company(Abandoned 06-58)
Good Luck Coal Co.
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MINE EMERGENCY INUNDATION EXERCISE MINE EMERGENCY INUNDATION EXERCISE 20062006
The attached map will be used to work this mine emergency inundation problem.
A series of questions will be asked as situations occur as a result of the mine emergency. Answers to these questions are provided, however, all of the answers may not be correct. There will be at least one correct answer for each question, however, more than one answer may be correct.
Miners lives may be saved or lost based on the critical, life-saving decisions that they have to make while working through the exercise and attempting to escape from the mine.
Select the correct answers.
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GOOD LUCK COAL COMPANY MINE HISTORY
AVERAGE WORKING HEIGHT – 42” VENTILATION SYSTEM – EXHAUSTING
FAN INFORMATION– 36” FAN, 75HP – 550 VAC MOTOR Nine (9) persons are working on the section that is located 4000’ from the surface. The crew consists of the foreman, electrician, face utility man, continuous miner operator and helper, two (2) shuttle car operators, a roof bolting machine operator and a helper.
A SCSR storage plan for this mine has not been approved, therefore, SCSR’s are required to be worn or located within 25 feet of employees.
The designated intake escapeway is #4 entry and the lifeline is installed up to the 4th crosscut outby the face area.
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Mine personnel produce coal on the day shift and three (3) men entered the mine to perform belt maintenance work.
This mine was projected to turn left to maintain a distance of 200 feet from the old mine.
The section foreman had observed for the past 400 feet that the coal had become softer than in other areas of the mine, small cracks could be seen occasionally running from the right rib of #5 entry into the mine floor and occasionally some water was seen coming through the cracks.
The preshift examination of the face areas conducted at 5:30 AM revealed the following:
#1 entry - .1% Ch4 and 20.8% O2
#2 entry - .8% Ch4 and 20.8% O2
#3 entry- .5% Ch4 and 20.8% O2
#4 entry- .2% Ch4 and 20.8% O2
#5 entry - .1% Ch4 and 19.5% O2
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The roof bolter is located in #5 entry where bolts are being installed by the bolter operator and his helper.
The continuous miner is located in the #4 entry where coal is being produced.
The utility man is operating the scoop in #3 entry.
The foreman and repairman are marking centers in #1 entry.
The three beltmen are checking and cleaning the beltlines.
The section crew arrived on the section, and the section foreman examined all working places.
The foreman gave a safety talk on mining near old works, and the hazards of cutting into areas containing large amounts of water.
After the safety talk, the crew began work where their equipment was located.
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Question A
What other information could have, and possibly should have been discussed during this safety talk based on the mine map and information provided?
1. The explosive range of carbon dioxide and all the possible ignition sources.Incorrect – carbon dioxide is non-explosive.
But other facts about carbon dioxide should be discussed: 1. It is a major constituent of “blackdamp”;
2. It has a specific gravity of 1.529 and is heavier than air; 3. It will be found near the mine floor, flowing on top
of water from an old mine, found in sealed areas, etc.; 4. It will flow toward low lying areas (down dip into lower elevations very similar to water flow); 5. It has an acid taste at high concentrations.
2. The mine map should have been reviewed to draw emphasis on the location and elevations of the old mine and hazards associated with mining near old works.
Correct – All coal miners should know the effect of elevations and what to anticipate if you cut into an old mine. Every coal miner should know where water and/or low oxygen (blackdamp) would flow if you cut into an old mine.
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3. The facts about a low oxygen atmosphere (blackdamp) and review of the escapeway system of the mine.
Correct – Every coal miner should have a thorough knowledge of blackdamp: what it is, how it behaves, effects on the body, etc. Knowing these characteristics could save your life.
Blackdamp:
1. Is a generic term for an oxygen deficient atmosphere; 2. Will usually contain a high level of carbon dioxide; 3. Will not usually contain sufficient oxygen to support life; 4. Will usually flow to low-lying areas (down dip – similar to water); 5. Has various effects on the body depending on the amount of oxygen including: increased rate and labored breathing, dizziness, weakness, headache, nausea, vomiting, sick feeling, etc.
Oxygen Characteristics:
1. 21% - normal air 2. 17% - rapid, deep breathing 3. 15% - rapid heart rate, dizziness, headache, nausea, vomiting, sick feeling 4. 9% - unconsciousness
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4. The importance of knowing how to properly don and the location of each person’s SCSR.
