Metal and Nonmetal

National Mine Rescue

Contest Rules

U. S. Department of Labor

Elaine L. Chao

Secretary

Mine Safety and Health Administration

Richard Stickler

Assistant Secretary

2008

PREFACE

This book let was prepared for min ing in dus try in structors,

MSHA in structors and in spectors to train mine res cue

teams, judges, and con test person nel in pro ce dures for a

mine res cue contest.

Ref er ence to spe cific brands, equip ment, or trade names

in this report is made to fa cili tate un der stand ing and does

not imply en dorse ment by the Mine Safety and Health

Ad min is tra tion.

MISSION STATEMENT

The Metal and Non metal Na tional Mine Res cue Con test

serves as a train ing tool to improve the skills re quired to

re spond to a mine emer gency. The National Con test Rule

Book estab lishes pro ce dures and rules that serve to guide

the res cue teams in ac tual sit u a tions. This com pe ti tion

serves to strengthen co op er a tion be tween min ing

com pa nies, equip ment man u fac tur ers, Fed eral and State

agen cies to en hance mine res cue pre paredness.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

A spe cial thanks to the Na tional Metal and Non metal

Ad vi sory Com mit tee for their valu able as sis tance in pre -

par ing this book let. The Ad vi sory Com mit tee con sists of:

Cen tral Mine Res cue Unit

Danny Peterson, Di rec tor

Coeur d’Alene Mining Dis trict

P. O. Box 1067, Wallace, ID 83873

E-mail: cmrescue@cebridge.net

Cen tral Kentucky Mine Res cue Association

Sammy Linville, Vice Chairman

Carmeuse Lime, Inc.

162 Norma Everman Drive, Maysville, KY 41056

E-mail: sammylinville@yahoo.com

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Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining, and Safety

Harry A. Lovely, Coordinator

Colorado State Mine Rescue Training Program

Edgar Mine Rescue Training Center

P. O. Box 2038

Idaho Springs, CO 80452

E-mail: harry.lovely@state.co.us

Kan sas Mine Res cue As so ci a tion

Lee Gra ham, Co or di na tor

Hutch in son Com mu nity Col lege

815 North Walnut, Davis Hall

Hutchin son, KS 67501

E-mail: grahaml@hutchcc.edu

Mis souri Mine Res cue As so ci a tion

Larry Hampton, Mine Res cue Co or di na tor

The Doe Run Company

Vi bur num, MO 65566

E-mail: lohampton@doerun.com

Ne vada Mine Res cue As so ci a tion

Ken neth Groves, Co or di na tor

Barrick Goldstrike Mines, Inc

P. O. Box 29

Elko, NV 89803

E-mail: kgroves@barrick.com

North ern Mine Res cue As so ci a tion

Barry Carlson, Coordinator

Cargill Deicing Technology

PO Box B

Lansing, New York 14882

E-mail: barry_carlson@cargill.com
South ern Mine Res cue As so ci a tion

Henry Charpentier, Plant Trainer

Mor ton Salt

P. O. Box 1496

New Ibe ria, LA 70562

E-mail: hcharpentier@mortonsalt.com

South west ern Re gional Mine Res cue As so ci a tion

Buddy Webb, Se nior En gi neer, Emer gency Man age ment

Waste Iso la tion Pi lot Pro ject

P. O. Box 2078 – MS452-06

Carlsbad, NM 88221

E-mail: buddy.webb@wipp.ws

South west ern Wy o ming Mu tual Aid As so ci a tion

Doug Malicoat, Mine Rescue Coordinator

OCI Chemical of Wyoming

West of Green River

Green River, Wyoming 82935

E-mail: dmalicoat@OCIChemical.com

John Angwin, Mine Res cue Co or di na tor

Sol vay Chem i cals Inc.

P.O. Box 1167

Green River, WY 82935

E-mail: john.angwin@solvay.com

Mine Safety and Health Ad min is tra tion

John Radomsky, Man ager,

Ac ci dent In ves ti ga tions, Anal y sis and Pre ven tion

1100 Wil son Bou le vard

Arlington,VA 22209

E-mail: radomsky.john@dol.gov

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Eddie Lopez, Dis trict Man ager

South Central Dis trict

1100 Commerce Street, Rm. 462

Dal las, TX 75242-0499

E-mail: lopez.ed ward@dol.gov

Don ald J. Fos ter, Jr., Assis tant Dis trict Manager

North east Dis trict

Thorn Hill In dus trial Park

547 Keystone Drive, Suite 400

Warrendale, PA 15086

E-mail: fos ter.don ald@dol.gov

Wyatt An drews, As sis tant Dis trict Man ager

South east Dis trict

135 Gem ini Circle, Suite 212

Bir ming ham, AL 35029

E-mail: an drews.wyatt@dol.gov

Mi chael Dennehy, Mine Safety and Health Spe cial ist 

Rocky Moun tain District

Den ver Fed eral Cen ter, 6

th & Kipling

2

nd Street, Bldg. 25, E-16

Den ver, CO 80225-0367

E-mail: dennehy.mi chael@dol.gov

Joseph M. Denk, Staff Assistant

Northeast District

Thorn Hill Industrial Park

547 Keystone Drive, Suite 400

Warrendale, PA 15086

E-mail: denk.joseph@dol.gov

 
The following organizations are recognized for the

resources and personnel they committed in support of the

biannual National Metal and Nonmetal Mine Rescue

Contest.

Biomarine, Inc.

Cen tral Mine Res cue Unit

Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining, and Safety

CSE Cor po ra tion

Draeger Cor po ra tion

DXP En ter prises

Jo seph A. Holmes Safety As so ci a tion

In dus trial Sci en tific Cor po ra tion

Kan sas Mine Res cue As so ci a tion

Mis souri Mine res cue As so ci a tion

Mine Safety Ap pli ances Co.

Na tional Mine Res cue As so ci a tion

Ne vada Mine Res cue As so ci a tion

North ern Mine Res cue As so ci a tion

South ern Mine Res cue As so ci a tion

South west ern Mine Res cue As so ci a tion

South west ern Wy o ming Mu tual Aid As so ci a tion

United Cen tral In dus trial Sup ply

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2006 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

MINE RESCUE FIELD CONTEST

FMC Corporation 

FMC at Westvaco Mine

FMC White Team ................Green River, Wyoming

Leroy Hutchinson, Captain, Benchman

Alan Jones, Gas 

Robert Byers, First Aid 

Bronson Berg, First Aid 

Vern Platenberg, First Aid 

Tony Herrera

Brad Roll

Mike Padilla, Team Trainer

Dave Hutchinson, Team Trainer

Rick Steenberg, Official in Charge

 
PREVIOUS NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

MINE RESCUE FIELD CONTEST

2004 OCI WWyoming, L.P., Big Island Mine, White Team, 

Green River, WY

2002 FMC Westvaco Mine, FMC 1, FMC Corporation,

Green River, WY

2000 Big Island Mine, OCI Blue Team, OCI of Wyoming,

L.P. - Green River, WY

1998 FMC Mine, Red Team, FMC Corporation - Green

River, WY

1996 Big Island Mine, White Team, OCI of Wyoming, L.P. - 

Green River, WY

1994 Waste Isolation Pilot Project, Blue Team,

Westinghouse Electric Corporation - Carlsbad, NM

1992 Big Island Mine, White Team, Rhone Poulenc of

Wyoming - Green River, WY

1990 Magmont Mine Team, Cominco American - Bixby,

MO

1988 Homestake Mine, Gold Team, Homestake Mining Co. - 

Lead, SD

1986 Big Island Mine, White Team, Stauffer Chemical Co. -

Green River, WY

1984 Texasgulf Mine, Gold Team, Texasgulf Chemicals Co.

- Granger, WY

1982 Big Island Mine, Blue Team, Stauffer Chemical Co. -

Green River, WY

1980 Lisbon Mine Team, Rio Algom Corp. - Moab, UT

1978 Jefferson Island Mine Team, Diamond Crystal Salt

Co. - New Iberia, LA

1976 Magmont Mine Team, Cominco American - Bixby,

MO (Single-Level Contest)

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1976 Magmont Mine Team, Cominco American - Bixby,

MO (Multi-Level Contest)

1975 Big Island Mine, White Team, Stauffer Chemical Co. -

Green River, WY

1973 Grand Saline Mine Team, Morton Salt, Division of

Morton Norwich Products, Inc. - Grand Saline, TX
2006 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

BENCHMAN’S CONTEST

BG–4 CONTEST

CURTIS SANDERS

WIPP Silver Team

Washington Tru-Solutions ..... Carlsbad, New Mexico

BG–174A CONTEST

RICKY MARTIN

The Doe Run Maroon Team

The Doe Run Company.......... Viburnum, Missouri

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2006 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

BENCHMAN’S CONTEST

BIOPAK CONTEST

TOM SENECAL

Newmont Gold Team

Newmont Mining Corporation

Newmont Carlin Mine ............... Carlin, Nevada
PREVIOUS NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

BENCHMAN’S CONTEST

2004 MACLANE BARTON, (BG-4), Sugar Creek Mine

Limestone Lizzards, Lafarge North America - Sugar

Creek, MO

 GARY MOORE, (BG-174A), Southeast Missouri

Mining and Milling Division, Doe Run Grey Team,

The Doe Run Company - Viburnum, MO

 ROD CHRISTENSEN, (Biopak), Barrick Goldstrike

Mine, Barrick Goldstrike Mines, Inc. - Elko, NV

2002 LESLIE WAREHAM, (BG-4), General Chemical

Blue, General Chemical Soda Ash Partners, Green

River, WY

 DENISE RICH, (BG-174A), Stillwater Mine,

Stillwater Mining Company, Nye, MT

 DAN LUKE, (Biopak), Carlin Underground Mine,

Newmont Mining Corporation, Carlin, NV

2000 JOE BACA, (BG-4), Blue Team, Waste Isolation Pilot

Project, Westinghouse Electric Corporation, Carlsbad,

NM

 RICHARD WEST, (BG-174A), Silver Team, Waste

Isolation Pilot Project, Westinghouse Electric

Corporation, Carlsbad, NM

 ROD CLEMENT, (Biopak 240), No. 4 Mine & Mill,

Zinc Corporation of America, Hailesboro, NY

1998 JOE BACA, Waste Isolation Pilot Project,

Westinghouse Electric Corporation - Carlsbad, NM

1996 MACLANE BARTON, West Fork Mine, Missouri

Lead Division, ASARCO, Inc. - Bunker, MO

1994 FRED MILLER, Waste Isolation Pilot Project,

Westinghouse Electric Corporation - Carlsbad, NM

1992 LESLIE WAREHAM, General Chemical Mine,

General Chemical Partners - Green River, WY

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1990 STAN AMRINE, Parachute Creek Mine, Unocal

Mining Division - Parachute, CO

1988 KARL SAUER, Homestake Mine, Homestake Mining

Co. - Lead, SD

1986 ART DAVIS, Henderson Mine, Amax, Inc. - Empire,

CO

1984 STEVE YANCHUNIS, Schwarzwalder Mine, Cotter

Corp. - Golden, CO

1982 ART DAVIS, Henderson Mine, Amax, Inc. - Empire,

CO

1980 ALAN HERMEZ (Draeger), Carr Fork Mine,

Anaconda Copper Co. - Tooele, UT

1980 RODNEY PHILBRICK (McCaa), Pine Creek Mine,

Union Carbide - Bishop, CA

1978 WILLIE DAVIS (McCaa), Lisbon Mine, Rio Algom

Corp. - Moab, UT

1978 KEN JOHNSON (Draeger), Climax Mine, Climax

Molybdenum Co. - Climax, CO

1976 STEVE MURRAY, Bunker Hill Mine, Bunker Hill Co. 

- Kellogg, ID
2006 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

FIRST AID CONTEST 

BARRICK GOLDSTRIKE MINES, INC. 

Barrick Goldstrike Mines, Inc.

Barrick Gold Team....... Elko, Nevada

Ken Groves, Team Captain

Shane Sandbak

Alfredo DeLaPaz 

PREVIOUS NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

FIRST AID CONTEST 

2004 General Chemical Soda Ash Partners, General

Chemical Mine, General Chemical Blue, Green River,

Wyoming, Mickey Smith, Team Captain

2002 Carmeuse Lime, Inc., Maysville Mine, Maysville

Mine Raiders, Maysville, Kentucky, Gary Lewis, Team

Captain

2000 Dravo Lime, Inc., Maysville Mine, Maysville Mine

Raiders, Maysville, Kentucky, Gary Lewis, Team

Captain

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2006 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

GAS INSTRUMENT BENCH CONTEST

RICK OWENS

FMC Westvaco Mine, FMC Red Team 

FMC Corporation ............ Green River, Wyoming

PREVIOUS NATIONAL CHAMPION

GAS INSTRUMENT BENCH CONTEST

2004 RICK OWENS, FMC Westvaco Mine, FMC Red

Team, FMC Corporation, Green River, WY

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2006 NATIONAL MINE RESCUE 

COMBINATION CHAMPION 

Barrick Goldstrike Mines, Inc.

