VIRGINIA

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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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EXPLOSION – SCENARIO TRAINING Part I

1. The location and extent of the explosion, 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 an explosion 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 explosion, 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.)

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2. All mine personnel not required for emergency response shall evacuate from the mine by the quickest, most practical means, which may very, depending on the situation, post-explosion 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. Miners shall report changes in normal work areas to the responsible person or authorized person on the surface.

4. The electrical power to the affected area of the mine shall be deenergized as directed by the responsible person or his designee. Electrical power to other areas of the mine should be deenergized as necessary, while considering evacuation of mine personnel.

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5. All underground personnel not required for emergency response shall evacuate by traveling the primary or alternate (secondary) escapeway as directed by the mine responsible person or his designee.• FIRST CHOICE – The entry traveled using the 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, smoke, fire, etc. prevent further evacuation in this entry. The decision to evacuate and ride in the primary OR alternate (secondary) escapeway depends on several factors including the mine ventilation, presence of smoke, fire, toxic fire/explosion gases, physical obstructions, etc. 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.

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• SECOND CHOICE – If at the beginning or during evacuation you have no transportation equipment available to ride in the primary or alternate (secondary) escapeway, then with conditions permitting – walk or crawl the primary or secondary escapeway. The decision whether to travel the primary or secondary escapeway depends on many factors as previously described. If the escapeway being traveled becomes blocked with obstructions such as roof falls, water, smoke, fire, etc., then you have to consider further evacuation in a different escapeway entry.

• THIRD CHOICE – An alternate (secondary) or intake escapeway not selected as the 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 re provided in both the primary and (alternate) escapeway.

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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 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. The escapeway entry, primary or alternate (secondary), that will be traveled shall be explained to all miners. The authorized person located on the surface should be informed of the number of miners beginning evacuation and the escape route that will be used while exiting the mine.

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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. The miners should consider barricading or entering a refuge chamber only when all escape routes are physically blocked or too hazardous to travel. If all possible means of escape are exhausted and 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 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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EXPLOSION – 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 location and extent of explosion, 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 explosion 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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EXPLOSION TRAINING – 2006 SAFETY FIRST COAL COMPANY

MINE HISTORY AVERAGE WORKING HEIGHT – 48”

VENTILATION SYSTEM – EXHAUSTING

VENTILATION DIRECTION – AS SHOWN ON MAP FAN INFORMATION– 48” FAN,

250HP – 550 VAC MOTORSeven (7) persons are scheduled to produce coal on the West Mains Section, located 2700 feet from the surface. The crew consists of the foreman, miner operator and miner helper, two (2) shuttle car operators, repairman, and a face utility man. Three (3) men perform maintenance, cleaning and rock dusting work on the beltlines from the surface to both working sections. Five (5) men (repairmen) are scheduled to perform maintenance work on the North Mains Section located 2700 feet from the surface. The foreman is the responsible person for this shift. An old abandoned mine (Widow Kennedy Mine) is located approximately 140 feet below this mine in the area at the #2 belt drive/transfer point. The old Widow Kennedy Mine, mined back in the 1970’s was known for liberating large amounts of methane.

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The primary escapeway is #4 entry for both the North Mains and West Mains Sections. The alternate escapeway is #3 entry (beltline entry) for both North Mains and East Mains Sections. Fifteen (15) SCSR’s are stored at cc #10 in both the primary and alternate escapeways, one crosscut outby the North Mains – West Mains junction.This mine is not known for liberating large amounts of methane but when the barometric pressure drops, more methane than normal is detected.

Also when the barometric pressure drops, the beltman that performs on-shift belt examinations has detected .2% to .3% methane in the belt entry near the #2 belt drive.

A cold front has been moving through the area and it has been raining and snowing for the past two days.

Four wheeled (battery powered) mantrips are used for transportation.

Both crews normally travel the #4 entry (primary escapeway) to the working section.

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The preshift examination of the face areas conducted at 5:00 AM and 6:30 AM, respectively revealed the following:

NORTH MAINS WEST MAINS

#1 entry - .3% Ch4 and 20.8% O2 .1% Ch4 and 20.8% O2

#2 entry - .4% Ch4 and 20.8% O2 .1% Ch4 and 20.8% O2

#3 entry- .1% Ch4 and 20.8% O2 0% Ch4 and 20.8% O2



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MINE EMERGENCY EXPLOSION EXERCISE - 2006 INSTRUCTOR COPY

The attached maps will be used to work through this mine emergency – explosion problem. A series of questions will be asked as situations occur as a result of the explosion. 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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The mine operator and foreman plan to conduct a safety talk on

the surface prior to the 15 men going underground.

The company has just implemented a “New” production

bonus plan.

