Mining Product: Harry’s Hard Choices: Mine Refuge Chamber Training

• Decision making
• Evacuation
• Refuge chambers

This paper-and-pencil simulation is an interactive story that presents a scenario in which Harry Hamilton, a section foreman on a longwall setup section, must decide what to do when he learns there is a fire in his mine. As time goes on, Harry must face a series of choices about how best to increase his and his crew's chances for survival. The story is taken in part from real-life incidents.

The completion of this exercise can help new miners, experienced miners, trainers, and others who must deal with issues of self-rescue and escape become more aware of:

• The need to gather as much information as possible as early as possible
• The value of knowing one's escapeways
• The need to use self-contained self-rescuers (SCSRs) properly
• The value of a multigas detector in an emergency
• When, and under what circumstances, to enter a refuge alternative

Materials included in the file download (a ZIP archive):

• Instructor Copy - 1 copy needed for the trainer
• Problem Booklet - 1 copy needed for each trainee or group of trainees