Barrick Gold Team

Barrick Goldstrike Mines, Inc........... Elko, Nevada

 PREVIOUS NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

 COMBINATION CHAMPION 

2004 WIPP Silver Team, Waste Isolation Pilot Plant,

Washington TRU-Solutions, Carlsbad, New Mexico

2002 WIPP Silver Team, Waste Isolation Pilot Plant,

Washington TRU-Solutions, Carlsbad, New Mexico

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METAL NONMETAL MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH

NATIONAL MINE RESCUE TEAM MEMBERS

KEVIN ABEL

Thorn Hill Industrial Park

547 Keystone Drive, Suite 400

Warrendale, PA 15086

Telephone: (724) 772-2333

BRAD BRELAND

Denver Federal Center

6

th & Kipling, 2ndStreet, Bldg. 25, E-16

Denver, CO 80225-0367

Telephone: (303) 231-5469

MILES FRANDSEN

1000 Buchanan Blvd. #4

Boulder City, NV 89005-2336

Telephone: (702) 294-0931

JOSEPH R. FRITZ

377 Riverside Drive, Suite 104

Franklin, TN 37064

Telephone: (615) 790-0562

DAN GOYEN

Federal Building U.S. Courthouse

515 W. 1st Street #333

Duluth, MN 55802

Telephone: (218) 720-5448

SHANE JULIEN

2455 West Chicago Street

Rapid City, SD 57702

Telephone: (605) 348-2076

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BRAD PEAY

1100 Commerce Street, Room 202

Dallas, TX 75242

Telephone: (214) 767-8430

VICTOR PETERSON

567 W. Silver Street, #401

Elko, NV 89801

Telephone: (775) 753-4732

LARRY (DAVE) SMITH

225 Commercial Court

Sanford, NC 27330

Telephone: (919) 774-8113

ROBERT STALDER

2200 Marquette Road, Suite 110

Peru, IL 61354

Telephone: (815) 223-0697

STEPHEN H. SYKES

636 West Washington St.

Geneva, NY 14456

Telephone: (315) 789-0522

MARK WILLIAMS

901 Pine Street, Room 202

Rolla, MO 65401

Telephone: (573) 364-8282

MICHAEL DENNEHY, National Team Trainer

Denver Federal Center

6

th & Kipling

2

nd Street, Bldg., 25, E-16

Denver, CO 80225-0367

Telephone: (303) 231-5465

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JOHN RADOMSKY, Mine Rescue Coordinator

1100 Wilson Boulevard

Arlington, VA 22209

Telephone: (202) 693-9600

Fax: (202) 693-9601

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

General Rules for Conducting the Contest .......... 1

Guidelines and Procedures ....................... 6

Team Members ............................... 6

Medical Requirements.......................... 6

Equipment ................................... 7

Team Preparation (Apparatus).................... 8

Written Test.................................. 8

Judges ...................................... 9

Security .................................... 11

Contest Problem.............................. 11

Team Preparation and Procedures................ 13

Apparatus and Material Checks.................. 13

Briefing .................................... 13

Reporting to Field ............................ 14

Start of Problem.............................. 14

Equipment Checks and Procedures ............... 15

Standard Communications and Signals ............ 15

Hoist Signals ................................ 15

Team Safety ................................. 16

First Team Stop .............................. 17

Advancing .................................. 18

Barricades .................................. 19

Dates and Initials ............................. 20

Map – Timing Device ......................... 20

Mine Fires .................................. 21

Mine Rescue Discounts and Interpretations ........ 22

Surface Discount Sheet – Judge #1 ............... 22

Surface Interpretation – Judge #1 ................ 23

Underground Discount Sheet – Judge #1 .......... 24

Underground Interpretation – Judge #1............ 26

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Page

Surface Discount Sheet – Judge #2 ............... 29

Surface Interpretation – Judge #2 ................ 30

Underground Discount Sheet – Judge #2 .......... 31

Underground Interpretation – Judge #2............ 32

Surface Discount Sheet – Judge #3 ............... 35

Surface Interpretation – Judge #3 ................ 36

Underground Discount Sheet – Judge #3 .......... 37

Underground Interpretation – Judge #3............ 39

Written Examination Discount Summary Sheet ..... 41

Map Discount Summary Sheet .................. 42

Time Discount Summary Sheet.................. 43

Multi-Gas Instrument Contest ................... 44

General Rules................................ 44

Written Test................................. 45

Multi-Gas Instrument Bench Problem............. 45

Gas Box Testing ............................. 46

Judging..................................... 47

Judges’ Discount Card......................... 48

Benchman’s Contest – Draeger BG-4

Breathing Apparatus ........................... 49

General Rules................................ 49

Written Test................................. 51

Monthly Apparatus Checks/Problem Diagnosis ..... 51

Judging..................................... 52

Judges’ Working Scorecard..................... 53

Bench Person’s Blank Testing Card .............. 54

Testing Procedure ............................ 55

Procedures for Getting Under Oxygen ............ 57

Benchman’s Contest – Draeger BG-174A

Breathing Apparatus ........................... 58

General Rules................................ 58

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Page

Written Test................................. 59

Monthly Apparatus Checks/Problem Diagnosis ..... 60

Judging..................................... 61

Judges’ Working Scorecard..................... 62

Bench Person’s Blank Testing Card .............. 63

Testing Procedure ............................ 64

Procedures for Getting Under Oxygen ............ 67

Benchman’s Contest – Biomarine Biopak 

240LW/240S Breathing Apparatus................ 68

General Rules................................ 68

Written Test................................. 69

Monthly Apparatus Checks/Problem Diagnosis ..... 70

Judging..................................... 71

Judges’ Working Scorecard..................... 72

Bench Person’s Blank Testing Card .............. 73

Testing Procedures............................ 74

Procedures for Getting Under Oxygen ............ 75

National Metal and Nonmetal First Aid Contest..... 77

General Rules................................ 77

Guidelines and Procedures ..................... 77

Written Test................................. 79

Appeals .................................... 80

Discounts................................... 81

Judges’ Discount Card – Station #1............... 82

Judges’ Discount Card – Station #2............... 87

Glossary of Terms.............................. 94

Mine Map Legend............................. 102

xxi

GENERAL RULES

FOR CONDUCTING THE CONTEST

1. The con test will be comprised of four in di vid ual events,

in clud ing a Mine Rescue Team compe ti tion (two-day

pre lim i nary and one day fi nal), an ap pa ra tus bench man

con test, a multi-gas in stru ment con test, and a first aid

con test. Each event will in clude a writ ten ex ami na tion.

2. Con test of fi cials will be comprised of the Chief Judge,

Con test Di rec tor, Con test Co or di na tor, Ap peals Com mit -

tee, field judges, written exam judges, first aid con test

judges, ap pa ra tus bench judges, multi-gas in stru ment

judges, mine man ag ers, mine at ten dants, and iso la tion

of fi cials. 

 3. There will be no lim i ta tions as to the number of teams ad -

mit ted from any county, state, dis trict, com pany, or or ga -

ni za tion. There will be a $500.00 en try fee for each team

en tered. The en try fee will in clude up to 10 ban quet

tick ets. Ad di tional ban quet tick ets will be avail able for

pur chase dur ing reg is tra tion.

 4. All members of teams must be bona fide employ ees of the 

metal and non metal min ing in dus try and meet the re quire -

ments set forth in 30 CFR Part 49. 

 5. Mine res cue teams may reg is ter up to eight team members. For the pur pose of first aid, bench, and gas compe ti -

tion, a team member may not par tic i pate in more than one 

event and each team will only be per mit ted to com pete in

each event once. Ap pa ra tus and Gas Bench men shall

compete with the breath ing ap pa ra tus and multi-gas in -

stru ment that their teams will be us ing for the Field Compe ti tion. For the pur poses of iden ti fi ca tion, par tic i pants

of the Field, Gas, Bench and First Aid Con tests must be

dressed uni formly, complete with team logo. This in -

cludes the test ing pro cess. Once reg is tered, no changes

will be per mit ted with out the per mis sion of the Con test

Di rec tor.

1
En try forms may be ob tained by a writ ten re quest or by e-mail

to:

Metal and Non metal Mine Safety and Health 

 Ad min is tra tion

1100 Wil son Bou le vard

Arlington, Vir ginia 22209

Tele phone Num ber: (202) 693-9609

E-mail ad dress: Mayhugh.Chris tine@dol.gov

En try forms will also be avail able on MSHA’s

homepage un der the “Mine Res cue” head ing at

www.msha.gov. 

 En tries should then be sub mit ted to the above ad dress at

least sixty (60) days prior to the date of the con test. The

en try forms will re quire in for ma tion re gard ing the type of 

equip ment (breath ing ap pa ra tus) each team will be wear -

ing and the type and model of all gas test ing equip ment

the team will use dur ing the field compe ti tion. Any

needed equip ment changes re quire sub mis sion of a mod i -

fied list to the Con test Di rec tor for con sid er ation of ap -

proval. (Note: Each judge will be given a list of your

equip ment prior to work ing of the prob lem to as sist them

in de ter min ing if the equip ment was uti lized prop erly and

was func tional.) 

 6. Prior to the con test, con test equip ment will be ac cepted at

an ad dress and dur ing a time frame to be spec i fied. The

cost of all ship ments must be pre paid, and all boxes, car -

tons, etc. should be clearly la beled “Hold for Na tional

Mine Res cue Con test.”

 7. On the day be fore the con test be gins, team reg is tra tion

will be con ducted be tween 1:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. at a

des ig nated lo ca tion. Pro grams and ban quet tick ets will be

dis trib uted to the teams. Team equip ment shall be se cured 

in iso la tion no ear lier than 9:00 a.m. and no later than

4:00 p.m.

8. The team draw ings for the first two days’ pre limi nary

field compe ti tions will be con ducted at the time of team

reg is tra tion. A sep a rate draw ing (by team cap tains) will

be held in iso la tion to de ter mine run ning or der for the fi -

2
nal compe ti tion on the third day. Po si tion changes nec es -

sary for man age ment of the contest will be permit ted if

the Con test Di rec tor ap proves the change.

9. Team po si tions for first aid, ap pa ra tus bench and gas in -

stru ment compe ti tion will be in re verse or der from the

team’s field draw ing.

10. On the days of the com pe ti tion, all teams shall be in iso la -

tion by 6:30 a.m. No wire less commu ni ca tion de vice will 

be per mit ted in iso la tion.

11. The Con test Di rec tor will es tab lish a rea son able amount

of time for each team to complete the prob lem. All teams

will be no ti fied of the es tab lished time prior to be gin ning

to work the prob lem. Any teams work ing be yond the es -

tab lished time pe riod will be no ti fied by the #1 Judge that 

they must leave the field. Those teams will be scored

based on their dis counts to that point and will be ranked

be low all teams that completed the prob lem within the es -

tab lished time pe riod.

12. The third day fi nal ists will be posted at a lo ca tion des ig -

nated by the Con test Di rec tor fol low ing the con clu sion of

the sec ond day of com pe ti tion. 

13. In the event of mine rescue field compe ti tion ties, the un -

der ground dis count sheet will be the first tie breaker, the

sur face dis count sheet will be the sec ond tie breaker, mine 

maps will be the third tie breaker, the writ ten test will be

the fourth tie breaker, and time will be the fifth tie

breaker. Teams that qual ify for the field com pe ti tion on

the fi nal day will be re quired to complete a sec ond writ ten 

test. Those test scores will be in cor po rated into the fi nal

com pos ite score.

14. Dis counts will not be added to the team’s field score once

the judges have signed their dis count sheets. This does

not pre clude changes due to ad min is tra tive er rors or a

mis-application of a rule.

15. Af ter the score cards are checked by the score card ex amin -

ers, they will be taken to a des ig nated lo ca tion. The team

cap tain, trainer, and one other team member may ex amine 

3
their team’s scor ing cards for a time not to ex ceed 20

min utes. No pro test of the dis counts as sessed may be

given to the per son in charge of the re view, how ever, the

team cap tain and/or trainer may pro test in writ ing any dis -

count within 30 min utes af ter re view ing them. Writ ten

ap peals are not to ex ceed one page for any dis count as -

sessed and will be sub mit ted to the Ap peals Commit tee.

 Doc u men ta tion (con test rules and other doc u ments used

in the con test) sup port ing the ap peal will be ac cepted.

Any pro test(s) will be con sid ered by the Ap peals Commit tee. A dis count summary sheet will be used to list the

dis counts. All dis counts ex cept time will be listed and

to taled. Both the cap tain and the re view judge will sign

the dis count sheet to cer tify they have re viewed the dis -

counts and ver i fied the to tals. (See page 5.)

16. The Ap peals Commit tee shall rule in mat ters con cern ing

any in ter pre ta tions, pro ce dures, or any mat ter in volv ing

proper con duct of the Con test. Any com plaints filed with

the commit tee shall be in writ ing and shall set forth in ci -

dents, times, names, source of in for ma tion, and the act

complained against. Where a writ ten test ques tion or rule

ap pli ca tion was found to be wrong, all teams will re ceive

the ap pro pri ate cor rec tion. A de ci sion by a ma jor ity of the 

commit tee shall be bind ing.

