MINE EMERGENCY MINE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PREPAREDNESS

Systems to Assist

“In the Critical Minutes

Following an Incident

The Safety of the

Underground Workers

is Largely Influenced

by Their Own Actions”

Must the training be hands on instruction Must the training be hands on instruction possibly supported by mobilization exercise or possibly supported by mobilization exercise or realistic simulation?realistic simulation?

Is it practicable to provide training, which Is it practicable to provide training, which emulates the stresses and breathing emulates the stresses and breathing limitations of using self-contained self-rescuers limitations of using self-contained self-rescuers in an emergency evacuation situation?in an emergency evacuation situation?

Is the current standard of evacuation training Is the current standard of evacuation training given to workers to precondition them for a real given to workers to precondition them for a real escape actually effective?escape actually effective?

Can this type of training really simulate the Can this type of training really simulate the effects of airways choked with potentially lethal effects of airways choked with potentially lethal combustion products?combustion products?

Are the systems to assist mine emergency Are the systems to assist mine emergency evacuation appropriate and will they actually be evacuation appropriate and will they actually be used?used?

Is it possible to provide training to respond to Is it possible to provide training to respond to emergenciesemergencies

All persons underground at the time of

an

Incident shall be trained, equipped

and able

to make an escape to the surface, or

place

of safety, if physically capable.

Self Rescuers (belt worn)Self Rescuers (belt worn)

Refuge emergency basesRefuge emergency bases

Change over stationsChange over stations

Self rescuers (long Self rescuers (long duration)duration)

Robust Communication Robust Communication SystemsSystems

*Emergency notification

*Request for help

*Location and status of workers

*To give direction and guidance

The Availability ofThe Availability ofEffective Guidance SystemsEffective Guidance Systems

Overcome problems of disorientationOvercome problems of disorientation

Low visibilityLow visibility

Guidance to a place of safetyGuidance to a place of safety

AVAILABILITY OF AVAILABILITY OF TRANSPORT SYSTEMSTRANSPORT SYSTEMS

To exit the mineTo exit the mine

To refuge/emergency bases To refuge/emergency bases (more expeditiously)(more expeditiously)

Basic Respiratory SystemsBasic Respiratory Systems

A. Self-RescuersA. Self-Rescuers

B. Self Contained Self RescuersB. Self Contained Self Rescuers

Preference for apparatus that has a self-starting Preference for apparatus that has a self-starting Mechanism for an initial supply of oxygenMechanism for an initial supply of oxygen

WeightWeight Ease of donningEase of donning

Level of protection (duration, quality of oxygen supplied)Level of protection (duration, quality of oxygen supplied)

Size and ergonomicsSize and ergonomics

Availability of training modelsAvailability of training models

Robustness of the case (etc.)Robustness of the case (etc.)

Factors affecting Oxygen ConsumptionFactors affecting Oxygen Consumption

Body mass index – an indicator of fat levels – mostBody mass index – an indicator of fat levels – mostimportant factor that influences oxygen consumption.important factor that influences oxygen consumption.

Age – mechanical disadvantage for older workers.Age – mechanical disadvantage for older workers.

Fitness – fitter people require less oxygen.Fitness – fitter people require less oxygen.

Anxiety – an anxious person will have an increased Anxiety – an anxious person will have an increased pulse rate and rapid shallow breathing.pulse rate and rapid shallow breathing.

Heat and Humidity – people who work in hot and humidHeat and Humidity – people who work in hot and humidatmospheres will experience an increase in pulse rate,atmospheres will experience an increase in pulse rate,but noting that acclimatization is a factor.but noting that acclimatization is a factor.

Mine conditions that may be encountered, gradients, roadMine conditions that may be encountered, gradients, roadsurface, obstructions, etc.surface, obstructions, etc.

Mine site trial to determine realistic travelling distancesMine site trial to determine realistic travelling distancesand spacing.and spacing.

Fitness capability of workers.Fitness capability of workers.

Reassessing and updating as the mine situation changes.Reassessing and updating as the mine situation changes.

In good conditions (good visibility In good conditions (good visibility andandbeing able to travel standing being able to travel standing upright)upright)the following applies:the following applies:

60 min SCSR on average person 60 min SCSR on average person can travel 2.5 km.can travel 2.5 km.

30 min SCSR on average person 30 min SCSR on average person can travel 1.25 km.can travel 1.25 km.

Poor visibility reduces travel distancesPoor visibility reduces travel distancesby 60% of that travelled in good by 60% of that travelled in good visibility.visibility.