Correct – Every coal miner should not have any doubt that they can properly don an SCSR. Every time you look at your family, close your eyes and rehearse SCSR donning procedures in your mind. Just think, both of these are very important in your life.
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The roof bolter operator de-energizes the bolting machine and
informs the helper that he has a very severe headache. The
operator and helper take a break. The operator took three (3)
Tylenol tablets and resumes bolting operations. Ten minutes
later the operator de-energizes the bolting machine again and
tells the helper that his headache is much worse, and that he feels
sort of weak, dizzy, and nauseated. The helper goes to the #1
entry and gets the foreman. Upon arrival, the foreman
determines that the bolter operator is probably taking the flu and
directs him to go to the feeder and telephone one of the belt
maintenance men to come and get him and take him outside.
The bolter operator does as the foreman instructs him.
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QUESTION B
What evaluation or examinations could or should have been conducted by
the foreman?
1. Tests for methane and low oxygen should have been conducted immediately after entering the area due to the location of the old
mine. Correct - The location of the old mine and recent cracks in the right rib and mine floor in #5 entry should have prompted these tests.
2. Four test holes should have been drilled in line with the last row of roof bolts.
Incorrect. Has no validity in this situation.
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Correct - The location of the old mine should have prompted a thorough examination for cracks in the rib and mine floor and tests for methane and low oxygen should have been conducted.
3. The immediate area should have been examined for cracks along the right rib or mine floor that had been seen previously for the past 400 feet in this area. If cracks were observed, methane and oxygen tests should have been conducted immediately at those cracks.
4. The resin should have been removed from the mine and analyzed to determine if it had any toxic affects that may have caused the bolter operator’s headache.
Incorrect. Most likely not a factor.
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The belt maintenance man and the bolter operator started
toward the surface. The foreman and the bolter helper resume
work. The foreman travels to #1 entry to get the electrician to
help the bolter helper install bolts. The foreman stays with the
bolter helper and electrician to insure that they can install resin
bolts properly. The bolter helper suddenly develops a severe
headache, and feels dizzy and nauseated. The foreman and
electrician also develop a slight headache.
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QUESTION C
What should the foreman do now?
1. Evacuate the mine.
Overall correct, but does the foreman know why he is evacuating the mine?
2. Conduct an oxygen test immediately because men in this area are displaying the effects of low oxygen to the body.
Correct - A low oxygen test should have been conducted when the foreman, bolter helper and electrician also developed headaches in this area.
3. Continue work as normal, because it is normal that bolter operators that install resin roof bolts get headaches.
Incorrect.
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4. Travel to the surface and call the mine operator who is on vacation in Virginia Beach.
Incorrect. The foreman should be conducting examinations and tests to identify hazardous conditions that are affecting his crew members and evacuate the mine if necessary.
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While the foreman, electrician and bolter helper are still located in
#5 entry, the three men start to experience breathing problems and
the foreman realizes that he may have a serious problem. The
foreman conducts an oxygen test and detects 16% oxygen.
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QUESTION D
What should the foreman do now?
1. Evacuate the area and immediately remove the electrician and
bolter helper from this area with him. Correct. Removal of the bolter helper and electrician from this area is the foreman’s first responsibility. Everything in a coal mine is secondary to the safety of mining personnel.
2. Examine the immediate area to evaluate a possible source of the low oxygen while evacuating from the area with his crew.
Correct. Remember, oxygen at this level increases the breathing rate, causes breathing problems and headaches. When a foreman detects this level oxygen, his first responsibility is the removal of his personnel to a safe work area or evacuation from the mine. An examination of the immediate area to verify the low oxygen source may be conducted as the foreman is withdrawing his personnel from this location (entry face area, etc.) but only a brief examination should be attempted. Oxygen at this level and below becomes dangerous very quickly. If not already located in this area, then a foreman should not enter such area except when necessary to evacuate the mine.
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3. Continue to work because the oxygen detector is probably incorrect, because it hasn’t worked properly for the past three weeks.
Incorrect. Anytime a foreman suspects that his methane – oxygen detector is not operating properly, then another properly calibrated detector should be obtained.
4. Evacuate the mine.
Correct, but does the foreman realize why he is evacuating the mine?