17. Fol low ing the award ing of the tro phies and plaques, team

stand ings will be avail able to the teams. The re sults from

all el e ments of the con test will be distrib uted to the teams

at the con clu sion of the ban quet. The judges’ in di vid ual

dis counts will be mailed to each team.

18. All hours men tioned in the rules are based on lo cal time.

4
NATIONAL MINE RESCUE CONTEST

Team Discount Summary Sheet

Team No.:_______________________________________

Company Name:__________________________________

Team Name: _____________________________________

Judge #1 Surface: ________________________________

Underground:____________________________

 

Judge #2 Surface: ________________________________

Underground:____________________________

Judge #3 Surface: ________________________________

Underground:____________________________

Written Test:_____________________________________

Map: ___________________________________________

Working Time: Hours:____ Minutes:____ Seconds:____

Total Discounts

Excluding average time: ____________________________

I certify that I have read and reviewed all discounts listed

above.

_______________________ _____________________

Team Captain Review Judge

5
GUIDELINES AND PROCEDURES

Team Members

Each team shall be com posed of five members, one fresh

air base at ten dant and one assistant (op tional). Each member shall wear a number on the arm at or near the shoulders 

with number one (1) be ing assigned to the cap tain, the

number six (6) to the fresh air base at ten dant and seven (7)

to the assistant. Switching of numbers by team members

will not be permit ted after arriving at the portal or fresh air

base. Any means of af fix ing leg i ble numbers on the sleeve

of the uni form will be ac ceptable. Ad di tional per sons, who

had been iso lated with the team, may as sist the team plac -

ing equip ment prior to start ing the clock. Only the fresh air

base at ten dant and the assis tant will be al lowed to as sist the 

team af ter the clock has started. The fresh air base at ten dant 

and as sis tant will be isolated from vi sual contact with the

field while the teams are in the mine and will main tain

voice com mu ni ca tions with the team uti liz ing a por ta ble,

hard wire, com mu ni ca tions sys tem. The as sis tant may ad -

vise the fresh air base at ten dant and in ter act with the team

when they are at the fresh air base, how ever the assis tant

can not sub stitute for anyone. 

Teams wishing to communicate with the fresh air base

attendant shall use their portable communication system, or 

they must return to the fresh air base.

Medical Requirements

At the time of registration for the contest, a company

official must sign to verify all mine rescue team members

have completed physical examinations in the past 12

months preceding the contest and are capable of performing strenuous work under oxygen. 

6
Equipment

Breathing apparatus approved for at least two hours shall

be used in the Mine Rescue Contest problems. Each team

member must have his/her own approved breathing

apparatus. Teams cannot expect recharging materials,

apparatus parts, and accessories for all types of apparatus at 

the contest site. 

Bugs used in Bench competitions must be consistent with

all makes and models.

Team members must wear an approved protective hat,

identification tag, safety shoes, permissible cap lamps,

self-rescuer, and be clean shaven to the extent that a good

face-to-facepiece seal is achieved.

Each team must have approved gas instruments, or testers

for rescue and recovery work. 

Teams are required to bring with them a sufficient supply

of materials. Brattice, boards, PVC piping, or other

materials necessary for constructing bulkheads or stoppings 

(if necessary in problem) will be furnished by the field

committee. Teams will be responsible for collecting the

material from the source of supply. 

When teams report to the fresh air base to begin the

problem and are given information indicating that

explosive gas(es) is/are or may be present in the mine, they

must have non-sparking tools while they are working the

problem so as not to endanger themselves. If teams do not

have non-sparking tools, they must ask the official in

charge at the fresh air base to provide them with such tools

before they go underground.

If the mine is not classified as gassy and the teams go

underground to work the problem and encounter an

explosive gas and they do not have non-sparking tools,

they must return to the fresh air base immediately and ask

the official in charge to provide them with such tools. 

7
Team Preparation (Apparatus)

Team members must make necessary checks of all

apparatus for proper working condition and airtightness

prior to going underground. Cylinder pressures must be

within specifications of approval. Apparatus tests must

comply with prescribed tests for that particular type of

apparatus.

An approved 2-hour, 3-hour or 4-hour oxygen breathing

apparatus must be used on the survivor(s) or other rescued

personnel when respiratory protection is needed. One-hour

self-rescuers are not to be used for the evacuation or rescue 

of survivors.

Written Test

Written tests for the mine rescue field competition will be

administered to the six competing participants at the same

time, unless authorized otherwise by the Contest Director.

The questions for the written test will be taken from

material contained in MSHA Instruction Guide Series, IG 6 

– Instructor’s Manual for Mine Rescue Training –

Metal/Nonmetal. The training modules in IG 6 are as

follows: Module 2 – Mine Gases; Module 3 – Ventilation;

Module 4 – Exploration; Module 5 – Fire, Firefighting, and 

Explosions; Module 6 – Rescue of Survivors and Recovery

of Bodies; and Module 7 – Mine Recovery.

This Instruction Guide (IG 6) is available at the following 

address:

U.S. De part ment of La bor

Na tional Mine Health and Safety Acad emy

ATTENTION: Print ing and Training Ma te rials Dis tri bu tion

1301 Air port Road

Bea ver, WV 25813-9426

Telephone: (304) 256-3257

Fax: (304) 256-3368

E-mail: MSHADistributionCenter@dol.gov

8
The written test of thirty-five (35) questions will include

at least ten (10) questions on mine gases from IG 6

(Module 2 – Mine Gases) for each team member. The

questions shall consist of true/false and multiple choice

questions.

All tests will be scored by two qualified judges using a

Scantron test scoring machine. The contestants will be

assessed one discount point for each incorrect or

unanswered question. Any alterations to the test questions

or answers will be determined to be incorrect by the test

judge and discounts assessed.

In special circumstances, individual team members may

be given oral instead of written tests by one or more judges. 

Requests for consideration shall be presented to the Contest

Director at the time of registration. All other team members 

will take the test at the same time. In any case, the judges

will not explain the meaning of questions, but may explain

a word or words in the questions.

Judges

All judges will be persons trained in mine rescue

procedures; trained in the assembly, use, and care of the

different types of breathing apparatus, etc., and will not be

connected with any of the teams, teams’ employers, or

companies who manufacture apparatus or gas detecting

devices. Exceptions to personnel assigned for judging any

phase of the contest requires the approval of the Contest

Director.

Competing teams deserve the full attention of the judges

and only those personnel judging the specific teams are

allowed on the field. While the team is in the mine,

judges must not ask questions, answer questions, or

interfere with the team. Only personnel approved by the

Contest Director will be permitted on the field. Media

access and videos for future training aids will be allowed

with the Contest Director’s approval. 

9
Only persons trained in the assembly, use, and care of the

different types of mine rescue equipment and trained in

mine rescue procedures will be used as judges.

A minimum of two (2) persons will judge the gas

instrument test, apparatus bench test, first aid test, and

written test. A minimum of three (3) persons shall judge the

team during the entire working of the field problem.

During preparation, judges are to observe the captain and

other team members as to their knowledge and proper

operation of the self-contained breathing apparatus, gas

detecting devices, other respiratory protection equipment to 

be used, and firefighting equipment, etc.

The mine manager will be stationed, and must remain, at

the fresh air base when the teams are working the problem.

The actions of each mine rescue team will be evaluated by 

three or more designated judges. Only the Contest Director, 

Chief Judge, or their designee may discuss discrepancies or 

discounts on the field. When discussions are held on the

field, that interrupt the working of the problem, the time

should be stopped and restarted after the discussion is over. 

A Mine Safety and Health Administration employee will be 

the #1 Judge. All judges must have current Mine Rescue

Judge’s Training and have been briefed on the particular

problem and possible solutions.

The judges will mark and explain on their scorecards the

discounts for work performed by each team member. In the 

event that more than one discount applies, the highest

discount will be assessed for a violation. There will be no

stacking of discounts. Judges must sign their scorecard

after the discounts have been recorded. Scorecards will be

marked promptly and delivered to scorecard examiners as

soon as possible after completion of the problem.

10
Security

Each team must be under guard before the start of the

contest, in a location assigned by the Chief Judge, and must 

remain continuously under guard until time to work the

problem. Any team receiving information concerning a

contest problem will be disqualified. No person except

guards and contest officials authorized to do so, will be

allowed to communicate with any team or teams under

guard. Teams that have performed will not be permitted to

communicate with any teams awaiting their turn to

perform.

Contest Problem

The problem will be limited to working on one level. It

may include hoists or shafts. Skip pockets and sumps

(either above or below) will be considered part of the

working level. Raises or boreholes may be in the problem;

however, climbing will not be required.

Teams may have to change existing ventilation, pump

water, or move falls to rescue persons and/or explore if it

can be done safely. Changing ventilation shall not be done

until the official in charge has been informed. Ventilation

changes will be considered as starting, stopping, altering,

or redirecting the air current. If existing check curtains are

to be used to direct ventilation, the check curtain must first

be converted into a temporary stopping. Regulating airflow 

to control a fire is not considered a ventilation change.

All areas that have been cleared of smoke and toxic or

dangerous gases that the teams elect to travel through must

be rechecked prior to the team’s reentering. Upon re-entry

into these areas where the ventilation has been changed,

teams shall make gas tests at all openings along the route

they travel.

When smoke or gas is encountered in an opening, it will

be considered to extend to a placard indicating the smoke

11
or gas is cleared, or to a separation intended, or indicated to 

be air tight.

 If water is being pumped, ventilation changed, falls

moved, loose rock barred down, etc.; teams must wait until

placards have been changed by the ground committee. If

placards have not been changed after 15 seconds, teams

must assume that their actions were not successful.

Inaccessible areas only need to be explored when there

are miners unaccounted for or if an explosive air/gas

mixture will be moved through the unexplored areas.

Teams may be required to pump water or set timbers to

explore inaccessible areas. If this is necessary, appropriate

materials will be provided in the problem.

Only judges, contest officials, escorted photographers,

and news media approved by the Contest Director or Chief

Judge will be permitted in the working areas.

Insofar as possible, materials rather than placards will be

used in the mine. Bodies with identification will be

designated by the use of dummies. When placards

indicating conditions are used, they will be placed face up,

and the letters shall not be less than one (1) inch in height,

and easily visible.

Additionally, when these placards are used to identify

mining machinery or equipment, a description of the

current condition of the equipment and/or a photocopy of a

picture of such machinery or equipment shall be on the

placard, when possible, to aid teams in identifying it.

Terms used in the problem shall be terms which appear in 

the Rule Book Glossary, the MSHA Mine Rescue Training

Modules, or CFR 30, Part 57.

When raises, winzes or boreholes are in the problem, the

card identifying them will indicate whether they go up

and/or down from the level.

12
TEAM PREPARATION AND PROCEDURES

Apparatus and Material Checks

Before reporting to the contest field, each team member

must check his/her own apparatus to see if it is charged

properly and in good working condition. These checks

must be within the manufacturer’s specified limits and the

regenerator fully charged with chemicals. Apparatus

tightness, valves, warning devices, and face pieces are to be 

checked according to approved methods for the particular

apparatus. The extra breathing apparatus must also be

tested accordingly. 

Other materials such as roof testing devices, stretchers,

hammers, blankets, fire extinguishers, and gas detectors

must be checked to see that they are in good operating

condition. If horns are to be used for signaling between

team members, they should be checked. A portable

communication system, utilizing insulated wire strong

enough to give and receive manual signals, must be used by

all teams. Wheeled stretchers will be allowed.

Briefing

When all members of the team have their apparatus fully

assembled and ready to wear, the captain should assemble

the team and report to the Briefing Station Official when

directed by the guard. The team will be briefed on field

conditions either by a video or a briefing paper. The

briefing should contain all pertinent information, including

the following conditions: classification of the mine;

frequency of explosive gas being found; accuracy of the

mine map; possibility of the mine being cut into another

mine; condition of the fan; have guards been posted;

electric power cut off from the mine or affected parts of the 

mine; recovery work that has been accomplished;

notification of the local, state, and federal agencies; reserve 

rescue teams, equipment, and materials that are available.

13
Any final adjustments to the equipment and necessary

talks between team members can be completed prior to

reporting to the field judge. 

Reporting to Field

On reporting to the field, the captain should have the team

line up at the place indicated by the person in charge. The

captain introduces his team and remarks “We are here to

offer our help. I have a fully equipped, properly trained,

and physically fit mine rescue team and we are ready to do

anything that you may require in the rescue and recovery

work at your mine.” The official in charge will reply that

they do require the service of mine rescue teams, and that if 

they are ready, they can be of immediate service.

Start of Problem

When the necessary introductions have been made, the

team captain will indicate that they are ready for the

problem and map. No work will be done until the clock is

started. The captain will start the timing device and date the 

board (month, day, year, and team position number) before

receiving the problem and the map. After the clock is

started, only the five working team members, fresh air base 

attendant, and assistant will be permitted to do the work at

the fresh air base. MSHA’s field attendants will feed out

and reel in the communication wire.

