Mine Rescue Training Portal B Problem

1. Mine Rescue Training Portal B Problem 8-2009

2. Statement I am ____________________ Fresh Air Base Coordinator for the Great America Mine. You are located in the fresh air base which is 2 crosscuts inby the Portal B Man Shaft. We need your help with a difficult task. History - The Great America Mine is in the process of developing a new portal (Portal B) which will connect with the remainder of the mine. Portal B consists of a new slope, a man shaft, which also supplies fresh air into the mine, and a exhaust fan shaft. Mining operations have been on going to connect the Portal B area to the existing mine works. At 7:00 am today, a foreman along with a 5 man crew, entered the Man Shaft Section to complete the connecting of these entries to the old part of the mine. Everything was going well until approximately 10:30 am when one member of this crew came outside by way of traveling up the slope to report that a fire had start on a diesel powered coal hauler which was located a couple crosscuts from the bottom of the slope. He stated that the rest of the crew was attempting to extinguish the fire. He was forced to exit the mine due to thick smoke and his SCSR started to fail. Mine management assembled and sent a small group of fire fighters (Team #1), which traveled down the slope to investigate, and to see if they could help put out the fire. They were forced to retreat because their air packs which had about 30 minutes of air in them, began to run out. Members of a “Mine Site” mine rescue team (Team #2) with limited experienced was able to explore most of the Portal A side, the exhaust shaft and the bottom of the man shaft area. They were able to set up this fresh air base prior to being pulled out of the mine by a “K-Order” issued by the government agency onsite. The “K-Order has since been modified to allow a fire fighting team to approach the fire from the upwind side of the fire using water hoses from the Portal A side of the fire to help keep the fire under control. Their efforts are still on going and they have been successful in reducing the size of the fire, but at the present time the fire is still burning. All power has been removed from within the mine. Back up mine rescue teams are on site.

3. Team Written Instructions • Explore all areas of the mine that have not been explored if it can be done safely. • Locate all missing miners and bring survivors to the Fresh Air Base. • The mine’s only exhaust fan can not be stopped or reversed, so that the remainder of the mine can be ventilated. • Fresh air must flow at all times over the top of the fire fighting team so they can continue to safely fight the fire. • Fresh air must continue to flow over the B.O. at all times to protect bare faced personnel working in this area. • Your mine rescue team is given the challenge to perform all ventilation changes within their assigned area. Outby teams do not have the materials or the training to do this ventilation work. • Your map is up-to-date • Good luck and may the angel of safety be looking over you!

4. Ventilation Prior To The Incident Old Unit 1 Faces Exhaust Fan Shaft R Portal B Man Shaft R New Slope Portal A

5. Conditions Found In The Mine After the Incident Old Unit 1 Faces Exhaust Fan Shaft xxxx Portal B FAB Man Shaft Fire x New Slope Portal A Unexplored Area Fire team fighting the fire

6. xxxxxxxxxx FAB Team Map

7. Unconscious live Face xxxxxxxxxx X xxxxxxxxxx D&I from team 2 X Roof not bolted Person / body 2 timbers SCSR x X X X X X B Face C Half Torn down permanent stopping X CH4 = 0.5 % O2 = 19.6% CO = 51 PPM Roof bolter Goggles Door open CH4 = 0.4 % O2 = 19.8% CO = 142 PPM D BC CH4 = 0.2 % O2 = 19.4% CO = 131 PPM B Intersection cut for overcast Diesel Coal Hauler FAB Door open D x x xxxxxxx Field Layout Map LC x x X X X X Face D Door open Diesel Coal Hauler CH4 = 0.1 % O2 = 20.4% CO = 100 PPM CH4 = 0.3 % O2 = 20.0% CO = 120 PPM One wall started for overcast Line curtain tore down X X Face The only thing built in this intersection is one set of frames with the curtain hanging off one side of frames In this design I allowed the use of this build as it is not erected D Door open Regulator open Fire cannot be extinguished Continuous Miner R D&I from team 1 Slope Belt X X X X Diesel Coal Hauler on Fire Slope belt tail

8. Unconscious live Face Use temp. stopping to air lock barricade xxxxxxxxxx X xxxxxxxxxx X Must remove this wall second to last Build Roof not bolted Person / body 2 timbers SCSR x X X X X X B Face Half Torn down permanent stopping X CH4 = 0.5 % O2 = 19.6% CO = 51 PPM Roof bolter D Goggles Door closed CH4 = 0.4 % O2 = 19.8% CO = 142 PPM B Smoke Cleared CH4 = 0.2 % O2 = 19.4% CO = 131 PPM Must build this wall last Diesel Coal Hauler Door closed FAB D x x xxxxxxx LC Ventilation Map x x X X X X Face D Team route of travel to & from barricade area Door closed Diesel Coal Hauler Source CH4 = 0.1 % O2 = 20.4% CO = 100 PPM CH4 = 0.3 % O2 = 20.0% CO = 120 PPM Line curtain tore down X X Face D Build Door closed Continuous Miner Build Source Slope Belt X X X X Source Diesel Coal Hauler on Fire Slope belt tail