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The foreman realizes that something really serious is wrong, and
starts across the section to gather up all the crew. At this time,
the foreman has the bolter helper, electrician, and one shuttle car
operator with him. As the foreman comes across the last open
crosscut at the entrance of #4 entry, the miner helper and shuttle
car operator come running out of the working face area, yelling
that they had cut into an old mine and that the miner operator
had become unconscious and was lying beside the continuous
miner. Water, six inches in depth, is flowing from the #4 entry
face area down #4 entry, across the last open crosscut toward and
down #5 entry.
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QUESTION E
What should the foreman do now?
1. Don his SCSR and go get the miner operator.
Incorrect, this is a very sensitive thought but may cost the foreman his life. Also, SCSR’s are used only for escape purposes and should not be used to enter an oxygen deficient area.
2. Gather up the remaining crew members and start to the surface out #4 entry – the designated escapeway.
Correct, but the foreman should make oxygen tests during travel. This is the lowest side of the section and any low oxygen coming from the old mine would flow toward this area. The first option and the first choice is to always travel the designated intake escapeway as far as possible until blocked or unless unsafe to do so due to contaminants such as fire, gases, smoke, etc. The second option should be another intake entry. The third option and is the case in this mine emergency exercise is the belt entry. The return entries are the last choices of emergency evacuation but may have to be attempted if all other entries are blocked.
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3. Gather up the remaining crew members, travel #2 entry to the surface
because water is flowing down the #4 and #5 entries.
Incorrect, travel in #2 entry would place the crew in contaminated return air.
4. Travel by the section transformer and get the mine emergency escapeway map that is located in the first aid box.
Correct. If possible, the crew should get the mine emergency escapeway map before starting evacuation during a mine emergency situation.
After discussing all responses, answer the following question:
Question: After reviewing the mine map and elevations identified in both mines, where will the water and any possible “blackdamp” flow into Good Luck Coal Company? (review mine map)
Answer: Water and any possible “blackdamp” will flow down #4 and #5 entries toward low-lying areas (some water and blackdamp will flow across the section and outby into #1 and #2 entries).
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The mine foreman takes an oxygen test in the last open crosscut at
the entrance of #4 entry face area and detects 14% oxygen and is
experiencing severe breathing problems. The foreman then travels
on across the section through the LOCC and has assembled his
remaining crew members, including the utility man, in the last
open crosscut, at the entrance of #2 entry working face area. At
this time, the shuttle car operator and miner helper tell the
foreman that they left their SCSR’s on their respective equipment.
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QUESTION F
What should the foreman and crew do now?
1. Send the shuttle car operator and miner helper back to get their SCSR’s and instruct everyone else to don their SCSR.
Incorrect. The SCSR’s could save their lives later in this mine emergency, but going back into an oxygen deficient atmosphere is not recommended. This act may cost these two miners their lives. The other miners may or may not don their SCSR’s, but they must evaluate the time that it takes to get to the surface, as compared to one hour that most SCSR’s are designed to last.
2. Proceed to escape from the mine out the #2 entry because the water is flowing down #4 and #5 entries.
Incorrect. They would be traveling in possibly contaminated return air.
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3. Avoid travel in the last open crosscut and proceed toward #4 entry – intake escapeway.
Correct. The foreman must realize that they will be traveling in the lowest area of the mine. Blackdamp will be flowing down the #4 and #5 entries. He will have to continuously monitor for low oxygen in the lower elevations and plan an alternate escape route of travel if necessary.
4. The foreman should go get their SCSR’s if he can travel in areas containing at least 12% oxygen.
1. Incorrect. This may result in serious injury or death of the foreman.
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The shuttle car operator and miner helper decided not to go back
to get their SCSR’s. The foreman and the remaining crew
members proceed down #2 entry to the third crosscut outby the
working face, and cross over to the #4 entry, the designated intake
escapeway where the three-wheel mantrips are located. The
foreman conducts an oxygen test and detects 17% oxygen.
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QUESTION G
At this time, what should the foreman and crew do?
1. Don their SCSR’s and travel as quickly as possible to the surface out #4 entry - designated intake escapeway.
This may be done, but is it the correct decision realizing that SCSR’s are approved for one hour of use? The mine map should be reviewed and elevations reviewed to evaluate the proper travelway to stay clear of any possible low oxygen. With 17% oxygen in this area, should you don an SCSR even though you have lower oxygen inby your location….. probably not.
2. Go by the section transformer and get the mine emergency escapeway map, located in the first aid box. Get any spare SCSR’s that may be located there.
Correct – If possible during a mine emergency, escape situation, the crew should get the escapeway map and spare SCSR’s before leaving the section.