The fresh air base attendant will receive the problem and

map at the same time. From this point on, the team

members should discuss the conditions presented by the

problem and the map. On the map, solid lines will denote

actual workings. Although locations may not be totally

accurate within the six (6) foot map requirement, solid lines 

will represent known conditions. Dotted lines will denote

projections and may or may not be accurate. These

conditions should be studied carefully so that proper

procedures may be decided in advance.

14
Equipment Checks and Procedures

No testing of equipment is required at the fresh air base.

Testing of equipment used by the team will be performed

while the team is in isolation before reporting to the field.

This testing will not be judged, however, if any defects

occur while working the problem, discounts will be

assessed. Random checks of equipment to insure reliability

may be made upon completion of the problem. 

Standard Communications and Signals

A portable communication system, utilizing hard wire,

will be used to inform the fresh air base of all conditions

encountered. External speakers are not permitted at the

location of the fresh air base attendant while working the

problem. In the event of a communication failure, the team

will be required to return to the fresh air base to repair or

replace the system. 

The following standard horn blasts or other audible

signals between team members will be used: 

 1 blast on the horn will mean for the team to “stop” if in

motion

 2 blasts on the horn will mean “advance”

 3 blasts on the horn will mean “retreat”

 4 blasts on the horn will mean “distress”

Hoist Signals

The following signals will be used for the National

Contest. The conveyance shall not be moved without a

command signal. When persons are to be hoisted or

lowered, they must enter the conveyance and close the

door; then give the signal for the desired level followed by

either “Hoist Persons” (3-1 bells) or “Lower Persons” (3-2

bells).

9 Bells: Emergency - then ring mine level signal where

emergency exists.

15
MINE LEVEL SIGNALS

Surface Shaft Collar - 1-2 Bells

500 Feet First Level - 2-1 Bells

HOIST SIGNAL

 1 Bell - STOP

 2 Bells - Lower Conveyance

 3 Bells - Raise Conveyance

 3-1 Bells - Hoist Persons

3-2 Bells - Lower Persons

 3-3-1 Bells - Hoist Slowly with Caution

3-3-2 Bells - Lower Slowly with Caution

1-2-1 Bells - Hoist Muck or Materials Only

2-1-2 Bells - Release Conveyance

Team Safety

Team members must follow established procedures, per

the MSHA National Contest Rules Book for the type of

equipment used, when getting under oxygen.

The team captain must now check each member’s

apparatus. A team member must make the same checks on

the captain’s apparatus. The judges will observe the

operation and adjustment of the apparatus.

The captain should see that the team line is properly

stretched out and that the team members are holding or are

attached to the team line.

If a team encounters smoke, an apparatus check or

personnel check is required before entering smoke. In

smoke, all team members must have hold of, or be fastened 

to, a lifeline.

The captain must now have the team count off either

orally or visually by the raising of hands.

The captain must give the signal to advance. The stretcher 

bearers should pick up the stretchers, and the rear captain

16
shall relay the signal to the fresh air base. When the signal

is returned, the team may now advance into the mine.

Entrances to all mine openings shall be examined while

under oxygen. In air clear of smoke, these checks may be

made without a lifeline, provided the entire team does not

go into the entrance. This examination should not cover

more than twenty-five (25) feet.

For Contest purposes, a placard denoting “clear air” will

mean that the atmosphere is free of smoke and all

dangerous and/or harmful concentrations of flammable,

combustible, noxious, and/or toxic contaminants.

Teams shall never travel through water over knee deep.

Checking for loose ground (loose roof or rib) is done

visually by the team captain as the team advances. The

captain must verbally indicate that he is checking for loose

ground at every location required. The team captain must

orally warn the team each time loose ground conditions are

encountered. A similar warning must be given upon retreat.

First Team Stop

After advancing into the mine not more than fifty (50)

feet from the cage or portal, the captain shall give a signal

for the team to stop. The co-captain may take no more than

two steps forward after the signal before stopping. The

captain now checks the members and their apparatus to see

if they are in good condition and a team member checks the 

captain and his/her apparatus. (This check must not be

made on the cage.) The procedure shall be followed at not

more than twenty (20) minute intervals while the team is

working the problem. Additionally, apparatus removed in

order to enter a confined area or apparatus that has

sustained possible damage from impact must be checked

before continuing.

If all the apparatus are operating properly and the

members are in good condition, the team can now continue

into the mine.

17
The cage door must be closed and the signal to release

conveyance to a standby mode must be sent after the cage

has been unloaded.

Advancing

When stops are made at the openings of crosscuts,

intersections, or drifts turned off the drift that is being

traveled, separate gas tests must be made across each entry

within 25 feet of each opening to the place turned off the

entry. No place, which intersects entry direction, should be

passed without first checking the condition of that place.

Examination of any intersection or entry shall not exceed 25 

feet from the rear captain. This means the captain can

extend out into openings and take gas readings within the

limits of the team line.

In case of entries turned from the entry being traveled, it is 

a matter of choice which entry is to be followed and many

things must be taken into consideration in making the

choice. However, the openings of all places must be

checked before that place is passed. A team will be

considered to have passed an opening or intersection when

the number 5 member is past the opening.

While advancing, if a team encounters an impassable fall

or other condition that prevents the members from

following the normal course of travel into an area, they may 

break a stopping and enter that area. If it becomes necessary 

to break a stopping, the team shall erect a temporary

stopping or stoppings that would have the same effect on

the area that the original stopping would have provided.

Doors shall not be opened without prior knowledge of the

effects of the mine ventilation system, unless a temporary

stopping has been erected. Regulators shall not be opened

without prior knowledge of the effects of the mine

ventilation system, unless a temporary regulator has been

erected.

18
Where crosscuts are blocked, no team member may

advance more than three (3) feet beyond the second (2nd)

intersection before tying across and/or behind into all

unexplored areas that intersect. The second intersection

will be determined by two crosscuts on either side of the

entry being traveled. The first intersection will be the

blocked intersection. However, a team will be permitted to

tie across to adjacent drifts to tie in behind.

Barricades

If a barricade is found, the team will take action to protect 

the barricaded persons as indicated by the conditions found 

outside the barricade. For the purposes of contest work, no

barricade will be entered without ventilating in front of the

barricade if: Oxygen (O2) is below 17.0%; or Carbon

Monoxide (CO) exceeds 1200 PPM (0.12%); or Hydrogen

Sulfide (H2S) exceeds 100 PPM (0.01%); or Nitrogen

Dioxide (NO2) exceeds 20 PPM (0.002%); or Sulfur

Dioxide (SO2) exceeds 100 PPM (0.01%); or Carbon

Dioxide (CO2) exceeds 4.0%. In the event that gases other

than these are encountered or indicated by the problem, the

team must ask for stain tubes or testing devices for these

gases if they don’t have them.

If conditions behind the barricade are unknown, the

barricade cannot be opened unless the team erects a

reasonably airtight temporary stopping. The space between

the barricade and the temporary stopping should be as little

as feasible; however, it should be large enough for the team

to enter. When entering the barricaded area, the opening in

the barricade should be kept to a minimum, the roof in the

area shall be tested, and gas tests made.

If survivors are found, they shall be given proper

respiratory protection. If more than one (1) survivor is

behind the barricade and proper protection cannot be

provided for all of them, the team in retreating should keep

the openings in the barricade and temporary stopping to a

19
minimum so that as little irrespirable air will get into the

barricaded area as possible. If the area beyond the last

survivor can be explored without advancing the survivor,

this should be done before retreating with the survivor.

When all the survivors have been removed from the

barricaded area, the enclosure may be opened as wide as

necessary for easy exit. Survivors must be secured to the

stretcher and covered with a blanket unless first aid

procedures indicate other treatment is proper. If a person is

found behind a barricade or in a refuge chamber and the

area is not entered, the team may advance beyond the

chamber for exploration. However, if survivor(s) can be

safely evacuated without changing conditions, they shall be 

evacuated before any further exploration is done.

Dates and Initials

The date and the captain’s initials must be marked at the

point of farthest advance of the team in any direction such

as at stoppings, faces of rooms and drifts, water over knee

deep, impassable falls, barricades, fires out of control, and

at the location of any survivors or bodies. The captain must 

verbally indicate to the judges each time he simulates

marking his initials and date.

Map - Timing Device

The map person and fresh air base attendant must use the

standardized map legend provided in the Metal and

Nonmetal Mine Rescue Contest Rules Book or write

everything out. The exact information on placards must be

recorded on both maps. Teams will be expected to

accurately map all required items on the maps maintained

by the team and the fresh air base attendant.

Once the team has entered the mine, they will not be

allowed to physically compare the team map with the fresh

air base map. That is, no changes can be made to either

map while the team is at the fresh air base or out of the

20
mine. When the team has explored all accessible areas,

accounted for all miners and completed all required work,

they should return to the fresh air base and count off. At

that time, the captain should present both maps to the

person in charge of the mine and stop the timing device. 

The marked maps must show: the condition of all faces,

stoppings and doors; the location of all placards or

materials; the location of fires and barricades; and the

location of dead bodies and survivors (including

identification). Temporary stoppings that are erected shall

also be shown as well as the location of any gas found or

indicated by placards. The maps must show all locations

dated and initialed by the team captain. If a team fails to

explore the entire mine, the furthest point of advance shall

be indicated on the maps by a line drawn across the entry

with the appropriate mine map legend symbol.

Mine Fires

When a mine rescue team encounters a noncombatible

fire, indicated by “intense heat” or “fire out of control,” the 

team shall, without undue delay, seal the fire or regulate the

fire, so as to restrict the air flow to the fire and prevent its

further advance. Regulating airflow to control a fire is not

considered a ventilation change. The team must then,

without undue delay, find all other approaches to the fire

and seal or regulate them. This does not preclude

systematic exploration of the area. Whether to use

regulators to control the fire or to entirely seal the fire must 

be decided by the team. The team must inform the official

in charge prior to making any ventilation changes. This

decision will take into consideration the safety of the team

and any survivor(s), the classification of the mine

(gassy/nongassy), the presence of any explosive gases, the

possible effects of any ventilation change(s), and other

pertinent data. A regulated fire, left unsealed, has the

potential to emit contaminants into the mine atmosphere.

21
MINE RESCUE DISCOUNTS AND INTERPRETATIONS

Surface Discount Sheet

Judge #1

Time: Hours: ___ Minutes: ___ Seconds: ___ Discounts

1. Apparatus improperly assembled,

each apparatus 10 x ___ = ____

2. Apparatus improperly adjusted to the 

wearer, each infraction 1 x = ____

3. Failure to follow prescribed procedures 

for going under oxygen, each person 3 x = ____

4. Apparatus part or parts worn or deteriorated so as to be dangerous to wearer,

each person 8 x = ____

5. Failure of captain to examine each 

apparatus and have captain’s examined 

before entering the mine, each apparatus 

each infraction 2 x = ____

6. Team member not wearing identification, protective clothing, including safety

shoes, hard hat, permissible cap lamp, 

self-rescuer, each infraction 2 x = ____

7. Failure of team captain to mark date 

and team position number on the check 

board at mine portal or fresh air base, 

or start timing device, each omission 4 x = ____

8. Failure to be clean shaven in areas that

affect a good face-to-facepiece seal, 

each infraction 10 x ___ = ____

9. No work will be done prior to starting

the clock 4 (total) ____

 Total Discounts ______

Judge’s Signature

22
MINE RESCUE DISCOUNTS AND INTERPRETATIONS

Surface Interpretation

Judge #1

1. Ap pa ra tus not meet ing man u fac turer’s life crit i cal spec i -

fi ca tions dur ing use. This discount will be ap plied if the

team cap tain or team member does not cor rect it be fore

the team goes un der ground. 

2. Shoul der straps, chest straps, etc., that are twisted or not

fas tened. (Sep a rate dis count for each strap.) This dis -

count will be ap plied if the team cap tain or team member does not correct it when the team goes un der

ox y gen.

3. This will de pend on type of ap pa ra tus used; the proper

pro ce dure will be out lined in the ap pa ra tus sec tion.

Once the team has en tered the course, no fur ther penal -

ties can be as sessed by the judges for items 1, 2, 3.

4. Holes in the breath ing tubes or straps worn to the ex tent

that they break dur ing work ing of the prob lem while

still at the fresh air base, should not be dis counted if

they are replaced prior to starting work in the mine.

5. The cap tain must ex amine the ap pa ra tus of team members and have a team member examine the cap tain’s ap -

pa ra tus before en tering the mine. The per son mak ing the 

check must ob tain as sur ance from per son be ing checked 

that he/she is all right (ask ing if per son is okay will suf -

fice).

6. Self ex plan a tory

7. Cap tain must mark date and team po si tion number on

check board af ter clock is started, and the cap tain must

stop the clock af ter the map is turned in.

