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VIRGINIA

H AZARD A LERT L IVE T OMORROW. VIRGINIA. DIVISION OF MINES. INSTRUCTORS GUIDE.

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VIRGINIA

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  1. HAZARDALERTLIVETOMORROW VIRGINIA DIVISION OF MINES INSTRUCTORS GUIDE 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.

  2. MINE EMERGENCIES 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.

  3. MINE EMERGENCIES 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. • 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.

  4. 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!!! • 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. • 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.

  5. 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. Changes in color, texture or softness of the coal, • 2.     2. Water coming thru the coal, mine floor, roof or ribs, • 3. Cracks in the coal, mine floor, ribs, etc.

  6. 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. • The barometric pressure drops when weather fronts (cold, rain, snow, etc.) start moving in and through the area; • As the pressure drops, more methane is liberated because the normal barometric pressure that helps stabilize and hold the methane in place is reduced; • More methane is liberated out into active mine workings behind seals etc. • 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.

  7. 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.

  8. 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. • 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.

  9. 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. • 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: • 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.

  10. 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. • 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. • 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. • 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.

  11. EXPLOSION – SCENARIO TRAINING Part I • 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: • Contact the responsible person or designee at the mine, supervisors and/or personnel in all available areas of the mine; • Notify Division of Mines and MSHA officials immediately, at once without delay after confirming the incident and within 15 minutes; • Notify mine rescue teams and other support personnel as directed by the responsible person or his designee.

  12. Underground personnel evacuating should, if possible and time permitting, contact surface personnel from the first accessible telephone and provide the following information: • Location and extent of explosion, if known, and conditions present at your location; • Any miners evacuating from the mine and their location, conditions, etc; • Number of miners leaving a particular location; • Direction, entry and method of evacuation (riding, walking, crawling, etc.)

  13. 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. • 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. • 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.

  14. 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.

  15. 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.

  16. 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. • Lifelines or equivalent devices re provided in both the primary and (alternate) escapeway.

  17. 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. • 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.

  18. 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. • 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.

  19. EXPLOSION – SCENARIO TRAINING Part II MINERS – ON SECTION, OTHER SECTIONS AND OUTBY AREAS • Account for and assemble applicable personnel to prepare for evacuation. The responsible person will initiate and conduct immediate evacuation when imminent danger exists. • Report location and extent of explosion, if known, to surface personnel. • Evacuate all personnel not required for emergency response. • Evaluate status of ventilation and ventilation controls: altered, destroyed, removed, installed, etc. • Evaluate air qualities and quantities in areas of the mine. • Evaluate status/location of electrical and mechanical equipment/vehicles. • Evaluate extent of the explosion area.

  20. 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.

  21. CONDITIONS REQUIRING IMMEDIATE DONNING OF SCSR’S • 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.

  22. Stoppings damaged and overcasts destroyed Fan Timbers on Fire Shuttle Car Shuttle Car 1440 Continuous Miner x R x x x x x x Explosion Doors C C x x x D D D C C D NORTH MAINS 2700’ to Surface x Feeder Belt C x D C D D C D D x x X C D D C D x x x x D D R High Voltage Splitter Box #1 Pump EXPLOSION MAP - 2006 High Voltage Cable Pump Cable Mantrip Station Section Transformer Barricade Material Transformer Transformer #2 Belt Drive (Transfer Point – 2000’ to Surface) x #2 Pump Old Widow Kennedy Mine 140’ Below 1430 1430 High Voltage Substation D D SCSR Storage Locations (15 at each location) 1440 CC #10 SAFETY FIRST COAL COMPANY Roof Fall Section Transformer x Feeder Shuttle Car x x Barricade Material x C C WEST MAINS 2700’ to Surface C C C x C C C C Mantrip Station x Continuous Miner