The mine operator discussed the “New” bonus plan and the

foreman discussed electrical safety, locking and tagging out and

cable maintenance.

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QUESTION A

What other information could have and should have been discussed during the safety talk based on the mine map and information provided?

____ 1. The hazards of mining with underlying old mines that may contain

methane.

____ 2. The effects that barometric pressure and weather storm fronts have

on methane liberation in underground mines.

____ 3. The importance of conducting gas tests before and continuously while

cutting and welding.

____ 4. The importance of installing check curtains and face line curtains

when the outside man calls inside reporting a State or Federal inspector

outside.

____ 5. The two mine disasters (Sago and Kentucky – Darby) that resulted

from methane explosions.

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QUESTION A - ANSWERS

1. CORRECT – Explosions and dangerous situations have occurred

when underlying mines have cracked into active mines releasing

methane, blackdamp, etc. One explosion in Virginia occurred when

an old mine cracked 143 feet into an overlying, active mine releasing

methane which resulted in an explosion.

2. CORRECT – All miners must understand that weather fronts (cold,

rain, snow) cause the barometric pressure to drop which results in an

increase in methane liberation in coal mines.

3. CORRECT – Continuously monitoring for methane while cutting and

welding is critically important in all coal mines.

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4. INCORRECT – Section ventilation as well as all mine ventilation

is critically important to prevent accumulations of

methane at all locations in the mine. The presence of inspectors

should not determine when miners should maintain proper

ventilation.

5. CORRECT – Explosions can occur in any coal mine. Mines that

have underlying mines may present extremely dangerous

conditions, especially those known to liberate large amounts of

methane. All miners must stay alert in a mine that has an

underlying mine, as your mine could crack into the underlying

mine causing an inundation of methane, carbon dioxide, etc.

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The West mains crew arrived on the section and started producing coal.

The maintenance crew arrived on the North Mains section and started

cutting/welding bit lugs on the continuous miner ripper head.

The outside man is standing near the front-end loader, approximately 40 feet

from the #3, #4 and #5 portals. It’s 7:30 A.M., at which time, the outside man

always eats his sausage/egg biscuit and drinks a large cup of coffee.

The mine operator departed the mine site to go to Bill’s Electrical Supply Co.,

located 30 miles away, to buy some electrical supplies.

The outside man feels a sudden outrush of air from the portals and observes

coal/rock dust and debris in the air exiting from the portals.

At this time, the outside man feels most likely that an explosion has occurred

underground.

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QUESTION B

What are some priority things that the outside man must think about and do?

____ 1. Immediately try to contact all underground personnel, especially

the foreman, who is the responsible person on this shift.

_____ 2. Try to contact the mine operator.

_____ 3. Notify the next-of-kin of all miners underground and tell them

that an explosion has occurred at the mine and that no contact

has been made with any of the miners since the explosion.

_____ 4. Deenergize all underground electrical power while leaving the

mine fan circuit energized.

_____ 5. Get the emergency contact notification list (sheriff, state police,

mine rescue teams, State and Federal officials, etc.) and put near

the public telephone so appropriate personnel can be notified as

quickly as possible.

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QUESTION B - ANSWERS

1. CORRECT – This is the first thing that the outside man should do in

any case of an underground mine emergency.

2. CORRECT – After the outside man attempts to contact everyone

underground.

3. INCORRECT – The mine operator or his agent should determine

when and how the next-of-kin should be notified.

4. CORRECT – All underground electrical power should be deenergized

immediately. The fan circuit must remain energized.

5. CORRECT – This is a difficult situation, as is all mine emergencies.

Several different people and agencies must be notified as quickly as

possible.

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WEST MAINS CREW

The West mains continuous miner crew is moving the miner across the LOCC

between the #2 and #3 entry – face areas. Several of the crew are installing

timbers on each side of a roof fall that had occurred in the 3rd crosscut outby

the face area, between the #2 and #3 entries.

The foreman is helping move the continuous miner.

The crew heard a loud noise that sounded like an enormous roof fall which

lasted for about 5 seconds. The crew felt a vibration and a change of

pressure in their ears. They also felt a sudden inrush of air, followed

immediately by the section being inundated with rock and coal dust and

small, flying debris.

About one (1) minute later, the electrical power deenergized on the section.

The foreman and crew think immediately that an explosion has occurred on

the North Mains section or somewhere outby their section.

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QUESTION C

What is the “first thing” that the foreman should do?

____ 1. Go immediately to the mine telephone, located at the section

loading point, call the outside man and try to determine what has happened

and where.