8. Self-explanatory

9. Self-explanatory

23
MINE RESCUE DISCOUNTS AND INTERPRETATIONS

Underground Discount Sheet

Judge #1 Discounts 

1. Breathing ex ternal air while work ing 

problem, each team member, each

in frac tion 10 x = ____

2. Team not follow ing proper pro ce dure

in case of ap pa ra tus fail ure, each

in frac tion 10 x = ____

3. Fail ure to use posted hoist ing sig nals,

each in frac tion 1 x = ____

4. Fail ure to close shaft station gate 5 x ___ = ____

5. a. Fail ure of the cap tain to in di cate to

the team he/she has rec og nized bad

ground.

b. Fail ure of the cap tain to verbally 

in di cate he/she is checking the back 

or roof;

1. at in ter sec tions, shaft sta tions, 

rooms, faces, and mine open ings;

2. at all points of far thest ad vance;

3. be fore build ing or erecting any

struc ture;

4. upon pass ing through any bar ri cade,

stop ping, bulk head, air lock; door; 

check cur tain, or simi lar bar rier;

5. at the lo ca tion of fire or in tense heat.

c. Any team member per forming work or

mov ing into any part of an area dur ing

a team stop be fore the cap tain has 

vi su allychecked the ground con di -

tions in that part, each in frac tion 5 x = ____

6. Fail ure of the cap tain to mark the date 

and his/her ini tials at the point of far thest

ad vance of the team in any di rec tion such 

as at stoppings, faces of rooms and drifts,

wa ter over knee deep, im pass able falls,

24
Discounts

bar ri cades, fires out of con trol, and at

the lo ca tion of any live per sons or 

bod ies, each omis sion (max i mum

 10 dis counts) 2 x = ____

 (10 max.) 

 7. Fail ure of team to stop within 50 feet 

of the fresh air base or at the shaft 

sta tion to per form per son nel and 

ap pa ra tus checks, upon their first en try

into the mine 4 (to tal) ____

 8. Team member(s) not mak ing ap pa ra tus

check af ter re mov ing ap pa ra tus to traverse re stricted clear ance or af ter 

ap pa ra tus has sus tained pos si ble 

dam age from impact (to tal team

dis counts, each in ci dent) 4 x = ____

 9. Cap tain or other team member do ing 

any thing to en dan ger him self/her self 

or other team members, 15 points each 

team member so en dan gered, each

in frac tion, each oc cur rence 15 x = ____

10. Fail ure of team to ex plore or ex amine

work ings sys tem at i cally and thor oughly, each omis sion 4 x ___ = ____

11. Teams must be checked im me di ately 

be fore en ter ing smoke 5 x = ____

12. Fail ure to lo cate, seal, or ex tin guish

fire, if possi ble, with out un due de lay 50 x ___ = ____

13. Ap pa ra tus ex am i na tion ex ceed ing 5 x = ____

20-minute in ter vals. 

Total Discounts ______

Judge’s Signature

25
MINE RESCUE DISCOUNTS AND INTERPRETATIONS

Underground Interpretation

Judge #1

1. Work ing all or part of prob lem with out a facepiece or

work ing with in ha la tion hose dis con nected.

2. Proper pro ce dure would de pend on type of ap pa ra tus;

however, team must pro ceed to fresh air base imme di ately.

3. Hoist shaft signals will be posted at shaft sta tions and

will be used to no tify the hoistman of in tended move -

ment and cage re lease.

4. Self ex plan a tory.

5. a. Must so in di cate be fore any other team member

passes the plac ard. This ap plies each time such a

plac ard is reached; when re treat ing the rear cap tain

must do this.

b. 1. Must be so in di cated be fore phys i cally en ter ing

the area.

2. In cludes check ing in front of any phys i cal bar rier

to ad vance ment.

3. In clud ing erect ing or breach ing stoppings,

bar ri cades, cur tains, etc.

4. Must be so in di cated be fore phys i cally pass ing

through.

5. Must be so in di cated imme di ately upon reach ing

the plac ard in di cating fire or in tense heat.

c. This means the cap tain’s phys i cal pres ence is

nec es sary be fore any part of an area can be

considered as having been examined.

6. Such places only need be marked once and also must be

indicated on both maps. Date means month, day, and year.

7. This check must be made:

a. at the first stop, with all team members past the portal

or off the cage (this does not apply to checking mine

entrances prior to working the problem);

b. before the captain exceeds 50 feet from portal or

shaft, and before the team leaves the shaft station.

26
8. This ap pa ra tus check must be made as soon as all team

members have passed through the re stricted area and be -

fore any other work is done. Ad di tion ally, this ap pa ra tus 

check must be made imme di ately af ter any ap pa ra tus

has sustained a blow which might cause damage to it.

9. Examples of endangerment include, but are not limited to:

a. 15 points will be assessed for each team member

who:

1. travels under bad roof or ground;

2. travels into water over knee deep;

3. travels over or under an open ore pass or ore

pocket into which they could fall or be injured by

falling objects;

4. advances past a sign indicating intense heat or fire

out of control;

5. fails to take body substance isolation (BSI)

precautions before physically contacting a patient

b. The entire team will be considered endangered and 75

points assessed for:

1. failure to check a shaft for possible damage, or the

presence of fire or flooding, prior to traveling

through it. For contest purposes, this check may be

done by placing combustible materials on the cage

and having the cage lowered to the level to be

explored, then raising it to the collar;

2. not having non-sparking tools in a gassy mine or

when explosive gases are found in a non-gassy

mine;

3. changing conditions of the mine ventilation

system in such a manner that an explosive mixture is moved over an ignition source. Changing

conditions of the mine ventilation system in such a

manner that an explosive mixture is moved over

an unexplored area. If a team explores all sides of

an overcast or undercast, both ends of a ventilation

shaft, or the top and bottom of shafts when the

shaft cannot be traveled, the in-between areas are

considered explored for ventilation purposes.

27
4. continuing exploration after conditions are found

to indicate an imminent explosion is possible by

the presence of an explosive mixture and the

evidence of fire (smoke or carbon monoxide) and

the location of the fire is unknown. A team must

continue to explore if it knows there is a

continuous nonexplosive separation between the

explosive mixture and the evidence of fire.

5. Utilizing electric or battery-powered equipment in

explosive air/gas atmosphere. Ignition sources

would include any communication device, unless

designated as sound-powered or intrinsically safe.

10. This will be as sessed for not ex plor ing all areas of the

mine that can be ex plored with out en dan ger ing team, if

prob lem re quires en tire mine to be ex plored. All ac cessi ble ar eas must be tied across and be hind be fore ad -

vanc ing. Where crosscuts are blocked, no team member 

may ad vance more than 3 feet be yond the sec ond in tersection be fore ty ing across and/or behind into all un ex -

plored ar eas that in tersect. This may re quire build ing an 

air lock or re turn ing to the fresh air base and ex plor ing

into other drifts at the dis cre tion of the team and accord ing to con di tions of the mine. Shafts must be

checked for pos si ble damage, water, or fire, and must

be trav eled to be con sid ered ex plored. All shafts must

be trav eled, if pos si ble, be fore pro ceed ing more than

three feet be yond the 2nd in ter sec tion.

11. Per son nel checks, not nec es sar ily an ap pa ra tus check.

The per son mak ing the check must ob tain as sur ance

from per son be ing checked that he/she is all right (ask -

ing if per son is all right will suffice).

12. Seal ing or fight ing a fire does not re lieve the team of

the re spon si bil ity of sys tem atic ex plo ra tion.

 13. Self ex plan a tory.

28
MINE RESCUE DISCOUNTS AND INTERPRETATIONS

Surface Discount Sheet

Judge #2 Discounts 

1. Failure to take necessary permissible 

equipment and gas detecting devices

to work the problem, each omission 4 x = ____

2. Gas detectors, testers, and/or indicators

failing to function properly and not 

corrected before entering the mine,

each infraction 4 x = ____

3. Testers or detectors improperly 

assembled or defective parts used 8 (total) ____

4. Physically comparing team map with

fresh air base map, once the team has

entered the mine. 100 (total) ____

5. Failure of the team to complete the

problem within the established time

limit. 100 (total) ____

 Total Discounts ______

Judge’s Signature

29
MINE RESCUE DISCOUNTS AND INTERPRETATIONS

Surface Interpretation

Judge #2

1. Fail ure to take nec es sary per mis si ble equip ment or test -

ing de vices un der ground, discount should be as sessed

even if teams re turn to fresh air base to pick up nec es -

sary equip ment.

2. Faulty or in ad e quate equip ment must be re paired or re -

placed. (This in cludes in stru ments used beyond their de -

signed limits or range.)

3. If any ques tions ex ist, the equip ment should be checked

by the judges af ter the comple tion of the prob lem in the

pres ence of the team cap tain.

4. Teams may place ref er ence or other in for ma tion on both 

maps before pro ceed ing into the mine. Once any member of a team en ters the mine, no phys i cal compar i son of 

maps is per mit ted.

5. Teams are re quired to complete the prob lem within the

es tab lished time limit: ex plore all acces si ble areas of the 

mine; ex tin guish or seal all fires; lo cate all miss ing min -

ers; and bring all sur vi vors to the sur face.

30
MINE RESCUE DISCOUNTS AND INTERPRETATIONS

Underground Discount Sheet

Judge #2 Discounts 

1. Failure to make necessary gas tests 

where required, each gas, each omission 1 x = ____

2. Improper procedure when testing with 

gas detectors, each gas, each infraction 1 x = ____

3. Intentional causing of a test instrument

to inflate faster than tests indicate that it 

should, each infraction 1 x = ____

4. Traveling at more than a normal 

walking speed 8 (total) ____

5. Team member talking to an unauthorized person without permission 

of the judges or supervisors, each 

infraction 5 x = ____

6. Failure to erect temporary barricade, 

stopping or regulator when necessary, 

each infraction 10 x = ____

7. Failure to erect temporary barricade, 

seal, or stopping reasonably airtight, 

each infraction 2 x = ____

8. Less than 5 members entering, working 

or completing problem, each person 8 x = ____

9. Failure to make necessary ventilation

changes or changing ventilation or 

electric power before the effects of 

such changes are known, each 

infraction 15 x = ____

 Total Discounts ______

Judge’s Signature

31
MINE RESCUE DISCOUNTS AND INTERPRETATIONS

Underground Interpretation

Judge #2

1. Tests for gases must be made at face ar eas, stoppings,

doors, reg u la tors, bar ri cades and other ar eas where con -

di tions are un known. When stops are made at the open -

ings of cross cuts, in tersections, or drifts turned off the

drift that is being traveled, sep a rate gas tests must be

made across each en try within 25 feet of the rear captain’s po si tion. No place shall be passed with out first

check ing the con di tion of that place. That is, if a room is 

turned from the en try, that room shall be checked be fore 

ex amin ing the en try be yond the open ing. This does not

nec es sar ily hold true in cases of entries. In cases of entries turned from the en try being traveled, it is a mat ter

of choice which en try is to be followed and many things 

must be taken into con sid er ation in mak ing the choice.

However, all places must be checked be fore that place is 

passed. A team will be consid ered to have passed an

open ing or in tersection when the No. 5 member is past

the open ing. All areas that have been cleared of smoke

and toxic or dan ger ous gases that the teams elect to

travel through must be re checked prior to the team’s re -

en tering. Upon re-entry into these ar eas where the ven tila tion has been changed, teams shall make gas tests at

all open ings along the route they travel. 

2. This will de pend on type of in stru ment used. Improper

pro ce dure when testing in cludes the lo ca tion of the in -

stru ment when test ing or us ing a gas de tection de vice

be yond its limits or range. For ex ample, a meth ane detector must be held over head when test ing be cause

meth ane (CH4) is light and will be found in high places

near the back or roof. Ni tro gen di ox ide (NO2) is rel a -

tively heavy and will be found in greater con cen trations

along the floor and in low places. There fore, this test

32
must be made with the tester be low the waist. Car bon

mon oxide (CO) is slightly lighter than air so this test

must be made at chest height.

3. Self-explanatory.

4. Teams trav el ing ob vi ously faster than a nor mal walk (a

ma jor ity of judges must con cur on this) shall be discounted.

5. Do not hes i tate to as sess this discount; how ever, ex plain 

and name un au tho rized per son on discount card and

state in structions given, if known.

6. Stoppings, doors, reg u la tors, and bar ri cades re quire con -

struction of tempo rary stoppings by a team be fore a

team may make open ings in the pre-existing stoppings,

doors, etc. Doors shall not be opened with out prior

knowl edge of the ef fects of the mine ven tila tion system, 

un less a tempo rary stop ping has been erected. Reg u la -

tors shall not be opened with out prior knowl edge of the

ef fects of the mine ven ti la tion sys tem, un less a tem porary reg u la tor has been erected. This does not ap ply to

ex isting check or drop curtains used to di rect the air cur -

rent. When re treat ing out of a bar ri cade or coming back

through a stop ping where an air lock has been erected, it 

will not be neces sary to air lock on the way out, if this

will not change any ex isting ven tila tion.