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3. The foreman should go to the section telephone located at the loading point, inform surface personnel of the emergency, time, that the miner operator was left unconscious lying beside the miner in #4 entry in approximately 14% oxygen, instruct the surface person that the foreman and six men are riding mantrips while proceeding to the surface out #4 entry, the emergency escapeway entry.
Correct. This information should be communicated to the surface as soon as possible after any mine emergency occurs underground. All this information is critical to timely rescue and recovery efforts. This information provides rescue officials with a cause of the emergency, location of all miners in the mine at a particular time, entry being traveled and means of travel.
4. Sit down, pray, and instruct all miners to write a last will and testament. Could be expected.
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QUESTION H
The mine foreman decides to notify the surface person about the mine emergency. What is the most critical information that the foreman should communicate to the surface person?
1. That this mine cut into an old mine in #4 entry. That water and low oxygen is flowing into the mine, water is six inches deep and running down #4 and #5 entries. That the miner operator is unconscious and was left lying beside the miner in #4 entry face area. That 14% oxygen was detected in the last open crosscut in #4 entry. That the foreman and six men are riding three wheel mantrips enroute to the surface, traveling in #4 or #5 entry. That they are leaving the section loading point at ______(time).
Correct. All this information is critical to expedite mine rescue and recovery efforts. DM, MSHA, company, and mine rescue officials will need this information to plan rescue efforts. Providing this information will save valuable and life saving time. The foreman should speak slowly and clearly so that he does not have to repeat any of this information, because escape time could be critical in any emergency situation.
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*Answer this question after discussing this response.
Question: What should the foreman instruct the surface person to do with this information?
Answer: Write all this down as it is very important and the foreman may not have time to repeat himself.
2. To notify the local rescue squad.
Correct.
3. To notify the engineer that certified the mine map telling him that he is responsible for this incident and that he is legally liable for all the damages to equipment and injuries to mining personnel.
Incorrect – at this time. But the engineer may be contacted later to provide mine maps for rescue and recovery efforts. The initial mine emergency efforts will be directed toward notifying DM, MSHA, company officials, mine rescue teams, etc., to get immediate help on the way.
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4. That all the crew are scared and some are crying and becoming hysterical.
Incorrect, but could be expected.
*After discussing all responses, answer the following question:
Question: What other information should the foreman have given to the outside person?
Answer: Directed the surface person to attempt to contact and instruct the belt men to evacuate the mine immediately.
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The foreman, while located at the loading point, called outside to
the surface person and reported the correct information identified
in Question H. The surface person panics, because he is an
inexperienced 18 year old miner that began work two weeks ago.
All that he remembers about his new miner surface and task
training is that “if something happens underground, de-energize
all the electrical circuits going underground except the main fan”.
So he de-energizes all electrical power going underground except
the main fan circuit.
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QUESTION I
What is probably the most important information that a new outside person
should be trained in prior to being assigned the job as outside person?
1. Names and telephone numbers of all machinery vendors.
Incorrect.
2. The mine emergency response plan and mine emergency notification poster that have the names and telephone numbers of DM, MSHA, company, local and state police, mine rescue teams, etc., that should be notified as soon as possible after any mine emergency.
Correct. This plan and poster have the names and telephone numbers of DM and MSHA personnel and is some of the most important information that a surface person should be trained on.
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3. Recording the information communicated by underground miners in any mine emergency situation including inundations, mine fire, explosion, etc.
Correct. It is critically important that the outside person be trained and retrained to record mine emergency information provided by underground miners.
4. The name and telephone number of the mine operator.
Correct. The mine operator should be notified immediately after appropriate DM and MSHA officials have been notified.
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The surface person panics, and not knowing what to do, decides to
leave the mine and drives down the road about three miles away to
get his brother who is the mine foreman at another mine (Mine
B). Upon arrival at Mine B, the young man talks to his brother
(the mine foreman), the chief electrician and the outside man who
are located on the surface. All that the young man can tell them
is that the foreman and some of the men are on their way outside,
they cut into something and that one man was unconscious and
was left somewhere in the mine. He stated he had de-energized all
the electrical power going underground, except for the main fan
circuit. The young man was shaking and was so nervous that he
could hardly stand up. The mine foreman instructed the young
man to stay with the outside person at Mine B.
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QUESTION J
If you were the foreman or a person located on the surface at Mine B, and you encountered this situation, what should you do?