_____ 2. Account for and assemble all his crew on the West Mains section.

_____ 3. Go to the mine telephone, after accounting for all his crew, call the

outside man and instruct him to try to contact the North Mains

section crew and the belt crew. And, also to contact everyone on the

emergency personnel notification list.

_____ 4. Anticipating that an explosion has occurred and that poisonous

mine gases were created as a result of the explosion, assemble the crew

and start building a barricade in the #3 entry, face area inby the

LOCC because this will be the best location to barricade with the

largest area of fresh air at this time.

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QUESTION C - ANSWERS

1. PARTIALLY CORRECT – But only after the foreman has accounted

for all his crew.

2. CORRECT – Accounting for all his crew is the first thing that the

foreman must do following any mine emergency.

3. CORRECT – Notifying the outside man and reminding him to try to

contact everyone else in the mine and notifying everyone on the

emergency personnel notification list is the second thing to be done

following any mine emergency.

4. INCORRECT – A crew should barricade ONLY after verifying that

all means of escape are blocked or too hazardous to travel.

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NORTH MAINS CREW/BELT MAINTENANCE CREW

The North Mains maintenance crew were performing maintenance and

cutting/welding work on the continuous miner when they also heard a loud

noise that sounded like an enormous roof fall that lasted 3 to 5 seconds.

The crew felt a sudden inrush of air, filled with small debris, rock dust and coal

dust.

The crew smelled a burned smell.

All five (5) miners were located at the continuous miner. About one (1) minute

later the electrical power on the section deenergized.

The three (3) belt men were located near crosscut #9 when they felt a sudden

outrush of air, saw coal dust, rock dust and small debris suspended in the air

and immediately traveled toward the surface.

The North Mains crew does not have a foreman.

41

QUESTION D

What are some of the things that the North Mains crew should do

immediately?____ 1. Designate one person as a crew leader.

____ 2. Send two people to the mine telephone, located at the section loading

point, to call the outside man to try to determine what has happened and

where; that it appears an explosion has occurred outby their location and that

the five of them are O.K. at this time and that they will try to escape from the

mine out the #4 entry (primary escapeway).

____ 3. The other three miners should go to the first aid box to get the

escapeway map and carbon monoxide (CO) detector.

____ 4. Everyone should get their readily accessible SCSR (located within

25 feet) and make preparations to assemble at the previously established

emergency meeting place (mantrip station).

____ 5. The entire crew should go get the carbon monoxide (CO) detector

from the first aid box, then go get the barricade materials located in #5 entry

and barricade themselves in #5 entry – face area - inby the LOCC.

42

QUESTION D - ANSWERS

1. CORRECT – Someone needs to step up and volunteer or be

designated as the leader of the group.

2. CORRECT – All these things are very important to communicate to

the surface as soon as possible after any mine emergency.

3. CORRECT – Very important. The CO detector and escapeway map

may be life-saving during any mine emergency.

4. CORRECT – Seconds may save lives in getting their readily

accessible SCSR’s. Poisonous gases may enter any area in the mine

very quickly following a mine explosion.

5. INCORRECT – Barricade ONLY when all escape routes are blocked

or too hazardous to travel.

43

NORTH MAINS CREW

Two of the crew members travel to the first aid supply box and

get the carbon monoxide (CO) detector, where it is normally

stored.

As soon as he activates the detector and conducts a test, he

detects 150 ppm – CO at the mantrip station.

A secondary mine telephone is located at the end of the lifeline

in the primary escapeway.

44

QUESTION E

What are some things that the crew should be thinking about and/or doing at this time?

____ 1. Barricade themselves inby the LOCC in #5 entry – face area.

____ 2. Immediately try to call the outside man on the secondary mine telephone to try to determine what has happened and where and that the five of them are O.K. at this time.

____ 3. After trying to call the outside man on the secondary mine telephone, disconnect the telephone to put on the mantrip to take with them.

____ 4. Everyone should donn their SCSR due to 150 ppm – CO detected in the area.

____ 5. Each man should make sure they have their “second SCSR” and start evacuation by crawling down the #3 entry (beltline entry) – alternate escapeway because 150 ppm – CO was detected in #4 entry (primary escapeway).

45

QUESTION E - ANSWERS

1. INCORRECT – Barricade ONLY when all means of escape are blocked or too hazardous to travel.

2. CORRECT – Attempting to contact the outside man as soon as possible immediately after any mine emergency is very important.

3. CORRECT – The secondary mine telephone, located at the end of the lifeline in the primary escapeway, may not have damaged by the explosion and the crew should take a mine telephone with them in case they can travel outby where the telephone line may not be damaged and could be used.

4. INCORRECT – Donning SCSR’s may not be necessary in 150 ppm – CO, as this amount of CO can be inhaled for several hours without any appreciable effect.

