Mining Product: When Do You Take Refuge? Decisionmaking During Mine Emergency Escape

• Decision making
• Emergency planning
• Evacuation
• Refuge chambers

This training program was created by a multidisciplinary team at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to help trainees practice correct decisionmaking skills during an underground mine emergency.

There are two components to the training program:

1. an interactive computer-based training (CBT) program, and
2. Report of Investigations 9682: "When Do You Take Refuge? Decisionmaking During Mine Emergency Escape: Instructor’s Guide and Lesson Plans".

The CBT program contains pictures and audio files that simulate the decisions involved in mine emergencies. The purpose of this program is to simulate an underground mine emergency and require trainees to make choices similar to those that they would have to make in a real emergency. This training incorporates recent safety developments in underground coal mining technology by including emergency escape options such as refuge alternatives located near the working face, outby refuge alternatives, and caches of extra self-contained self-rescuers (SCSRs).

RI 9682 contains the following items. It is suggested that instructors carefully review this document before attempting to use the computer based training module:

• an explanation of the purpose for the training, the target audience, computer system requirements for using the training module, and instructions and background information for the course instructor concerning how to prepare to conduct classes,
• lesson plans for conducting training sessions involving either in-depth or abbreviated group discussions,
• a mine map, a diagram illustrating mine lifeline tactile signals, and a training evaluation form.

The CBT can be installed at no cost by downloading it from this page. A CD version can also be ordered using the order option below.