1. Get the mine emergency response plan and mine emergency notification poster that contains the emergency notification list (names and telephone numbers of DM and MSHA personnel), and direct the outside person at Mine B to call reporting a serious mine emergency situation at Good Luck Coal Company while providing available information to DM and MSHA officials.
Correct. The immediate notification of DM and MSHA officials is critical to expedite timely notification of other appropriate agencies/parties, etc. and to get necessary assistance enroute to the mine site and then go back to Good Luck Coal Company, but analyze the situation and evaluate the young, excited man carefully before you take him back to the mine with you.
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2. Get the telephone number of Good Luck Coal Company from the young outside man, if he can remember such number and give this number to DM and MSHA personnel, when notified of the incident.
Correct. This information is very important. If the young, outside man from Good Luck Coal Company cannot remember the telephone number at his mine, then the mine foreman or other person from Mine B should call back to Mine B upon their arrival to give the telephone number of Good Luck Coal Company.
3. Instruct your outside person to notify the mine operator of Good Luck Coal Company if his name/telephone number is available.
Correct. The mine operator should be notified as soon as possible after DM and MSHA officials have been notified.
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Partially correct. The mine foreman or other person at Mine B should proceed immediately to Good Luck Coal Company after he ensures that personnel at his mine have the telephone numbers and can report this incident to appropriate emergency DM and MSHA officials. At this time, the most important action to take to help these miners is to notify appropriate agencies and to get help on the way. The young, excited man, probably should not be taken back to Good Luck Coal Company, because he may not be able to help you in his state of mind. But if you do allow this person to return to Good Luck Coal Company with you, you should not allow this person to drive. He could wreck and kill you.
4. Go back to the mine site with the young man.
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The mine B foreman and chief electrician arrive on the surface
at Good Luck Coal Company. They left the young inexperienced
miner (outside man) at Mine B. They attempt to establish
communications with the foreman and crew underground at
Good Luck Coal Company but are unsuccessful. The foreman
checks the fan to ensure that it is operating properly. The
foreman checks the fan chart and observes a gradual increase in
fan pressure. The foreman detects 11% oxygen at the fan.
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QUESTION K
What should the foreman and chief electrician do now?
1. De-energize the fan, reverse direction of ventilation and energize the fan. Incorrect. Remember, during any mine emergency situation like this, any survivors will initially attempt travel in the intake escapeway. If the ventilation is reversed, then everyone in the mine may be killed, because you may send low oxygen (smoke, fire gases, etc) thru the area where miners may be located. DM, MSHA, Company and mine rescue personnel would always be involved in making a decision to reverse the ventilation, but very seldom, if ever, is the ventilation reversed for obvious reasons.
2. One person should remain near the mine telephone and the public telephone for communication purposes. Correct. Both the mine telephone and public telephones should be monitored for communication purposes. All information, with applicable times, received from underground miners and external interested parties/agencies, etc. should be recorded because critical information may be lost as any person attempts to remember all internal and external information.
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3. The chief electrician should remain on the surface while the foreman goes underground in Good Luck Coal Company to look for the missing miners. Incorrect. No person should enter a mine after a mine emergency has occurred, except under the guidance and direction of DM, MSHA, Company, and mine rescue officials.
4. Place some type of danger sign near the area where the low oxygen is near the fan.
Correct. Low oxygen near the fan could be dangerous for any person that enters this area.
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The foreman called back to Mine B giving the telephone number of Good Luck Coal Company and confirmed that the outside man at Mine B had contacted appropriate DM and MSHA officials and the mine operator. The appropriate contacts have been made. Both DM and MSHA personnel informed the outside person at Mine B that it would take approximately one hour and 15 minutes for them to travel to Good Luck Coal Company, and that mine rescue teams were enroute to the emergency scene. The foreman and crew of Good Luck Coal Company are traveling in #4 entry on three-wheel personnel carriers and are approaching a down-hill dip immediately outby crosscut #43. Water, four inches in depth, is flowing out #4 entry. The miner helper is traveling in front by himself on a three-wheeler. He stops suddenly and when the other mantrips stop, he tells them that he is having difficulty in breathing and then he becomes unconscious. The crew thinks the miner helper had a heart attack due to all the excitement. The miner helper is 6 feet tall and weighs 285 lbs.
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QUESTION L
What should the foreman and crew do now?
1. Begin CPR on the miner helper.
Incorrect for various reasons. Unconsciousness does not mean the heart has stopped, which is the only time that CPR is started.