5. INCORRECT – Never try to escape from any mine emergency by walking or crawling any escapeway, if you have a means and it’s safe to ride transportation equipment. You can always ride much faster than you can walk or crawl, especially crawling in low coal seams.

46

NORTH MAINS CREW

The five man crew decided to use the mantrip to attempt escape

from the mine out the #4 entry (primary escapeway).

The crew loads the “secondary mine telephone” and tether line

on the mantrip.

The crew traveled two (2) crosscuts outby the mantrip station

and encountered “light smoke”. One of the crew members

conducts a gas test and detects 900 ppm – CO.

47

QUESTION F

What should the crew do now?

____ 1. Stop the mantrip and donn their SCSR’s.

____ 2. Retreat back to the section and barricade themselves inby the

LOCC in #5 entry – face area.

____ 3. Retreat back to the section on the mantrip and attempt escape from

the mine out the #3 – beltline entry (alternate escapeway) or one of

the return air entries (#1 or #2).

____ 4. Each man should open and activate both of their SCSR’s, just in

case one of them does not operate properly.

48

QUESTION F - ANSWERS

1. CORRECT – The presence of smoke, even light smoke, and the large increase in CO – from 150 to 900 ppm, tells you that the atmosphere is becoming poisonous very quickly. Never wait until you go from light smoke to dense smoke or into an irrespirable atmosphere before you donn your SCSR. Remember the ALMA mine fire and the problems that the miners had when they traveled through light smoke and entered dense smoke before they began to open and donn their SCSR’s. Also, remember that more than 1500 ppm - CO is dangerous to breathe for more than one (1) hour.

2. INCORRECT – Barricade only when all means of escape are blocked or too hazardous to travel.

3. INCORRECT – The crew should remember that the #3 beltline entry (alternate escapeway) is blocked to mantrip travel by the feeder and will be a loss of valuable time. The return air entries should be the last choices as a means of escape and should only be traveled when intake air entries are blocked or too hazardous to travel. Smoke and/or poisonous gases will be present in the return entries following any mine emergency.

4. INCORRECT – Only open and donn one (1) SCSR. Your secondary SCSR is a spare and should only be opened when necessary to transfer to a new SCSR.

49

NORTH MAINS CREW

The crew has donned and activated their SCSR’s and are

traveling the #4 entry (primary escapeway) in the mantrip. The

crew arrives at the mouth of the section and observes that the

return air overcasts from the West Mains section in #4 and #5

entries have been destroyed and are blocking their travel with the

mantrip.

The crew observes “dense smoke” and feel heat in the #4 and #5

entries at this location.

The crew observes that the lifeline has been torn into by the

explosion forces and destruction of the overcasts.

50

QUESTION G


____ 1. Retreat back to the section on the mantrip and attempt to escape out the # 3 beltline entry (alternate escapeway) or one of the return air entries (#1 or #2).

____ 2. Retreat back to the section and barricade themselves inby the LOCC in #5 entry – face area.

____ 3. Depart the mantrip – take the additional SCSR’s, tether line, secondary mine telephone and escapeway map and retreat inby to the door located two (2) crosscuts inby the overcasts; travel into the #3 – beltline entry (alternate escapeway) and continue

evacuation by crawling out the beltline entry. Travel in dense smoke should occur only if other escapeway entries are blocked or too hazardous to travel. Escape travel should occur in an entry equipped with an intact lifeline, if possible.

____ 4. Get the tether line off the mantrip and attach to each person before traveling through the door into the #3 beltline entry, just in case that they were to encounter dense smoke.

51

QUESTION G - ANSWERS

1. INCORRECT – The #3 beltline entry is blocked to mantrip travel by the feeder. The crew should realize this before returning and attempting travel in this entry. The return air entries is the last place that you want to be following any mine emergency and should be your last choice as a means to escape from any mine emergency. In this case, it would result in a loss of valuable time because all access routes to the return entries are blocked by equipment that cannot be moved (power is off).

2. INCORRECT – Barricading is always the last resort as previously discussed.

3. CORRECT – An alternate escapeway should be traveled at this time. The secondary mine telephone, secondary SCSR’s and the tether line may become valuable during escape from any mine emergency. The “tether line” is critically important because you may have to travel in smoke in an entry that does not have a lifeline and provides a means for the miners to stay together.

4. CORRECT – The tether line is critically important for the miners to have at all times while attempting escape.

52

NORTH MAINS CREW

The crew traveled through the door into the #3 – beltline entry.

They encounter dense smoke and feel heat but are able to

maintain contact with the lifeline as they escape.

The crew has arrived at crosscut #10 , in the #3 belt entry

(alternate escapeway), where the SCSR’s are stored.

