No. 537 November 2009 

NIOSH Develops New Mine Refuge Chamber Training 

Objective 

The objective is to provide effective training on 

refuge chambers for underground coal miners. This 

training will increase knowledge about how to teach 

miners to operate, transport, and inspect a refuge 

chamber; what to expect psychologically and physiologically inside a refuge chamber; and how to decide 

when to use a refuge chamber. 

Background 

During 2006–2007, several disasters occurred at 

U.S. underground coal mines, resulting in 28 fatalities. These disasters led to new approaches to mine 

safety and health, as well as new federal regulations. 

One new technology mandated by federal legislation 

is the refuge chamber. Refuge chambers are movable 

shelters that are either made of steel or inflate from a 

steel skid as a tent. They can potentially save the 

lives of miners during an underground mine emergency by providing breathable air, food, water, and a 

safe environment for up to 96 hours. Because the 

refuge chamber is a new technology, recommendations, information, and training products are greatly 

needed. 

Approach 

A multidisciplinary team at the National Institute 

for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has 

created three products about refuge chambers for 

underground coal mines. Extensive research was conducted for these products consisting of literature 

reviews, meetings with Mine Safety and Health 

Administration employees, engineering tests of refuge 

chambers, and interviews with stakeholders, including mine operators and miners. 

To Deploy Chamber: 

1. Deploy unit 

2. Purge 

3. Activate oxygen 

4. Activate scrubber

 Figure 1.—An example quick start guide from “Guidelines 

for Instructional Materials on Refuge Chamber Setup, Use, 

and Maintenance.”

 Figure 2.—Example of a screen in “Refuge Chamber Expectations 

Training.” 
One product to emerge from this work is a NIOSH 

Information Circular entitled “Guidelines for Instructional Materials on Refuge Chamber Setup, 

Use, and Maintenance” (NIOSH Publication No. 

2009–148). Intended for mine trainers, refuge chamber manufacturers, and mine operators, this product 

offers suggestions for the preparation, maintenance, 

and movement of refuge chambers. As instructions 

for the operation of a refuge chamber can be complicated, this product also provides recommendations on 

ways to teach miners how to operate the chamber. 

One recommendation is to provide miners with a 

shortened version of the operation, or quick start 

guide, to help jog their memory. Sample quick start 

guides (Figure 1) are included. 

Another product developed by NIOSH is “Refuge

Chamber Expectations Training” (NIOSH Publication No. 2010–100). This multimedia training informs miners about what to expect psychologically 

and physiologically if they use a refuge chamber. In 

addition to a computer training program, there is an 

instructor’s guide and lesson plans for mine trainers. 

Photos, videos, audio, and interviews with miners 

who used a refuge chamber in response to a mine fire 

in Canada have also been incorporated into the training package. Physiological effects, such as difficulty 

breathing and sleeping, rapid heart rate, sweating, 

nausea/vomiting, dizziness, thirst, and body aches 

may be experienced by miners while they are enclosed in the refuge chamber (Figure 2). Providing 

the miners with information on what they may encounter when using the refuge chamber will help 

them to be better prepared in the event of an emergency requiring the actual use of the refuge chamber. 

NIOSH has also created decision-making training 

for refuge chambers. “Harry’s Hard Choices” 

(NIOSH Publication No. 2009–122) is a paper-andpencil training simulation designed to help miners 

make decisions about when to use a refuge chamber. 

The training exercise is an interactive story that profiles Harry Hamilton, a section foreman on a longwall setup section who must decide what course of 

action to take when he discovers there is a mine fire 

(Figure 3).

Figure 3.—Mine map used in “Harry’s Hard Choices.” 

 As the story evolves, Harry must make a 

series of choices about how to increase the crew’s 

chances for survival. The scenario is taken in part 

from real-life mine emergencies. 

Results 

All three training products were field tested and 

received positive evaluations. These products are a 

valuable resource for mine trainers, mine operators, 

and refuge chamber manufacturers to be used during 

initial refuge chamber training as well as annual refresher training. 

For More Information 

These publications may be downloaded from the 

NIOSH Mining Web site at: http://www.cdc.gov/ 

niosh/mining/. Hard copies can also be ordered by 

calling 1-800-CDC-INFO. 

For more information on these refuge chamber 

products, contact Katherine A. Margolis, Ph.D. (412-

386-4627, KMargolis@cdc.gov), or the Health 

Communications Coordinator (OMSHR@cdc.gov), 

NIOSH Office of Mine Safety and Health Research, 

P.O. Box 18070, Pittsburgh, PA 15236-0070. 

To receive NIOSH documents or for more information 

about occupational safety and health topics, contact: 

1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636), 1-888-232-6348 

(TTY), e-mail: cdcinfo@cdc.gov, or visit the NIOSH 

Web site at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh 

Mention of any company name or product does not 

constitute endorsement by the National Institute for 

Occupational Safety and Health. 

DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2010–107