7. Dur ing a ven tila tion change, a curtain that di rects air -

flow is re quired to be up graded to a tempo rary bar ri -

cade, seal, or stop ping and must be fas tened at top and

sides.

8. This does not ap ply to check ing mine en trances prior to

work ing the prob lem.

9. Teams must in form the offi cial in charge be fore chang -

ing the ven tila tion or elec tric power, and such things as

ex plo sive gases and the safety of trapped min ers and

res cue per son nel must be con sid ered. Teams do not

have to exit the mine to change power or ven tila tion.

Teams can in form the fresh air base at ten dant by ap33
proved com mu ni ca tion de vices avail able, and the fresh

air base at ten dant must in form the offi cial in charge be -

fore chang ing ven tila tion or elec tric power. In forming

the offi cial in charge of the fresh air base does not relieve the team of the re spon si bil ity of their de ci sion.

34
MINE RESCUE DISCOUNTS AND INTERPRETATIONS

Surface Discount Sheet

Judge #3 Discounts 

1. Failure to connect phone when 

applicable before entering the mine 2 (total) ____

2. Failure to take a functioning wire 

communication system into the mine 75 (total) ____

3. Failure of team to “count off” before 

entering or leaving the mine 2 x = ____

4. Failure to secure extra apparatus to 

stretcher, each omission 4 x = ____

 Total Discounts _____

Judge’s Signature

35
MINE RESCUE DISCOUNTS AND INTERPRETATIONS

Surface Interpretation

Judge #3

1. Self-explanatory.

2. Res cue teams are re quired to uti lize a por ta ble mine res -

cue com mu ni ca tion sys tem ap proved un der 30 CFR Part

23 or 2 sound pow ered commu ni ca tion systems. The

wire for this sys tem shall be strong enough to be used as

a man ual com mu ni ca tion sys tem. This would ap ply only

if all team members were in the mine.

3. This can be done at any time af ter the clock is started,

but must be done prior to team en tering the mine. It

does not have to be done prior to check ing por tals.

Hand or au di ble count ing off is acceptable. It is not nec -

es sary to count off upon re en try or leav ing mine; how -

ever, the team is also required to count off when

com plet ing prob lem.

4. Ex tra ap pa ra tus must be se cured to stretcher to prevent

it from fall ing off.

36
MINE RESCUE DISCOUNTS AND INTERPRETATIONS

Underground Discount Sheet

Judge #3 Discounts 

1. Failure to properly secure survivor to

stretcher; failure to cover survivor with

blanket (unless first aid procedures 

indicate otherwise); or placing survivor 

on stretcher in such a way as to foul 

proper operation of apparatus, each

omission 4 x = ____

2. Survivor care:

a. Failure to adequately examine and 

assess each person found in the 

mine for possible injury or illness,

each infraction 4 x = ____

b. Failure to properly treat any 

injury or illness which is, or should 

have been, revealed by the examination, each infraction 4 x = ____

3. Intentionally detaching/severing 

lifeline 5 (total) ____

4. Failure to bring live person to surface 

or fresh air base by the end of the

problem, each omission 50 x = ____

5. Failure to locate bodies and/or live 

persons, each omission 50 x = ____

6. Failure to follow proper procedure 

when putting apparatus on survivor, 

each infraction 5 x = ____

7. Assistance given by supposedly 

unconscious person, each infraction 5 x = ____

8. Transporting survivor in unexplored

territory, leaving survivor unattended, 

and moving survivor in any direction 

except toward the fresh air base, 

each infraction 6 x = ____

37
 9. The team per forming an act that may 

re sult in the death or in jury of survi vor(s).

Some ex amples of this would be:

 a. En tering a bar ri cade with toxic gases

out side.

 b. Di recting toxic gases over sur vi vor(s)

through a change in ven tila tion

 c. In the case of mul tiple sur vi vors,

leav ing the higher pri or ity patient

and tak ing a less in jured pa tient out,

each in frac tion

 d. Im properly pro tect ing sur vi vor(s)

 from toxic gases 50 x = ____

10. Fail ure to no tify the fresh air base

 when an air/gas mix ture has reached

 its ex plo sive range. 10 x = ____

11. All team members must be connected 

 or have hold of the life line when the

 team is trav el ing or when in smoke. 

 When stopped, in clear air, at least

 one per son must have hold of the life 

 line. If tag lines are used be tween 

 team members and the team line, 

 they shall be no lon ger than 3 feet 

 in length. 2 x = ____

 Total Discounts _____

Judge’s Signature

38
MINE RESCUE DISCOUNTS AND INTERPRETATIONS

Underground Interpretation

Judge #3

1. Sur vi vor shall be se cured to stretcher by at least two

ban dages or straps, one around trunk of body and one

around legs, cov ered with blan ket, and placed so as not

to crimp air hoses. (Hands of un con scious per son must

be se cured.)

2. This will be based on the Brady First Re sponder, Sev -

enth Edi tion, Chap ters: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11, and

IG 6, Mod ule 6, Rescue of Sur vi vors and Re cov ery of

Bodies. (This book may be or dered from the Na tional

Mine Health and Safety Acad emy. See page 8.) A team

must deal with a vic tim(s), if there is ei ther vi sual or

ver bal con tact, if the res cue can be done with out vio lating pro ce dures. Visual con tact requires the cap tain’s

pres ence in the area. Ver bal con tact is any voice com -

mu ni ca tion from the vic tim that can rea son ably be ex -

pected to be heard by the team.

3. Self-explanatory.

4. Self-explanatory.

5. Self-explanatory.

6. Among other things, us ing an aux iliary self-contained

breath ing ap pa ra tus or self-rescuer on a live per son in -

stead of an ap proved 2-hour, 3-hour, or 4-hour

self-contained breath ing ap pa ra tus is a failure to prop -

erly pro tect that sur vi vor.

7. Ap plies to per son sit ting up un as sisted or mov ing arms

so as to help in putting on ap pa ra tus. (Only ap plies if

per son is member of the team and not an MSHA employee.)

39
 8. If a per son is found be hind a bar ri cade or in a ref uge

cham ber in a con tami nated area, and the bar ri cade or

ref uge chamber is not en tered, the team may ad vance.

 9. An act which does not en dan ger the team, but may injure or re sult in the death of a sur vi vor.

10. Fail ure to no tify the fresh air base when an air/gas mixture, which reached its ex plo sive range, has been en -

coun tered.

11. The No. 5 member may move from side to side to give

cap tain more area when team is con nected by life line in 

smoke or by tele phone line as long as he/she does not

pull or give line. All team members must hold or be attached to the life line at all times while trav el ing. If

taglines are used be tween team members and the team

line, they shall be no lon ger than 3 feet in length. 

40
NATIONAL MINE RESCUE CONTEST

Written Examination Discount Summary Sheet

Company Name: _______________________________ 

Team Name: ___________________________________ 

Draw Number: _________________________________ 

Discounts 

For each incorrect answer for each person

(1 discount)

 No. 1 person 1 x ____ = _____

 No. 2 person 1 x ____ = _____

 No. 3 person 1 x ____ = _____

 No. 4 person 1 x ____ = _____

 No. 5 person 1 x ____ = _____

 No. 6 person (substitute) 1 x ____ = _____

 Total Discounts ______ 

Judge’s Signature

41
NATIONAL MINE RESCUE CONTEST

Map Discount Summary Sheet

Company Name: _________________________________

Team Name: ____________________________________

Draw Number:___________________________________

1. Failure to record information on map 1 x ____ = ____

2. Not recording information accurately

on map (within 6 feet of actual location 

measured from the center point of the

object), each infraction 1 x ____ = ____

____________________________ Total Discounts ______

Map Examiner’s Signature

42
NATIONAL MINE RESCUE CONTEST

Time Discount Summary Sheet

Company Name: _______________________________

Team Name: __________________________________

Draw Number: ________________________________

Total Time

Total time will be rounded off to the next

highest minute. (Total average time will also

be rounded off to the next highest minute.) ________

Discounts

For each minute over average time. 1⁄2 x =_____

__________________________ Total Discounts ______

Timekeeper’s Signature

43
MULTI-GAS INSTRUMENT CONTEST

GENERAL RULES

1. One gas man will be al lowed for each team en tered in

the Mine Res cue Con test.

2. Reg is tra tion will be made with the team reg is tra tion.

3. Con testants will compete in reverse or der from the

team's field draw ing or der.

4. The Multi-Gas Instrument Con test will be held at a time

and place des ig nated by the Contest Di rec tor. All writ -

ten test ing will be conducted in iso la tion. Contes tants

will remain in isola tion until they fin ish the bench com -

pe ti tion or they will be disqualified.

5. Each con testant will be pro vided with a multi-gas in stru -

ment, along with spare sen sors, bat ter ies, cal i bra tion

gas, tub ing, reg u la tors, cal i bra tion hoods and the tools

nec es sary to com plete the prob lem.

The correct gases and all nec es sary tools and equip ment 

to com plete the problem will be avail able at the work -

station. Only those tools and equip ment pro vided will

be used by con testants to work the prob lem.

6. To tal dis counts of the written, bench, and gas testing

will de ter mine the win ner. In the event of a tie, the writ -

ten test score will de ter mine the win ner. The to tal time

used for the bench and gas test ing will be the second tie -

breaker.

7. At a pre-des ig nated time af ter the writ ten test, the test

judge will con duct a five-min ute re view of test an swers.

8. When un planned de fi cien cies are en coun tered in the in -

strument, the judges will notify the contes tants that the

de fi ciency is not part of the prob lem. The judge will

stop the clock and cor rect the de fi ciency as needed. If

the de fi cien cies are caused by the contes tant the clock

will not be stopped.

44
9. There will be a to tal of six tro phies awarded for the

Multi-gas In stru ment Con test. 

WRITTEN TEST

1. The writ ten test will be given while the contes tants are

in isola tion and will con sist of twenty-five (25) mul ti ple 

choice and true/false ques tions. The ques tions will be

taken from:

a. MSHA pub li ca tion IG 6, Mod ule 2, Mine Gases

b. MSHA pub li ca tion IG 6, Module 3, Mine Venti la tion

c. MSHA Na tional Mine Res cue Con test Rules related 

to mine gases

d. Re spec tive in stru ment man u fac turer’s op er a tions

manual

Con testants will be as sessed one (1) dis count point for

each in cor rect or un an swered ques tion. Any al ter ations

to the test ques tions or an swers will be determined to be 

in cor rect by the test judge and discounts as sessed.

2. Scor ing of the test will be com pleted by at least two

qual i fied judges.

MULTI-GAS INSTRUMENT BENCH PROBLEM

1. The instrument(s) given to the contestants will have

multiple bugs or problems consisting of any of the

following:

a. Missing sensors

b. Failed sensors

c. Mis-calibrated sensors

d. Dead or incorrect batteries

e. Incorrect alarm points

f. Missing parts

2. Each contes tant will be ex pected to eval u ate the in stru -

ment, fix all of the de fi cien cies, prop erly cal i brate the

in stru ment, check for proper ac tion level alarm set

points, and then use the in stru ment to mea sure the con -

cen tra tions of O2, CH4, CO and NO2.

45
3. Con testants may re turn to cor rect any un cor rected de fi -

cien cies at any time within the time limit.

4. Five (5) dis count points per alarm point will be as sessed 

for any in cor rectly set alarms.

5. Five (5) dis count points will be assessed for each in -

stance of in cor rect pro ce dure or equip ment use dur ing

cal i bra tion.

6. Fif teen (15) dis count points will be assessed for each in -

cor rect gas reading.

7. No dis counts will be as sessed for replacing nonde fi cient sen sors, as long as the re sulting gas read ings

and alarm points are cor rect.

8. Each con testant shall have a max i mum of thirty (30) min -

utes to complete the bench por tion and gas-test ing por tion 

of the con test. There will be a five (5) min ute warn ing

given by the judge when time is about to ex pire.

9. For comple tion, the con testant must have the in stru ment 

fully assembled and op er at ing and have completed all

four gas read ings within the al lowed time.

GAS BOX TESTING

1. The gas test ing will con sist of sub jecting the in stru ment to an 

un known mix ture of O2, CH4, CO and NO2. The con tes tant

will be ex pected to re port all 4-gas con cen trations within accept able lim its in the fol lowing order: O2, CH4, CO, NO2.

2. Fif teen (15) dis count points per gas will be de ducted if a

con testant does not re port gas con cen trations within accept able lim its:

a. Oxygen readings are considered to be correct if

within plus or minus 0.5% by volume;

b. Methane readings are considered to be correct if

within plus or minus 0.2% by volume;

c. Carbon Monoxide readings are considered to be

correct if within plus or minus 20% of the actual

value present; and

d. Nitrogen Dioxide readings are considered to be correct

if within plus or minus 2 ppm of the actual value present.

46
JUDGING

1. All judges must suc cess fully complete a train ing course

as prescribed by the Con test Direc tor per the in stru ment

they are go ing to judge.

2. Judges must stand clear of con testants.

3. Prior to each con testant, judges shall in sure that the next

con tes tant’s in stru ment con tains only the de fi cien cies as 

per the planned prob lem.