The crew observes that the telephone line in this entry is

destroyed.

One crew member recommends that each of them get two (2)

new SCSR’s for each of them from the storage box.

53

QUESTION H


____ 1. Each crew member should only get one (1) SCSR from the storage

box.

____ 2. Each crew member should get two (2) SCSR’s from the storage

box because everyone else in the mine was probably killed by the

explosion and won’t need SCSR’s.

____ 3. The crew should remove the spare CO detector from the storage

box to take with them as they escape.

____ 4. Each crew member should transfer to a new SCSR even though

they’re still breathing O.K.

54

QUESTION H - ANSWERS

1. CORRECT – You should never get more than one(1) new SCSR from a

storage box because other miners attempting escape may need the

additional SCSR.s

2. INCORRECT – Never get more than one (1) SCSR from any storage

box.

3. CORRECT – If available, a spare CO detector may be invaluable

during an escape.

4. INCORRECT – You should never transfer to a new SCSR just because

it’s available. Transfer only when needed.

55

SCENE SHIFTS TO THE SURFACE

The outside man attempted to contact both section crews and the

belt maintenance crew but was unsuccessful. He also had

deenergized all underground electrical power but left the mine

fan circuit energized.

The outside man has also contacted the mine operator, State

and Federal officials, local sheriff and State Police, EMS and

mine rescue personnel. All officials have been notified and are

enroute to the mine.

56

While reattempting to contact all personnel underground by the

primary mine telephone and the secondary mine telephone, the

mine operator arrived back at the mine.

The three (3) belt men arrived on the surface just as the mine

operator pulled into the parking lot.

The mine operator could not get much information from the belt

men before they went home. They were really scared and all they

could tell him was that they were located at crosscut #9 in the belt

entry when they felt a sudden outrush of air with coal dust and

rock dust suspended in the air and they immediately traveled to the

surface.

57

QUESTION I

What are some of the first things that the mine operator should consider doing?

____ 1. Verify that all necessary officials have been notified and are

enroute to the mine.

____ 2. Contact the local pastor that has been pre-arranged and request

that he report to the predetermined location (church) to be with

the families and friends of the missing miners.

____ 3. Contact the next-of-kin of the missing miners and provide

information/directions to the predetermined location (family staging

area).

____ 4. Get the five (5) extra SCSR’s and put on the other mantrip; donn

his SCSR and travel into the mine - #4 entry (primary escapeway)

to look for the missing miners because this is most likely the first

choice-escape route that the miners may be traveling.

58

QUESTION I - ANSWERS

1. CORRECT – The mine operator or agent should always verify that all

necessary officials have been notified and are enroute to the mine. The

mine operator or agent is required to notify State and Federal officials

as soon as possible, not to exceed 15 minutes, if necessary to get to a

telephone.

2. CORRECT – Notifying a pre-arranged pastor and requesting that he

come to a pre-determined location is critical for the families and friends

of the missing miners.

3. CORRECT – Notifying the next-of-kin of the missing miners is critically

important. The next-of-kin should not receive this terrible information

on the street or from the news.

4. INCORRECT – ABSOLUTELY NEVER DO THIS!!!! Never donn an

SCSR and go into a mine to look for missing miners following any mine

emergency. SCSR’s are used for escape purposes only.

59

OFFICIALS ARRIVE AT THE MINE

The State and Federal officials, mine rescue personnel, State

and local police and EMS personnel, have arrived at the mine.

The police establish a security boundary at the junction of the

mine road with the main road.

State and Federal officials, mine rescue personnel and the mine

operator establish a command center in the mine office where

mine maps , a mine telephone and a public telephone are

located.

60

• 15 men were underground when apparently a mine explosion occurred;

• 7 men were assigned to produce coal on the West Mains section; 5 men were assigned to perform maintenance work on the North Mains section and 3 belt men were assigned to perform routine belt work;

• The 3 beltmen exited the mine about 5 minutes after they felt a sudden outrush of air, coal dust and rock dust; they were located at crosscut #9 when the event occurred; they were scared to death and have gone home.

• Dense smoke has been exiting the exhausting mine fan housing since about 10 minutes after the apparent explosion;

• An old, extremely gassy, abandoned mine is located underneath our mine about 140 feet in the general area at the #2 belt drive – transfer point;

• The fan gauge shows a reduced fan pressure – just about half of what it normally is since the incident occurred.

The mine operator briefs the other officials and provides the following information:

61

State and Federal officials, mine rescue personnel, and the mine operator

develop a rescue plan that consists of:

1. Initially exploring up the #4 and #5 entries to the 6th crosscut and tie

across into the #3, #2 and #1 entries;

2. And then continuing exploring the #4 and #5 entries to the 10th crosscut

and then tie across to the #3, #2 and #1 entries.

