# Presentation: 454796

## Code of Federal Regulations 30

**Part 57 – Safety and Health Standards – Underground Metal and Nonmetal Mines**
**Subpart J – Travelways and Escapeways**
**57.11050  Escapeways and refuges**
**57.11052  Refuge areas**

## 57.11050 Escapeways and Refuges

**a. Every mine shall have two or more separate, properly maintained escapeways to the surface from the lowest levels which are so positioned that damage to one shall not lessen the effectiveness of the others.  A method of refuge shall be provided while a second opening to the surface is being developed.  A second escapeway is recommended, but not required, during the exploration or development of an ore body.**

## 57.11050 Escapeways and Refuges

**b.** **In addition to separate escapeways, a method of refuge shall be provided for every employee who can not reach the surface from his working place through at least two separate escapeways within a time limit of one hour when using the normal exit method.  These refuges must be positioned so that the employee can reach one of them within 30 minutes from the time he leaves his workplace**.

## 57.11052 Refuge areas

**Refuge areas shall be-**
**a. of fire-resistant construction, preferably in untimbered areas of the mine;**
**b. large enough to accommodate readily the normal number of persons in the particular area of the mine;**
**c. constructed so they can be made gastight; **
**d. provided with compressed air lines, waterlines, suitable hand tools, and stopping materials.**

## Metal Nonmetal Refuge Areas

**Underground Platinum mine, Montana**
**Decline entries provide access by vehicle to various levels where mining takes place **
**The Refuge Areas have not been used in any emergency to date**
**  **

## Refuge Areas are located to allow miners to reach them in 30 minutes
Each Refuge Area is provided with water lines, air lines, telephone communication, tools and materials
Carbon Dioxide scrubbers and food are not provided

**Each Refuge Area is provided with water lines, air lines, telephone communication, tools and materials**
**Carbon Dioxide scrubbers and food are not provided**

## CHARACTERISTICS

**There are three permanent and one portable Refuge Areas**
**• ****1 at 500 feet depth**
**• ****1 at 800 feet depth**
**• ****1 at 1,300 feet depth**
**• ****1 at 2,200 feet depth**

## Air and Water supply lines;easily disconnected for re-location.

**Air and Water supply lines;****easily disconnected for re-location.**

**Mounted on skids **
**for easy re-location.**

**Size: approximately 6 feet wide by 10 feet long by 6.5 feet high**

## Exterior Air and Water Connections

## Air and Water connections and valves inside the chamber, and 5 gallon potable water supply cooler(additional 5 gallon bottles of water are in the chamber)

## Mine phone communications system inside the refuge area, with external speaker provides communications to the surface.(A Leaky Feeder Wireless Radio Communications system is also installed and functional in the underground and can be used from inside the refuge chamber to surface)

**Mine phone communications system inside the refuge area, with external speaker provides ****communications to the surface.****(A Leaky Feeder Wireless Radio Communications system is also installed and functional in the underground and can be used from inside the refuge chamber to surface)**

## Refuge Area

**Underground Limestone mine,**
**  ****Kentucky**
**Decline entries provide access by vehicle to various mining levels**
**The refuge area has not been used in any emergencies**

## This is an underground Limestone mine with mining on three levels
Multiple decline entries provide access by vehicle 
Refuge Area located at the 550 feet mining level 

**Multiple decline entries provide access by vehicle **
**Refuge Area located at the 550 feet mining level **

## Characteristics

**Refuge Area is portable and located 100 feet from work area**
**Contains water and air lines, telephone to surface, tools and materials **
**Carbon Dioxide scrubber and food are not provided**

## Outside view

## Outside showing water and air lines

## Inside View

## Material provided to seal openings

##                     REFUGE   AREAS 

**Underground Zinc mine, New York**
**Access provided by two vertical shafts **
**The refuge areas have not been used in any emergencies**

## Mining occurs on different levels and there are five permanent and two portable Refuge Areas 

** ****2 at 2500 feet level – 1 permanent, 1 portable**
** ****2 at 3100 feet level – permanent**
** ****1 at 3500 feet level – permanent**
** ****1 at 3700 feet level – permanent**
** ****1 at 3900 feet level – portable**

## Distance from the work areas to the Refuge Areas vary from 700 to 1000 feet

**Distance from the work areas to the Refuge Areas vary from 700 to 1000 feet**
**Each Refuge Area is provided with water lines, air lines and pager telephones. **
**Toilet facilities, first aid supplies, additional bottled water, tools and materials for sealing are also provided**
**Carbon Dioxide scrubbers and food are not provided**

##      Permanent Refuge Area at the 2500 level

**     ****Permanent Refuge Area at the 2500 level**

## Inside view of refuge area

**Inside view of refuge area**

## Additional emergency supplies stored in Refuge Area

**Additional emergency supplies stored in Refuge Area**

## Portable Refuge Area

**Portable Refuge Area**

## Inside view of portable Refuge Area

**Inside view of portable Refuge Area**

## Recent Emergencies at Metal and Nonmetal Mines

**February 2, 2006**
**Multi-level lead mine, 700-1000 feet**
**Mobile scaling unit caught fire**
**Stench with ventilation air**
**14 miners evacuated in 42 minutes**
**Miners did not need to use their filter self rescuers **

**February 3, 2006**
**Multi-level gold mine, 500 - 650 feet**
**Jumbo drill unit caught fire**
**Stench with ventilation air**
**6 miners evacuated in 12 minutes**
**2 miners utilized filter self rescuers**

**February 20, 2006**
**Single level salt mine-2,300 feet**
**Mobile scoop unit caught fire**
**Leaky feeder and mine phones**
**40 miners evacuated in less than an hour**
**Miners did not need to use their filter self rescuers**

## Pasta de Conchos coal mine explosion

**February 19, 2006 – 65 miners trapped following a methane explosion**
**Eight miners were able to escape**
**Explosion caused 17 ground falls in both  intake and return entries**
**Eleven of the falls were impassable**

**February 22****nd**** - Request to provide MSHA personnel for technical assistance in the rescue efforts**
**Assist with establishing constant gas sampling**
**Provide advice regarding the efforts to rescue the trapped miners**

## Slide 32

## Current Conditions

## Slide 34

## Map 2: Build temporary and permanent seals to block Regreso 1 North and Banda 1 North. 

## Map 3: Repair Stoppings to Cross-Cut #5.