Underground Mine Disaster Survival and Rescue An Evaluation of Research Accomplishments and Needs (1981) / Chapter Skim
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THE BUREAU OF MINES POST-DISASTER RESEARCH PROGRAM
THE BUREAU OF MINES POST-DISASTER RESEARCH PROGRAM
Pages 43-72
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From page 43... ...
3.1 INTRODUCTION The USBM post-disaster research program during the past decade has focused on developing technology for the following: 1. Communicating with and locating trapped miners.
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From page 44... ...
3.2 COMMUNICATIONS "Post-disaster communications" in the 1970 NAE report means "locating and communicating with workers trapped underground either -44
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From page 45... ...
Telephone communications were dicussed primarily in terms of short-term improvements; electromagnetic and seismic communications were identified as areas in need of longer-term R&D. 3.2.1 Electromagnetic Communications The 1970 NAE report noted that "Electromagnetic communications techniques have the advantage that in the long term, they might evolve as a means of operational communications within the coal mine.
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From page 46... ...
This method is now being used in conjunction with battery-powered carrier radios to permit voice communication with the cage even when all electrical circuits between the cage and the surface are lost. During the 1970s advances in electronic communication technology were driven primarily by the rapid development of highly dense packaging techniques for integrated circuits.
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From page 47... ...
All of the effort related to locating and communicating with trapped miners has centered on communication between a station on the surface and miners trapped underground. No attention has been given to communication between two underground stations -- e.g., between trapped miners and advancing rescue teams.
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From page 48... ...
Some of the studies indicate techniques that could be useful for monitoring geological conditions in mines daily, quite apart from their potential value for locating and communicating with miners during disasters. Evaluation; Early plans for the seismic approach were altered when the first electromagnetic experiments demonstrated that in most locations where seismic techniques could work, experimental electromagnetic devices performed better in most cases.
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From page 49... ...
The rescue apparatus is used only by specially trained volunteer rescue teams and must keep them alive for a longer period of time while they engage in strenuous rescue work. The escape breathing apparatus in current use is the "filter selfrescuer." It essentially filters carbon monoxide out of the air the miner breathes; it does this by means of the catalyst hopcalite which converts carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide as the air passes through the device.
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From page 50... ...
The 1970 NAE report discussed possible sources: compressed oxygen, cryogenic liquid oxygen, and chemically generated oxygen using potassium or other superoxides or chlorate candles. Most of the R&D supported by the Bureau of Mines during the past decade involved chemically generated oxygen; only toward the end of the decade was work begun on compressed oxygen systems, and no effort has been devoted to cryogenic systems (see *
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From page 51... ...
. Evaluation; The examination of mine disasters and rescue efforts during the past decade reaffirms the 1970 NAE conclusion that an escape breathing device that is continuously carried on the miner's person and that provides sufficient oxygen to support life for the time it takes to get to a place of safety would be the most important piece of lifesaving equipment that could be developed.
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From page 52... ...
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From page 53... ...
Initiation by MESA in 1976 of rulemaking to require use of an oxygen EBA preceded any extensive field testing and was accompanied by a reduced level of funding for R&D in this area. 3.3.2 Rescue Breathing Apparatus While the 1970 NAE report did not identify improvement in rescue breathing apparatus as a high priority item, it did point to the need for long-term research that could contribute to improvements in the then existing equipment, which it described as heavy, cumbersome, costly, and uncomfortable if used for long periods.
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From page 54... ...
The work has proceeded independently, rather than having the pace set and the priorities determined by the ultimate goal -- development of an escape breathing device for miners. A revised human subject test for approval of breathing apparatus that does distinguish between escape and rescue has now been developed and is being evaluated before it is proposed as a revised MSHA/NIOSH regulation.
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From page 55... ...