  23. EXPLOSION MAP – 2006 North Mains - Escape NORTH MAINS 2700’ to Surface Continuous Miner SAFETY FIRST COAL COMPANY x Mantrip Station Shuttle Car x C C C C Barricade Material C C C x Feeder C C x x Section Transformer Old Widow Kennedy Mine 140’ Below X D D Roof Fall Shuttle Car #2 Belt Drive (Transfer Point – 2000’ to Surface) WEST MAINS 2700’ to Surface R D D D D R x C x Timbers on Fire C x D X C C x X x X D D D D Feeder C x C D x Transformer Stoppings damaged and overcasts destroyed x C X Continuous Miner C x x X Section Transformer #2 Pump High Voltage Splitter Box Mantrip Station x x D 1430 D 1440 Barricade Material CC #10 SCSR Storage Locations (15 at each location)

  24. EXPLOSION MAP – 2006 West Mains - Escape Timbers on Fire Old Widow Kennedy Mine 140’ Below D D Roof Fall #2 Belt Drive (Transfer Point – 2000’ to Surface) WEST MAINS 2700’ to Surface R D D D D R x Shuttle Car C x x C x x x x D C x C x D D D D Feeder C D D C C x x Transformer Continuous Miner x C C x x x Section Transformer #2 Pump High Voltage Splitter Box x x D D 1440 Mantrip Station Barricade Material 1430 CC #10 Stoppings damaged and overcasts destroyed SCSR Storage Locations (15 at each location)

  25. EXPLOSION MAP – 2006 Escape To Surface #2 Belt Drive (Transfer Point – 2000’ to Surface) D x C C D D D D C Feeder C C D x x x Transformer C C x x x Section Transformer #2 Pump High Voltage Splitter Box x x D D Barricade Material Mantrip Station 1440 1430 1440 D D CC #10 SCSR Storage Locations (15 at each location) x #1 Pump 1430 Pump Cable Transformer High Voltage Substation Belt x Fan Explosion Doors High Voltage Cable

  26. 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 MOTOR Seven (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.

  27. 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.

  28. 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 #4 entry- .0% Ch4 and 20.8% O20% Ch4 and 20.9% O2 #5 entry- .0% Ch4 and 20.8% O20% Ch4 and 20.9% O2

  29. 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.

  30. 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.

  31. 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.

  32. QUESTION A - ANSWERS • 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. • 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. • CORRECT – Continuously monitoring for methane while cutting and welding is critically important in all coal mines.

  33. 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. • 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.

  34. 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.

  35. 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.

  36. QUESTION B - ANSWERS • CORRECT – This is the first thing that the outside man should do in any case of an underground mine emergency. • CORRECT – After the outside man attempts to contact everyone underground. • INCORRECT – The mine operator or his agent should determine when and how the next-of-kin should be notified. • CORRECT – All underground electrical power should be deenergized immediately. The fan circuit must remain energized. • CORRECT – This is a difficult situation, as is all mine emergencies. Several different people and agencies must be notified as quickly as possible.

  37. 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.

  38. 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.

  39. QUESTION C - ANSWERS • PARTIALLY CORRECT – But only after the foreman has accounted for all his crew. • CORRECT – Accounting for all his crew is the first thing that the foreman must do following any mine emergency. • 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. • INCORRECT – A crew should barricade ONLY after verifying that all means of escape are blocked or too hazardous to travel.

  40. 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 • CORRECT – Someone needs to step up and volunteer or be designated as the leader of the group. • CORRECT – All these things are very important to communicate to the surface as soon as possible after any mine emergency. • CORRECT – Very important. The CO detector and escapeway map may be life-saving during any mine emergency. • 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. • 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 • INCORRECT – Barricade ONLY when all means of escape are blocked or too hazardous to travel. • CORRECT – Attempting to contact the outside man as soon as possible immediately after any mine emergency is very important. • 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. • 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. • 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 • 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. • INCORRECT – Barricade only when all means of escape are blocked or too hazardous to travel. • 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. • 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 What should the crew do now? ____ 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.

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