Refuge Chamber Training Products and Guidance

After several major mine incidents in 2006, the Mine Safety and Health Administration issued new regulations requiring enhanced and more frequent self-rescue and escape training. Among other provisions, 30 CFR 75.1504(c)(3) requires that miners receive annual instruction on the deployment and use of refuge alternatives, including:

• deployment and operation of the refuge alternative used at their operation, and
• when to use refuge alternatives during a mine emergency, with emphasis on using them as a last resort when escape is impossible

To help instructors teach miners about the use of refuge chambers, NIOSH has developed a suite of training modules covering:

• operations - how to operate a refuge chamber
• decision-making - what alternatives to consider when deciding whether to enter a refuge chamber
• expectations - what to expect physiologically and psychologically when seeking shelter in a refuge chamber

NIOSH has also put together a suggested one-year plan for refuge chamber training.

By completing this training, miners will be better prepared to make educated decisions during emergencies such as fires or explosions, and better understand the purpose and use of refuge chambers.

The Refuge Chamber Training Modules

Suggested One-Year Training Plan

Although it is very important that miners understand all three types of information about refuge chambers, you cannot accomplish the needed training all at once. There is simply too much important information for most people to comprehend and remember in one sitting. Cover the topics in a series of training classes that are spaced over time.

The table below shows one possible way to conduct refuge training over the course of a year. We suggest starting by using "Emergency Escape and Refuge Alternatives" to provide an introductory overview of what miners need to know about emergency escape and refuge alternatives. Following this overview, trainers should provide in-depth training about how to operate the specific types of refuge chambers or alternatives in use at their mine. To help prepare for this training session, trainers may want to review the materials available from their refuge chamber manufacturer, as well as "Guidelines for Instructional Materials on Refuge Chamber Setup, Use, and Maintenance", "How to Operate a Refuge Chamber", and "Recommendations for Refuge Chamber Operations Training". This is enough material for the first training session.

The second training session could address some of the decision-making aspects of when to use a refuge alternative. Use any of the three decision-making exercises for this session ("Harry’s Hard Choices", "When Do You Take Refuge?" or "Man Mountain's Refuge"). Devote the third training session to the expectations training module. The fourth training session could be devoted to one of the other two decision-making exercises. Toward the end of each training session, trainers should always set aside a little time for reviewing and evaluating the miners’ ability to recall previously presented information about refuge chambers. Based on these knowledge checks, conduct remedial training as needed.