The Bureau's physiological and metabolic research has not provided sufficient support for development of a lightweight escape breathing apparatus. 3.3.4 Refuge Chambers The 1970 NAE report proposed refuge chambers that "...would provide protection from poisonous gases and some protection from subsequent explosions until the men could be rescued.
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From page 56... ...
The report further stated: "...When escape is not possible or the risk is considered to be too high, chambers may also serve as waystations for miners escaping from the mine to rest, replace or replenish emergency breathing devices, and communicate with the surface...If possible, without creating the hazardous situation inherent in any major underground construction project, some protection should be provided against secondary explosions. Two potential concepts have been identified.
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From page 57... ...
However not enough has been done to provide a basis for judging whether further pursuit of this approach is likely to be fruitful, particularly in view of the regulations that now exist with regard to mine design, escapeways, emergency drills, and communications. 3.3.5 Oxygen Sources for Breathing Apparatus and Refuge Chambers The 1970 NAE report discussed the need to develop appropriate oxygen sources, both for breathing apparatus and for refuge chambers.
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From page 58... ...
3.4.2 Mine Survey and Rescue Vehicle The 1970 NAE report envisaged a remotely controlled probe vehicle that "...might be equipped with manipulator arms...and could have closed circuit television that would be transmitted to the surface through the mine opening by repeater stations dropped from the vehicle at suitable intervals. A vehicle of this type...must be powered by a self contained system.
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From page 59... ...
3.4.3 Rescue Team Helmet and Cooling Garment The 1970 NAE report noted that "Rescue team operations could probaly be enchanced by...development of bubble-type helmets to provide better visibility and greater comfort for the wearers of breathing devices."* Until 1975 the Bureau undertook no research in this area.
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From page 60... ...
3.6 SURVIVAL AND RESCUE PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT While the 1970 NAE report did not explicitly speak of a mine disaster planning and management system, a number of the elements of such a system were specifically addressed. Thus the report states: "There is strong evidence that in addition to proper equipment, proper training is essential to survival and rescue.
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From page 61... ...
* It further recommends that "Previous mine disasters should be simulated to gain additional insight into the causes of death.
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From page 62... ...
This selection must reflect the concerns of the agencies responsible for regulating mine safety and responding to mine emergencies, the mine operators, the miners themselves (through their unions) , and the manufacturers of mine safety equipment, as well as those undertaking the R&D.
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From page 63... ...
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From page 64... ...
Thus, while a short-term, expensive project would receive the same rating as long-term inexpensive one (since criteria 11 and 12 are combined additively) , a short-term project addressing a minor hazard and a long-term project addressing a major hazard would both be rated lower than a medium-term project addressing a medium hazard (since criteria 2 and 11 are combined multiplicatively)
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From page 65... ...
In addition to the concern with outward technology transfer, there is also a need for inward transfer of technology that has been developed in other areas and that may be adaptable to mining. While mine disasters are different from most other kinds of disasters, many of the elements of coping with a mine disaster -- e.g., emergency communications, firefighting, breathing apparatus -- have much in common with their counterparts in other kinds of disasters, and an R&D program bearing on mine survival and rescue might be expected to look to military, space, firefighting, and undersea rescue programs for technology and procedures that might be transferable to mining.
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From page 67... ...
This in turn leads to development of improved apparatus or of a totally new approach. The development stage must incorporate o Conceptual development to meet identified objectives, o Development of technical means for attaining objectives, o Human factors considerations in setting design specifications.
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From page 69... ...
4. Although annual planning and evaluation procedures for individual projects improved over the years, there is no evidence of management procedures for integrating individual projects into a coherent effort leading toward achievement of broad program goals.
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From page 70... ...
9. Physiological and metabolic research, combined with simulation of mine emergencies requiring escape efforts, should be undertaken to establish realistic oxygen rate and time duration requirements for an EBA.
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From page 71... ...
15. The Bureau should make a more active effort to study technology developed in other industries and other countries that might be applicable or adaptable to mine disaster survival and rescue efforts in the United States.
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