4. Af ter each contes tant, judges will eval u ate that con tes -

tant’s in stru ment and con firm scor ing and as sess ad di -

tional dis counts as nec es sary. Gas con cen tra tions will

be ver i fied by the gas test judge using a sep a rate in stru -

ment.

5. When un planned de fi cien cies are en coun tered, judges

shall stop the clock, in struct the contes tant to turn

his/her back to the bench area, at which time the judge

will correct the un planned de fi cien cies. Judges shall in -

struct the con testant that upon turn ing back to face the

bench, the clock will start. If the de fi cien cies are caused

by the con testant the clock will not be stopped.

6. Af ter comple tion of the bench prob lem and gas test ing,

there will be a five min ute re view, at which time the

judges will dis cuss dis counts. Af ter the re view, both

judge and con testant will sign the judge’s score card in

the spaces pro vided. All ap peals must be in writ ing and

sub mitted within 30 min utes of the five-min ute re view.

7. The multi-gas in stru ment con test ap peals com mit tee rul -

ing will be fi nal.

47
METAL AND NONMETAL

MULTI-GAS INSTRUMENT CONTEST

JUDGES’ DISCOUNT CARD

Company Name: _______________________________________

Team Name ___________________________________________

Draw Number: _________________________________________

Contestant: _________________ Instrument Model ___________

Serial # ___________________

Time: _____________________ Written Test Discounts: ______

Bench Problem

 Alarm Points

Sensor Reqd. Set Comments Discounts

O2 Low 19.5 ______

High 23.5 ______

Procedure ____________ ______

CH4 Low 1.0 ______

High 1.5 ______

Procedure ____________ ______

CO Low 50 ______

High 100 ______

Procedure ____________ ______

NO2 Low 3.0 ______

High 5.0 ______

Procedure ____________ ______

Gas Testing 

Actual Minimum Maximum Observed by

Gas Reading Acceptable Acceptable Contestant Discounts

O2 ______

CH4 ______

CO ______

NO2 ______

Judges Signature_______________ Total discounts ____

Contestant’s Signature ________________________

48
BENCHMAN’S CONTEST

DRAEGER BG-4 BREATHING APPARATUS

GENERAL RULES

 1. One bench man will be al lowed for each team en tered in 

the Mine Res cue Con test.

 2. Reg is tra tion will be made with the team reg is tra tion.

 3. Con testants will compete in reverse or der from the

team's field draw ing or der.

 4. The Bench man’s Con test will be held at des ig nated

lo ca tions and times over a two-day pe riod in

con junc tion with the pre lim i nary Mine Res cue Field

Compe titions. The teams not work ing the mine res cue

prob lem will compete in the Bench man’s Con test. All

49
writ ten test ing will be conducted at the same time.

Contes tants will re main in isola tion until they fin ish the 

bench compe tition or they will be disqual i fied. The

lo ca tion of the compe tition will be noted. The Con test

Di rec tor may waive this pro vi sion, if war ranted by

ex ten u at ing cir cum stances.

 5. The bench con testants will be pro vided with one fully

as sembled BG-4, an RZ-25 tester, defogging so lu tion,

leak de tec tor fluid, and all parts nec es sary to com plete

the prob lem(s). Only tools, ap pa ra tus, and test ing

equip ment pro vided by the judge will be used by

con testants to work the prob lem. Bugs used in the

com pe ti tion will be consis tent with all mod els of the

ap pa ra tus.

 6. To tal dis counts of the written and monthly ap pa ra tus

checks/prob lem di ag no sis will de ter mine the win ner. In 

the event of a tie, to tal time will be the first tie breaker.

The writ ten test will be the sec ond tie breaker. Third

tie breaker will be the time to find the first de fi ciency.

 7. At the comple tion of the Monthly Ap pa ra tus Checks/

Prob lem Di ag no sis, there will be a five-min ute re view,

at which time the judge will dis cuss the discounts

in cluding the writ ten test. After the re view, both the

judge and con testant will sign the judge’s score card.

All ap peals must be in writ ing and sub mitted within one 

hour of the five-min ute re view.

 8. The Bench Contest Di rec tor’s rul ing will be fi nal.

 9. When un planned de fi cien cies are en coun tered in the

ap pa ra tus, the judges will no tify the con testants that the 

de fi ciency is not part of the prob lem. The con testant

will turn his/her back while the judge stops the clock

and cor rects the de fi ciency. If the de fi cien cies are

caused by the con testant, the clock will not be stopped.

10. One trophy will be awarded for each three contestants 

en tered in the Bench man’s Con test.

50
WRITTEN TEST

 1. The written test will be given while the contestants are

in isolation and will consist of twenty five true/false,

multiple choice questions. The questions will be taken

from Draeger’s BG-4 Service Manual, Revision 4. The

contestants will be assessed one discount point for each 

incorrect or unanswered question. Any alterations to the 

test questions or answers will be determined to be

incorrect by the test judge and discounts assessed.

 2. Scoring of the test will be completed by at least two

 qualified judges.

MONTHLY APPARATUS CHECKS/PROBLEM

DIAGNOSIS

 1. Monthly checks must be per formed in order from the

low pres sure alarm test for ward and re corded. If and

when de fi cien cies are en coun tered, con tes tants must

call out to the judge and prop erly correct and re cord

any and all de fi cien cies. Vi su als can be per formed at

any time dur ing the 30-min ute time limit.

 2. Con tes tants may re turn to cor rect any uncor rected

de fi cien cies within the time limit.

 3. If con testants per form checks out of or der, there will be 

a one-time discount of five (5) points as sessed.

 4. Con testant will be al lowed to move for ward, in or der,

in the event a de fi ciency is de tected but not lo cated.

Once de fi ciency is cor rected, con tes tant must re turn to

the point of defi ciency and re peat all test steps in proper 

or der.

 5. If checks are per formed in cor rectly, checks will be

dis counted as not per formed. For ex am ple: ex ha la tion

test per formed with the dial on the RZ tester set on

pos i tive.

 6. Thirty (30) min utes will be al lowed to com plete all

checks, re cord and cor rect any and all de fi cien cies, and

be ready to wear. There will be a five (5) min ute warning 

given by the judge when time is about to ex pire.

51
 7. Fif teen (15) dis counts will be as sessed for each

 de fi ciency not found.

 8. Five (5) dis counts will be as sessed for each de fi ciency

 not corrected.

 9. Five (5) dis counts will be as sessed for each monthly 

 check not performed.

10. Sucking or blowing on valves with one’s mouth while

 making checks is prohibited. There will be a ten (10)

 point discount assessed for each infraction.

11. For completion, the contestant must have the apparatus

 fully assembled with hoses connected to the face piece,

 attached to the apparatus and draped over the cover, and

 all seams must be properly aligned. If the contestant

 does not leave the apparatus in “ready-for-use”

 condition, a five (5) point discount will be assessed.

12. If the problem is not completed in the specified time, an

 additional ten (10) discounts will be assessed. 

JUDGING

1. All judges must suc cess fully complete a Bench train ing

course as pre scribed by the Contest Di rec tor per the ap -

pa ra tus they are go ing to judge.

2. Judges must stand clear of the con testants.

3. Prior to and be tween each con testant, the judges shall

per form monthly ap pa ra tus checks and cor rect any and

all un planned de fi cien cies.

4. When un planned de fi cien cies are en coun tered, judges

shall stop the clock, in struct con testants to turn his/her

back to the bench area, at which time the judge will cor -

rect the de fi cien cies. Judges shall in struct contes tants

that upon turn ing back to face the ap pa ra tus, the clock

will start. If the de fi cien cies are caused by the contes -

tant, the clock will not be stopped.

52
BENCH MAN’S CON TEST - DRAEGER BG-4

Judges’ Working Score card

Ap pa ra tus Se rial # Team No. ________________

 Test Date Bench Per son _____________

Vi sual In spec tion Com pany ________________

 Low Pres sure Alarm

(Neg a tive Pres sure Warn ing)

In ha la tion Valve

Ex ha la tion Valve

 Drain Valve

Pos i tive Pres sure Leak

 Re lief Valve

Con stant Me ter ing (Dos age)

Min i mum Valve

 By pass Valve

Re sid ual Warn ing

 Bat tery Check

 Test OK (ini tials)

Re place ment Parts

 Ready for Use

Judge _________________________

Judge _________________________

53

Time to Com plete Problem

Min ______ Sec ______

Summary of Dis counts

Written test ques tions in cor rect:

1 dis count x = 

Monthly check not performed:

5 dis counts x = 

Monthly checks out of order:

5 dis counts (to tal) 

De fi ciency (bug) not found:

15 dis counts x = ______

De fi ciency (bug) not cor rected:

5 dis counts x = 

Sucking/Blowing Valves:

10 dis counts x = 

Ap pa ra tus not “Ready for Use”:

5 dis counts (to tal) 

Prob lem not completed in

Spec i fied Time:

10 dis counts (to tal) _______

 To tal Dis counts 

Time

0 Bug _________

1st Bug _________

2nd Bug _________

3rd Bug _________

4th Bug _________

5th Bug _________
BENCH MAN’S CON TEST - DRAEGER BG-4

Bench Per son’s Blank Testing Card

 TEST PROCEDURES Team No. ________________

 Test Date Bench Per son _____________

Vi sual In spec tion Com pany ________________

 Low Pres sure Alarm

In ha la tion Valve

Ex ha la tion Valve

 Drain Valve

Pos i tive Pres sure Leak

 Re lief Valve

 High Pres sure Leak Test

Con stant Me ter ing (Dos age)

Min i mum Valve

 By pass Valve Judge’s Sig na ture

Re sid ual Warn ing

 Bat tery Check

 Test OK (ini tials) Bench Per son’s Sig na ture

 Ready for Use

54

Prob lems Found Cor rected 

0 Bug _________

1st Bug _________

2nd Bug _________

3rd Bug _________

4th Bug _________

5th Bug _________
TESTING PROCEDURE

DRAEGER BG-4 BREATHING APPARATUS

TESTER

STEP SETTING PROCEDURE HINTS

1. Vi sual In spec tion Check for good 

con di tion.

2. In sert O Cyl in der Fully Charged.

3. In sert Can is ter Fac tory Sealed or 

Re us able.

4. Facepiece and Hoses Check for good 

con di tion.

5. Low pres sure Pos. Pres. Watch pres sure gauge,

warn ing Pump ing ac ti va tion should

sound at 1.25 and/or 

 1.4 mbar.

6. In ha la tion Valve Pos. Pres. Pinch ex ha la tion hose –

Pump ing 10 mbar in di cated on

 gauge.

7. Ex ha la tion Valve Neg. Pres. Pinch in ha la tion hose – 

Pump ing 10 mbar in di cated on

 gauge.

8. Drain Valve Pos. Pres. Pump un til 10 mbar is

Pump ing in di cated on gauge.

Fit seal ing cap over 

tap pet of re lief valve as

 bag in flated.

Drain valve must not

open at 10 mb.

9. Leak Test Leak Test Re duce Pres. to 7 mbar 

pres sure should not

change by more than 

1 mbar in 1 min ute.

10.Re lief Valve Pos. Pres. Pump un til re lief valve

Pump ing opens.

Open ing pres sure, should

lie be tween 2 & 5 mbar.

55
(Al ter nate Re lief Valve Test, can be per formed af ter Step 13.)

TESTER

STEP SETTING PROCEDURE HINTS

11.Con stant Me ter ing Pos. Pres. In flate breath ing bag.

Valve Pump ing

Fit seal ing cap over 

tap pet of re lief valve.

Dos age Con stant me ter ing 

.05-2 L/min dos age should lie

be tween 1.5 and

 1.9 L/min.

12.Min i mum Valve Neg. Pres. Pump slowly un til minPump ing imum valve is open ing.

Min i mum Valve should

open be tween 0.1 and

 2.5 mbar.

13.By pass Valve Leak Test Press red but ton.

Breath ing bag in flates.

(Al ter nate Re lief Valve Test) Ob serve Read ing on Rz,

re lief valve should open

be tween 2 and 5 mbar.

14. Low Close cyl in der valve.

Pres sure Warn ing sounds at 700

Warn ing psi.

15. Bat tery If Fail ing:

Check Alarm sounds 5 Times.

Red in di ca tor flashes

 for 30 sec.

Bat is dis played.

56
PROCEDURES FOR GETTING UNDER OXYGEN

DRAEGER BG-4 BREATHING APPARATUS

Procedures for getting under oxygen:

1. Prior to don ning the ap pa ra tus, make sure a filled cyl in -

der, a fresh soda lime pack, and an ice block for the

breath ing air cooler are in stalled. Don the ap pa ra tus and 

ad just the har ness and belt.

2. Don the facepiece by spread ing the head har ness with

hands; put chin into chin sup port and pull har ness over

the head. Tighten the chin straps first, then the temple

straps, and then the top head strap. The facepiece must

be suf fi ciently tight on the face to prevent leak age of the 

breath ing air which could shorten the du ra tion of the

apparatus.