62

SCENE SHIFTS TO THE WEST MAINS SECTION

The crew realized that most likely a mine explosion had occurred

outby their location. The foreman had used the mine telephone

at the loading point to try to call the outside man to try to

determine what had happened and where, but had been

unsuccessful.

The foreman has accounted for his crew and have assembled at

the mantrip station.

63

QUESTION J

What should the foreman and crew be thinking about and/or doing at this time?

____ 1. One crew member should attempt to call the outside man by using

the secondary mine telephone required in the primary escapeway

located near the end of the lifeline.

____ 2. The foreman should conduct a gas test immediately to determine

the amount of oxygen carbon monoxide (CO), and methane at this

location.

____ 3. Send a couple men to retrieve the escapeway map from the first

aid box to take with them during the emergency evacuation.

____ 4. Take all his crew, travel to the #3 entry, inby the LOCC in the face

area and barricade.

64

QUESTION J - ANSWERS

1. CORRECT – The secondary telephone may not have been damaged by

the explosion and could be used to contact surface personnel.

2. CORRECT – VERY IMPORTANT!! The crew needs to know the

types and amounts of gases that they have immediately after any mine

emergency, especially CO in this apparent explosion incident.

3. CORRECT – The escapeway map may be invaluable in any attempt of

emergency escape. This map must absolutely be kept up-to-date at all

times.

4. INCORRECT – Barricading is always the last resort as previously

discussed.

65

WEST MAINS SECTION

The foreman tried to contact the outside man using the secondary mine telephone (located near the lifeline in the primary escapeway) but also was unsuccessful.

The foreman and his crew have retrieved the escapeway map, tether line and secondary mine telephone and board the mantrip for evacuation.

Electrical power on the section had deenergized approximately one minute after hearing the loud noise and rock/coal dust inundating the working section.

The foreman had conducted a gas test immediately after feeling the sudden inrush of air onto the section and had detected 850 ppm – CO and 18% oxygen.

The foreman and crew have boarded the mantrip. The foreman conducts a second gas test before departing the section, approximately three (3) minutes later and detects 1150 ppm – CO.

66

QUESTION K

What should the foreman and crew be thinking about and/or doing at this time?

____ 1. Go get the barricade material, retreat to the face area and

barricade inby the LOCC, in #3 entry in the face area.

____ 2. Realize the urgency of immediate escape by realizing that the

electrical power is off in the mine, that the pump located in the #4 entry

- primary escapeway will be inoperative and that water will accumulate

rapidly blocking mantrip travel through this area.

____ 3. Everyone should donn their SCSR immediately because the CO is

increasing rapidly and will be approaching the poisonous level very

quickly.

____ 4. Travel back to the LOCC and wait 30 minutes for the ventilation to

improve and reduce the amount of CO in the area.

67

QUESTION K - ANSWERS

1. INCORRECT – Barricading is the last resort as previously discussed.

2. CORRECT – The crew must realize that with electrical power off in the

mine, including the pump located in the primary escapeway, that water

will accumulate rapidly and block their escape in the intake escapeway.

TIME IS CRITICAL WHEN WATER IS NOT BEING PUMPED -

MAY BLOCK ESCAPEWAYS AND TRAVELWAYS.

3. CORRECT – The CO is increasing rapidly. In three (3) minutes, the

CO increased from 850 ppm to 1150 ppm. The crew should donn their

SCSR’s immediately because the CO is increasing at a rapid rate. CO

above 1500 ppm becomes dangerous to breathe after one (1) hour.

4. INCORRECT – A rapid escape is critical in any mine emergency

situation. The mine ventilation will not improve, because most likely

permanent stoppings have been destroyed and/or damaged causing a

short – circuit in the ventilation.

68

WEST MAINS CREW

The crew travels as quickly as possible toward the surface in the

#4 entry (primary escapeway).

As they approach the No. 2 pump area located (10th crosscut

outby the face area), they smell a burned smell, detect 250 ppm –

CO and encounter water roofed in both the #4 and #5 entries.

69

QUESTION L


____ 1. Retreat back to the section and attempt to escape to the surface

out the #3 beltline entry (alternate escapeway) or one of the

return air entries (#1 or #2).

____ 2. Retreat back to the section and barricade.

____ 3. Try to swim through the water since the dip is only about 50 feet

in length.

____ 4. Everyone should depart the mantrip; get both of their SCSR’s;

get the tether line and secondary telephone; travel through the

door and attempt further escape by crawling out the #3 entry

(beltline entry – alternate escapeway).