9. Unconscious live Face xxxxxxxxxx X xxxxxxxxxx X Build Roof not bolted Person / body 2 timbers SCSR x X X X X X B Face Half Torn down permanent stopping X CH4 = 0.5 % O2 = 19.6% CO = 51 PPM Roof bolter D Goggles Door closed CH4 = 0.4 % O2 = 19.8% CO = 142 PPM B CH4 = 0.2 % O2 = 19.4% CO = 131 PPM Diesel Coal Hauler Door closed FAB Ventilation Map 2nd Option D x x xxxxxxx LC x x X X X X Face D Team route of travel to & from barricade area Door closed Diesel Coal Hauler Smoke Cleared Source CH4 = 0.1 % O2 = 20.4% CO = 100 PPM CH4 = 0.3 % O2 = 20.0% CO = 120 PPM Line curtain tore down X X Face D Build Door closed Continuous Miner Build Build Source Slope Belt X X X X Source Diesel Coal Hauler on Fire Slope belt tail

10. Unconscious live Face xxxxxxxxxx X Must airlock and explore this area xxxxxxxxxx D&I from team 2 X Roof not bolted Person / body 2 timbers SCSR x X 15 6 X X X X B Face 2 C Half Torn down permanent stopping X CH4 = 0.5 % O2 = 19.6% CO = 51 PPM Roof bolter Goggles Door open CH4 = 0.4 % O2 = 19.8% CO = 142 PPM B D BC CH4 = 0.2 % O2 = 19.4% CO = 131 PPM Intersection cut for overcast Diesel Coal Hauler FAB Door open D x x xxxxxxx LC Procedure Map x x X X 13 14 4 1 X X Face D Door open Diesel Coal Hauler CH4 = 0.1 % O2 = 20.4% CO = 100 PPM CH4 = 0.3 % O2 = 20.0% CO = 120 PPM One wall started for overcast Line curtain tore down 11 X X Face 7 5 3 D Door open Regulator open Fire cannot be extinguished Continuous Miner R D&I from team 1 Slope Belt 12 8 9 X 10 X X X Diesel Coal Hauler on Fire Slope belt tail

11. Unconscious live Face xxxxxxxxxx X xxxxxxxxxx D&I from team 2 X Roof not bolted Person / body 2 timbers SCSR x X X X X X B Face C Half Torn down permanent stopping X CH4 = 0.5 % O2 = 19.6% CO = 51 PPM Roof bolter Goggles Door open CH4 = 0.4 % O2 = 19.8% CO = 142 PPM B D BC CH4 = 0.2 % O2 = 19.4% CO = 131 PPM Intersection cut for overcast Diesel Coal Hauler FAB Door open D Extent of Gas Map x x xxxxxxx LC x x X X X X Face D Door open Diesel Coal Hauler CH4 = 0.1 % O2 = 20.4% CO = 100 PPM CH4 = 0.3 % O2 = 20.0% CO = 120 PPM One wall started for overcast Line curtain tore down X X Face D Door open Regulator open Fire cannot be extinguished Continuous Miner R D&I from team 1 Slope Belt X X X X Diesel Coal Hauler on Fire Slope belt tail

12. Unconscious live Face xxxxxxxxxx X xxxxxxxxxx D&I from team 2 X Roof not bolted Person / body 2 timbers SCSR x X X X X X B Face C Half Torn down permanent stopping X CH4 = 0.5 % O2 = 19.6% CO = 51 PPM Roof bolter Goggles Door open CH4 = 0.4 % O2 = 19.8% CO = 142 PPM B D BC CH4 = 0.2 % O2 = 19.4% CO = 131 PPM Intersection cut for overcast Diesel Coal Hauler FAB Door open D x x xxxxxxx LC x x Roof Test Map X X X X Face D Door open Diesel Coal Hauler CH4 = 0.1 % O2 = 20.4% CO = 100 PPM CH4 = 0.3 % O2 = 20.0% CO = 120 PPM One wall started for overcast Line curtain tore down X X Face D Door open Watch out that the captain completes the roof check for unsafe roof area on inby side of stopping Regulator open Fire cannot be extinguished Continuous Miner R D&I from team 1 Slope Belt X X X X Diesel Coal Hauler on Fire Slope belt tail

13. Face X 2 timbers SCSR X X X X X B Face • Watch out that # 5 man does not pass the timbers upon entering the barricade area or it is delay for the person in elongate unsafe roof. • If captain stops inby the intersection then the team should be able to complete all work in this area before leaving with unconscious live person. • Unconscious person must be on a breathing apparatus before being moved into the intersection. • The team must travel the center entry and airlock back into the FAB or they run the risk of short circuiting the air that may cause a failure to follow written instructions or move an irrespirable over the person in unsafe roof. • Team map should not have the face marked on it because it is inby the unsafe roof. • Team must airlock before entering the barricade as they did not get a response. CH4 = 0.5 % O2 = 19.6% CO = 51 PPM X B Points to make related to the barricade area • If team enters the barricade with the Option # 2 ventilation then you may want to move timbers next to the gas placard in crosscut for the same result of the #5 man passing the timbers rule.

14. xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx Build Person / Body x • The team must travel to the person in the unsafe roof. • Or by center entry through airlock if they used option #2 ventilation. D Door closed Door closed FAB D • At this point the problem is over. D