2. Get the miner helper back to the top of the hill inby the dip and conduct an oxygen test.
Correct. Good thinking. This decision may save the miner helper’s life.
3. Go to the #4 belt drive, call the surface and give your location, what has happened to the miner helper, the time, what you and the crew plan on doing, and the route that you and the crew will use to exit the mine. Correct. This is important information that should be communicated to the surface.
4. Quickly review the mine map and after observing the elevations, go through the door into the belt entry. Correct. The mine map will show elevations and can assist in selecting the safest route to exit the mine.
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The foreman and crew of men brought the miner helper back to
the top of the hill inby the dip near crosscut #43, and put an SCSR
on him. The oxygen level at this location was 17%. The foreman
and remaining crew members decided to continue evacuation out
#4 entry on three-wheel mantrips and as they get about halfway
down the hill, they encounter water that looks to be within six
inches of the mine roof. They stop suddenly and feel that they
cannot continue travel in the #4 entry with the mantrips. The
foreman and crew abandoned the mantrips and then traveled
through the door into the belt entry. The foreman conducted an
oxygen test in the belt entry and detected 19.5% oxygen. They
traveled to the #4 belt drive telephone and the foreman called to
the surface. The mine foreman from Mine B answered the
telephone.
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QUESTION M
What information should the foreman underground at Good Luck Coal Company give to the person located on the surface?
1. The method and direction of travel that you and the miners plan to take to continue to safely exit the mine.
Correct. Their intended method and direction of travel will assist DM, MSHA, company and mine rescue team officials select the most appropriate entry to travel to expedite rescue and recovery efforts.
2. When the continuous miner cut into the old mine.
Incorrect. Only rescue and recovery efforts are important at this time.
3. That 3 belt maintenance men and the roof bolter operator are located in the mine, probably in the belt entry, if they are not on the surface.
Correct. The foreman located outside should try to contact the 3 belt men and bolter operator by telephone and instruct them to evacuate the mine immediately.
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4. Location and condition of the two miners that are being left underground.
Correct. It could save these miner’s lives because knowing their location could expedite rescue efforts and recovery of these miners to a safe location.
After all responses are discussed, answer the following questions:
Question: What could or should have the crew done with the miner helper at this time?Answer: Brought him from the #4 entry where 17% oxygen is located into the belt entry where the oxygen content was 19.5% and also because water is accumulating in the #4 entry.
Question: How will the mine ventilation be affected when the #4 and #5 entries are blocked with “water roofed” outby crosscut #43?
Answer: The exhausting fan will pull ventilation, contaminants, etc. from the old mine and out #1 and #2 entries to the surface.
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The foreman underground and crew of men are now
located at the #4 belt drive. The foreman conducted an
oxygen test and detected 19.5% oxygen.
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QUESTION N
What should the foreman and crew do now?
1. Continue to exit the mine in the belt entry as long as the oxygen level is sufficient. The miners should anticipate that the quantity of ventilation in #4 entry will decrease as water accumulates in the dip, low oxygen will continue to flow from the #4 entry face area into the working section and travel in the belt entry (#3) will be safe with 19.5% oxygen in this entry.
Correct. Mine conditions could change rapidly, endangering the lives of those underground.
2. Wait at this location until the mine rescue team or other help arrives at this location to assist with recovery of the miner operator and miner helper.
Incorrect. Miners should exit the mine as quickly as possible, but in a safe manner.
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3. Wait at this location for 10 minutes and call back outside to verify if the mine rescue teams have arrived. This action is not a problem at this time, because the oxygen level at this location is 19.5%.
Incorrect. This should never be done. Miners should evacuate the mine immediately following a mine emergency.
4. Instruct three of the men to go through the next accessible mandoor and exit the mine out #4 entry while looking for the belt men and bolter operator.
Incorrect. The foreman should keep the crew together and continue travel in the belt entry as long as the oxygen level remains 19.5%.
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The foreman and five men have exited the mine.
QUESTION O
How many miners are still in the mine, and what are their locations?
1. Miner Operator – located in the face of #4 entry.
Correct
2. Miner Helper – located in #4 entry, near crosscut #43.
Correct
3. Three Belt Men – located at the #3 belt drive.
Incorrect. The location of the three belt men is unknown.
4. Bolter Operator – location is unknown.
Correct. His location is unknown
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THANK THANK YOU!YOU!