70

QUESTION L - ANSWERS

1. INCORRECT – The #3 beltline entry is blocked to mantrip travel by the feeder. The crew should realize this before returning and attempting travel in this entry resulting in loss of valuable time. Never attempt escape in a return air entry unless all intake air entries are blocked or too hazardous to travel. Smoke and or poisonous gases will be in the return entries, especially if the fan is operating and officials will be trying to keep the fan operating to provide fresh air in the intake entries where miners will be attempting escape. In this case, it would result in loss of valuable time because all access routes to the return entries are blocked by equipment that cannot be moved (power is off) or the roof fall.

2. INCORRECT – Barricading is the last resort as previously discussed.

3. INCORRECT – Never attempt swimming through water.

4. CORRECT – Crawling the #3 beltline entry (alternate escapeway) is the only means of escape. The crew can’t ride the beltline from the section because the feeder is blocking the #3 entry. Miners may consider removing a stopping to gain access to the belt entry with the mantrip but this would be a waste of valuable time in this situation because the overcasts at the mouth of the section were destroyed by the explosion and has the entry blocked to mantrip travel.

71

WEST MAINS CREW

The crew travels to the “door” located in the 8th crosscut outby

the face area, between the #3 (beltline entry) and #4 entry

(primary escapeway).

The crew forgot to get the secondary mine telephone off the

mantrip.

The foreman opens the door and sees “light smoke”.

72

QUESTION M

What should the foreman and crew do now?

____ 1. Travel on through the door and evacuate out the #3 (beltline entry

– alternate escapeway).

____ 2. Stop, sit down and pray.

____ 3. Everyone should attach themselves to the tether line; donn their

SCSR’s before traveling on though the door into the #3 entry

(alternate escapeway).

____ 4. Travel back to the section and barricade inby the LOCC in #3

entry face area.

73

QUESTION M - ANSWERS

1. INCORRECT – The “light smoke” that the foreman saw when he

opened the door may turn to “dense smoke” very quickly. Never wait

to donn SCSR’s when smoke is encountered. It is much more difficult

to donn SCSR’s in “dense smoke”. REMEMBER – the difficulty that

the miners at the ALMA mine fire had while traveling from “light

smoke” into “dense smoke” before opening/donning their SCSR’s.

2. CORRECT – EXCELLENT IDEA.

3. CORRECT – The miners attaching themselves to the tether line and

donning their SCSR’s before going through the door may prove to be

life-saving in this situation.

4. INCORRECT – As previously discussed in several questions.

74

WEST MAINS CREW

The crew has tied themselves to the tether line, donned their SCSR’s and

followed (crawled) the lifeline located in the #3 beltline entry (alternate

escapeway) to the mouth of the section.

The crew encounters “dense smoke” at the mouth of the section, which limits

visibility to arm’s length.

The crew had forgot and left their secondary mine telephone on the mantrip.

The foreman observed that the telephone line was destroyed by the explosion

at the #2 belt drive transfer area.

The crew arrives at cc #10 where the SCSR’s are stored.

At this time, four (4) miners are having problems breathing through their

SCSR.

75

QUESTION N


____ 1. All the miners should transfer to a new SCSR just because they

have become available.

____ 2. Only the four (4) miners having breathing problems should

transfer to a new SCSR and the other miners should obtain a new

SCSR to take with them as they continue escaping from the mine.

____ 3. Disconnect the four (4) miners having breathing problems from

the tether line and leave them to travel behind at a slower speed

because they probably won’t be able to make it to the surface and

will slow the travel rate of the other miners.

76

QUESTION N - ANSWERS

1. INCORRECT – Never transfer to a new SCSR just because you have

access to it. An additional SCSR may become necessary later to safely

escape from the mine. Every ounce of oxygen may prove to be critical

in any mine emergency situation.

2. CORRECT – Only the miners having problems breathing through

their SCSR should transfer at this time. Don’t transfer SCSR’s unless

you need to.

3. INCORRECT – Always try to keep all the miners tied together with

the tether line. A tether line with all the miners attached may have

saved the lives of two miners at the ALMA mine fire.

77

WEST MAINS CREW

The crew has arrived at crosscut #10 in the #3 beltline entry (alternate escapeway) where the SCSR’s are stored.

The foreman observed that the telephone line is virtually destroyed at this location.

The four (4) miners having breathing problems have transferred to new SCSR’s and are breathing O.K. now.

The other miners get one (1) SCSR for each miner from the storage box.

The crew continues evacuation out the #4 entry (primary escapeway).

The crew arrives at the dip (4th crosscut in the mine – No. 1 pump area) and joined the North Mains crew where the water in #4 and #5 entries had roofed.