OPEN CIRCUITOPEN CIRCUIT

COMPRESSED AIR

REFUGEREFUGE

EMERGENCYEMERGENCY

BASESBASES

PERMANENTPERMANENT

REFUGEREFUGE

CHAMBERSCHAMBERS

MOVEABLEMOVEABLE

REFUGE /REFUGE /EMERGENCYEMERGENCY

BASESBASES

Oxygen generationOxygen generation

Carbon dioxide (COCarbon dioxide (CO22) removal) removal

Climate control (humidity & moisture removal)Climate control (humidity & moisture removal)

Communication systemsCommunication systems

First aidFirst aid

Self sufficient power supplySelf sufficient power supply

Potable waterPotable water

Chemical toiletChemical toilet

Mobile and can be relocated easilyMobile and can be relocated easily

ROBUST COMMUNICATION ROBUST COMMUNICATION SYSTEMSSYSTEMS

What form of communication will survive an explosion, fire ground fall or incident.

How will local conditions affect the function and scope for deploying emergency communications technology?

Can the equipment be designed such that no action or minimum action is required to activate and deploy the system?

Can the equipment be designed to communicate through the strata or through the overburden?

Is it possible to reliably broadcast a mine wide emergency warning? Can an independent communications system be deployed which

functions in underground environments, offers a range of kilometres and does not rely on existing communications or cable infrastructure in the mine if this is damaged?

COMMUNICATIONCOMMUNICATION

ISIS

VITALVITAL

To provide communications from permanent andmoveable emergency bases.

To provide communications to workers trapped by falls of ground, fire or inundations.

To provide communications between the incident control centre and fresh air base(s).

The fresh air base(s) and rescue team(s).

To provide data communications from environmentalmonitors at locations in the mine affected by theemergency.

To broadcast a mine-wide early warning in the event of an emergency.

THE AVAILABILITY OF EFFECTIVETHE AVAILABILITY OF EFFECTIVEGUIDANCE SYSTEMSGUIDANCE SYSTEMS

Long length, single-entry Long length, single-entry headingsheadings

Continuous mining sectionsContinuous mining sections

Roadways having hot and humidRoadways having hot and humidconditions and/or steep gradientsconditions and/or steep gradients

Extensive room and pillar Extensive room and pillar operationsoperations

Behaviour during exposure to a Behaviour during exposure to a major incident is associated with major incident is associated with disorientation, loss of direction disorientation, loss of direction and possible delays in donning and possible delays in donning respiratory protection.respiratory protection.

These elements create These elements create uncertainty, confusion and uncertainty, confusion and possible panic reactions possible panic reactions increasing risk to evacuees.increasing risk to evacuees.

Miners must be trained & re-trained in the Miners must be trained & re-trained in the fundamentals of the mine emergency escape fundamentals of the mine emergency escape plan, and required competency levels of plan, and required competency levels of understanding.understanding.

Self rescuer training and re-training on short Self rescuer training and re-training on short and long durations units must continue to and long durations units must continue to establish and reinforce levels of confidence and establish and reinforce levels of confidence and competence.competence.

In particular the change over of SCSRs in hostile In particular the change over of SCSRs in hostile atmosphere is critical. This cannot be rehearsed atmosphere is critical. This cannot be rehearsed too often.too often.

We must build on the strengths we have already We must build on the strengths we have already developed.developed.

Meeting pointMeeting point

Communication centreCommunication centre

Self rescuer exchange, long durationSelf rescuer exchange, long duration

First aid stationFirst aid station

Emergency equipment storageEmergency equipment storage

Fresh air supply etc.Fresh air supply etc.

Continue with the discussion and introduction of the Continue with the discussion and introduction of the refuge/mobile emergency base. System which refuge/mobile emergency base. System which allows:allows:

Short distance to travel from the Short distance to travel from the workplaceworkplace

Simulations repeatedly Simulations repeatedly show areas for show areas for improvement.improvement.

We all know the costs in We all know the costs in this area are high.this area are high.

We have not yet We have not yet reached best practice.reached best practice.

TheThealternativesalternatives

are farare farworse!!!worse!!!

REMEMBER

REMEMBER

THAT THAT

ANYTHING IS

ANYTHING IS

POSSIBLE

POSSIBLE

Largest & richest silver mine in USLargest & richest silver mine in US

Sunshine Mine - Kellogg, IdahoSunshine Mine - Kellogg, Idaho

This ship builder thought his design could not sink

This mayor thought his levees would hold

This mayor thought his levees would hold