The foreman took one (1) man with him and traveled back to the 6th crosscut and traveled through the door into the #3 - beltline entry. Then, they traveled outby in the #3 – beltline entry to the dip area and observed that the beltline entry was also blocked with water. Water is within 2” of the mine roof.

The two men retreat back to the 6th crosscut and the foreman opens the door between #2 and #3 entries and observes “dense smoke” in the #2 entry (return air entry). The foreman took a gas test and detected 19% oxygen and 150 ppm – CO in the #3 entry at the 6th crosscut.

78

QUESTION O

What should the foreman do now?

____ 1. The foreman and his buddy should retreat back to where the

remaining crew members are located at the water roofed area in

#4 entry (primary escapeway).

____ 2. The foreman should return to the #4 entry where the miners have

a mine telephone to connect to the telephone line to see if he can

contact the outside man and report their location, physical

condition and conditions present at their location.

____ 3. The foreman should retreat back to where the remaining crew

members are located at the water roofed; get with the other miners

and attempt escape out #1 or #2 return air entries because it’s

only six (6) crosscuts to the surface.

____ 4. The foreman and his buddy should continue travel on through the

door into the #2 – return air entry and try to find their way to the

surface, even through the “dense smoke with zero visibility”.

79

QUESTION O - ANSWERS

1. CORRECT – The foreman is the leader and should return to the rest of the crew to inform them of conditions he observed in the #2 and #3 entries.

2. CORRECT – A telephone that a crew can take with them during any escape may very well save their lives. In this case, the crew has arrived at a location where the telephone line was usable. Miners should attempt to contact personnel on the surface as soon as possible when a means becomes available. Surface personnel need to know the following ASAP from escaping miners: (1) location and conditions; (2) no. of miners and their condition; (3) no. and location of miners left in the mine.

3. INCORRECT – Take time to think this through. You know that the #2 – return entry is filled with dense smoke, with zero visibility and there’s no lifeline. If an attempt were made to escape through this dense smoke and even though its only six (6) crosscuts to the surface, it would be very easy to get disoriented and travel inby in the wrong direction. The foreman and crew must realize by now that a fire has occurred as a result of the explosion and is filling the #1 and #2 – return air entries with dense smoke and poisonous fire gases. Mine rescue personnel will advance in the escapeway entries (#3 and #4) as quickly as possible first to look for missing miners.

4. INCORRECT – Making a decision to travel in dense smoke in a return entry is a dangerous decision. Other means of escape should be evaluated prior to making the decision to do this.

80

BOTH WEST MAINS/NORTH MAINS

The foreman and his buddy decide not to travel into the “dense smoke” in #2

return entry and they retreat back to #4 entry (primary escapeway) at the water

roofed area where the other miners are located. The foreman conducts a gas

test and detects 19% oxygen and 150 ppm – CO. Realizing this concentration

of CO is not dangerous, he removed his SCSR.

The foreman observes that the telephone line is not damaged at this location; hooks up the mine telephone and calls outside. The mine operator answers the telephone.

The foreman reports that 12 men are blocked by water in the #3, #4 and #5

entries and that “dense smoke with zero visibility” is present in #2 entry and

they are afraid to enter the dense smoke.

The mine operator advised the 12 miners to stay at the water roofed area in the

#4 entry and that two mine rescue teams have built airlocks in #4 and #5

entries and are preparing to pump the water and that the mine rescue teams

should be at their location within the next 5 minutes.

81

QUESTION P

What should the foreman and miners do now?

____ 1. Follow the instructions of the mine operator and stay at the water

roofed area in #4 entry.

____ 2. Try to keep all the men together and exit the mine out #2 entry,

even though “dense smoke with zero visibility” is present in this area.

____ 3. Stay at the water roofed area and monitor the safety of the miners.

____ 4. Cut the lifeline and tie everyone to it and try to crawl through the

water roofed.

82

QUESTION P - ANSWERS

1. CORRECT – Miners who receive instructions from mine rescue

personnel and or mine officials should obey their instructions.

2. INCORRECT – Traveling through dense smoke with zero visibility in

a return air entry is dangerous as previously discussed.

3. CORRECT – Even though 5 minutes may seem like hours or an

eternity in this situation, the miners should wait at the water roofed as

instructed.

May be a good time to thank God for his blessings of life.

4. INCORRECT – Never try to crawl through water, even while wearing

an SCSR.

83

The foreman and crew decide to follow the instructions of the mine

operator, mine rescue and State and Federal officials and stay at

the water roofed area in #4 entry (primary escapeway).

The mine rescue teams pump the water and assist the 12 miners to

the surface.

The 12 miners are examined by EMS personnel and appear to be

O.K. except for being physically exhausted and scared.

ALL 15 MINERS HAVE SAFELY ESCAPED!!!!!!

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