3. Open cyl in der valve fully.

4. Check the dig i tal pres sure gauge to see that a suf fi cient

ox y gen sup ply re mains. The green LED light should be

dis played. Press the by-pass valve to check the by-pass

valve op er a tion.

5. Check the facepiece tight ness by tightly clos ing both

breath ing hoses and in hal ing. The facepiece should collapse against the face, in di cat ing there are no leaks.

6. Each team member and ap pa ra tus should be re checked

by the team cap tain. The team cap tain and appa ra tus

should be re checked by a team member.

Items to be checked prior to going underground and at

20 minute intervals:

1. Vi su ally check ap pa ra tus.

2. Check pres sure gauge.

3. Ques tion member as to member’s ability to con tinue.

57
BENCHMAN’S CONTEST

DRAEGER BG-174A BREATHING APPARATUS

GENERAL RULES

 1. One bench man will be al lowed for each team en tered in

the Mine Res cue Con test.

 2. Reg is tra tion will be made with the team reg is tra tion.

3. Contestants will compete in reverse order from the

team's field draw ing or der.

 4. The Bench man’s Con test will be held at des ig nated locations and times over a two-day pe riod in con junc tion

with the pre lim i nary Mine Res cue Field Com pe ti tions.

The teams not work ing the mine res cue prob lem will

com pete in the Bench man’s Con test. All writ ten test ing

will be conducted at the same time. Con tes tants will re -

main in isola tion until they fin ish the bench com pe ti tion

or they will be disqual i fied. The lo ca tion of the compe tition will be noted. The Con test Di rec tor may waive this

pro vi sion, if war ranted by ex ten u at ing cir cum stances.

 5. The bench con testants will be pro vided with one fully

as sembled BG-174A, an RZ-25 tester, defogging so lu -

tion, leak de tec tor fluid, and all parts nec es sary to com -

plete the prob lem(s). Only tools, ap pa ra tus, and test ing

equip ment pro vided by the judge will be used by con -

testants to work the prob lem.

58
 6. To tal dis counts of the written and monthly ap pa ra tus

checks/prob lem di ag no sis will de ter mine the win ner. In 

the event of a tie, to tal time will be the first tie breaker.

The writ ten test will be the sec ond tie breaker. Third tie 

breaker will be the time to find the first de fi ciency.

 7. At the comple tion of the Monthly Ap pa ra tus Checks/

Prob lem Di ag no sis, there will be a five-min ute re view,

at which time the judge will dis cuss the discounts in -

cluding the writ ten test. After the re view, both the

judge and con testant will sign the judge’s score card.

All ap peals must be in writ ing and sub mitted within one 

hour of the five-min ute re view

 8. The Bench Con test Di rec tor’s rul ing will be fi nal.

 9. When un planned de fi cien cies are en coun tered in the

ap pa ra tus, the con testants will be no tified by the judges

that the defi ciency is not part of the prob lem. The con -

testant will turn his/her back while the judge stops the

clock and cor rects the de fi ciency. If the de fi cien cies are 

caused by the con testant, the clock will not be stopped.

10. One trophy will be awarded for each three contestants

en tered in the Bench man’s Con test.

WRITTEN TEST

 1. The writ ten test will be given while the contes tants are

in isola tion and will con sist of twenty-five true/false,

mul tiple choice ques tions. The ques tions will be taken

from Draeger’s BG-174A Test, Main te nance, and Trou -

ble shoot ing Man ual, Re vi sion O. The con tes tants will

be assessed one dis count point for each in cor rect or un -

an swered ques tion. Any al terations to the test ques tions

or an swers will be determined to be in cor rect by the test 

judge and dis counts as sessed.

 2. Scor ing of the test will be com pleted by at least two

qual i fied judges.

59
MONTHLY APPARATUS CHECKS/

PROBLEM DIAGNOSIS

 1. Monthly checks must be performed in order from the

ex ha la tion valve test for ward and recorded. If and when 

de fi cien cies are en coun tered, con tes tants must call out

to the judge and prop erly cor rect and re cord any and all 

de fi cien cies. High and me dium pres sure leak checks

must be per formed while the ox y gen is in the on po si -

tion (af ter the pre-flush test); vi su als can be per formed

at any time dur ing the 30-minute time limit.

 2. Hoses must be connected to the RZ-25 tester and the

breath ing ap pa ra tus prior to any repair work, other than

vi sual ex am i na tion.

 3. Contestants may return to correct any uncorrected

de fi cien cies within the time limit. The monthly ap pa ra -

tus checks will be those found on page 62 of this book -

let titled "Judge's Work ing Score card for the Draeger

BG-174A."

 4. If contestants perform checks out of order, there wil

be a one-time discount of five (5) points as sessed.

 5. If checks are performed incorrectly, checks will be

dis counted as not per formed. For ex am ple: ex ha la tion

test per formed with the dial on the RZ tester set on

pos i tive.

 6. Thirty (30) minutes will be allowed to complete all

checks, re cord and cor rect any and all de fi cien cies, and

be ready to wear. There will be a five (5) min ute warning given by the judge when time is about to ex pire.

 7. Fifteen (15) discounts will be assessed for each

de fi ciency not found.

 8. Five (5) discounts will be assessed for each

de fi ciency not cor rected.

 9. Five (5) discounts will be assessed for each monthly

check not performed.

60
10. Sucking or blowing on valves with one’s mouth

while mak ing checks is pro hib ited. There will be a ten

(10) point dis count as sessed for each in frac tion.

11. For completion, the contestant must have the apparatus

fully as sem bled with hoses at tached to face piece and

con nected to the ap pa ra tus and draped over the cover

(ready to wear). If the con tes tant does not leave the appa ra tus in “ready-for-use” con di tion, a five (5) point

dis count will be assessed.

12. If the prob lem is not completed in the spec i fied time,

 an ad di tional ten (10) dis counts will be as sessed.

JUDGING

 1. All judges must successfully complete a Bench training

course as pre scribed by the Contest Di rec tor per the ap -

pa ra tus they are go ing to judge.

 2. Judges must stand clear of the contestants.

 3. Prior to and between each contestant, the judges shall

per form monthly ap pa ra tus checks and cor rect any and

all un planned de fi cien cies.

 4. When unplanned deficiencies are encountered, judges

shall stop the clock, in struct con testants to turn his/her

back to the bench area, at which time the judge will

cor rect the de fi cien cies. Judges shall in struct contes -

tants that upon turn ing back to face the ap pa ra tus, the

clock will start. If the de fi cien cies are caused by the

con testant, the clock will not be stopped.

61
BENCH MAN’S CON TEST - DRAEGER BG-174A

Judges’ Working Score card

Ap pa ra tus Se rial # Team No. ________________

Test Date Bench Per son _____________

Vi sual In spec tion Com pany ________________

Cyl in der Pres sure

Can is ter/Re gen er a tive, 

Re fill able filled Fact. Sealed?

Exp.?

Facepiece and Hoses

Ex ha la tion Valve

In ha la tion Valve

Re lief Valve

(opens +10 to +40 mm)

Pos. Pres sure Leak Test

Neg. Pres sure Leak Test

Preflush

Gauge Equal iza tion

Breath ing Bag Vol ume Test

Lung Demand Valve

By-pass

Dos age test (1.4 to 1.7 mbar)

Whis tle Ac ti va tion

Whis tle Du ra tion 

(20 to 60 sec onds)

Pres. Gauge Shut off

High & Med. Pres. Leaks

Test OK (ini tials)

Re place ment Parts

Ready for Use

Judge ___________________________

Judge ___________________________

62

Time

0 Bug _________

1st Bug _________

2nd Bug _________

3rd Bug _________

4th Bug _________

5th Bug _________

Time to Com plete Problem

Min ______ Sec ______

Summary of Dis counts

Written test ques tions in cor rect:

1 dis count x = 

Monthly check not performed:

5 dis counts x = 

Monthly checks out of order:

5 dis counts (to tal) 

De fi ciency (bug) not found:

15 dis counts x = ______

De fi ciency (bug) not cor rected:

5 dis counts x = 

Sucking/Blowing Valves:

10 dis counts x = 

Ap pa ra tus not “Ready for Use”:

5 dis counts (to tal) 

Prob lem not completed in

Spec i fied Time:

10 dis counts (to tal) _______

 To tal Dis counts 
BENCH MAN’S CON TEST - DRAEGER BG-174A

Bench Person’s Blank Testing Card

 TEST PROCEDURES# Team No. ________________

Test Date Bench Per son _____________

Vi sual In spec tion Com pany ________________

Cyl in der Pres sure

Can is ter/Re gen er a tive, 

Facepiece and Hoses

Ex ha la tion Valve

In ha la tion Valve

Re lief Valve

Pos. Pres sure Leak Test Time to Com plete Prob lem

Neg. Pres sure Leak Test Min _______ Sec _______

Preflush

Gauge Equal iza tion Summary of Dis counts:

Breath ing Bag Vol ume Test

Lung Demand Valve

By-pass Judge’s Sig na ture

Dos age test (1.4 to 1.7 mbar)

Whis tle Ac ti va tion

Whis tle Du ra tion Bench Per son’s Sig na ture

(20 to 60 sec onds)

Pres. Gage Shut off

High & Med. Pres. Leaks

Test OK (ini tials)

Re place ment Parts

63

Prob lems Found Cor rected 

0 Bug _________

1st Bug _________

2nd Bug _________

3rd Bug _________

4th Bug _________

5th Bug _________
TESTING PROCEDURE

DRAEGER BG-174A BREATHING APPARATUS

TESTER

STEP SETTING PROCEDURE HINTS

1. Vi sual In spec tion Check for good 

con di tion.

2. In sert O2 Cyl in der Fully charged

3. In sert Regen. Fac tory-sealed for res cue/ 

Can is ter re fill able for train ing.

4. Facepiece and Hoses Check for good 

con di tion.

5. Ex ha la tion Valve Zero Cap off ex ha la tion hose.

Ad just Con nect in ha la tion hose

to ex ha la tion valve.

Neg. Pres. Bag should not be gin to

Pump ing de flate af ter 5 sec onds

6. In ha la tion Valve Con nect in ha la tion hose

to in ha la tion valve 

(sa liva trap should be

ver ti cal).

Pos. Pres. Bag should not be gin to

Pump ing in flate af ter 5 sec onds.

7. Re lief Valve Con nect ex ha la tion hose

to ex ha la tion valve.

Pos. Pres. Fill bag. Re lief valve

Pump ing should open be tween

+10 and +40 mm H2O

(+1 and +4 mbar).

(Al ter nate Re lief Valve Test, can be per formed af ter Step 10.) 

8. Pos. Pres. Leak Plug re lief valve and

 whis tle.

Pos. Pres. Pump up to +100 mm

Pump ing H2O (+10 mbar).

Leak Test Bleed needle down to +70

mm H2O (+7 mbar).

Start stop watch, ob serve

me ter for 60 sec onds.

Should not drop more than

10 mm H2O (1 mbar).

64
TESTER

STEP SETTING PROCEDURE HINTS

9. Neg. Pres. Leak Re move plug from re lief

 valve only.

Neg. Pres. Pump down to -100 mm

Pump ing H2O (-10 mbar).

Leak Test Bleed needle up to -70 mm

 H2O (-7 mbar).

Start stop watch, ob serve

me ter for 60 sec onds.

Should not drop more

than 10 mm H2O 

 (1 mbar).

10.Preflush/Pres sure Re move plug from

Gauge whis tle.

Equal iza tion

Neg. Pres. Open O2 cyl in der valve.

Pump ing Bag should com pletely

 in flate.

Com pare gauge read ings.

Neg. Pres.

Pump ing 

and Leak 

Test

(Al ter nate Re lief Valve Test) Open cyl in der valve.

Re lief valve should open

be tween +10 and +40 

 mm H2O (+1 and +4

 mbar).

11.Lung De mand Neg. Pres. Pump and count strokes.

Valve/Breath ing Pump ing Should be at least 10

Bag Vol ume strokes be fore de mand

valve opens. Valve

should open be tween

-10 and -40 mm H2O 

(-1 and -4 mbar).

65
TESTER

STEP SETTING PROCEDURE HINTS

12.By-pass/Con stant Red Dos age Plug re lief valve vent.

Dos age Test (0.5 to Press by-pass valve un til

2 LPM) nee dle reads 1.7 LPM

on out side red scale.

Nee dle should set tle 

be tween 1.4 and 1.7

LPM (at sea level).

13.Whis tle Re move plug from re lief

Ac ti va tion valve vent.

Close O2 cyl in der valve.

Ob serve chest gauge.

Whis tle should sound at

20 to 25 per cent of full

cyl in der pres sure.

14.Whis tle Du ra tion/ Neg. Pres. Lift pres sure gauge

Pres sure Gauge Pump ing shut off le ver.

Shut off Open O2 cyl in der valve.

Start stop watch. Whis tle

 should sound for 20 to

 60 sec onds.

Chest pres sure gauge

should read zero.

Re turn shut off valve to

down po si tion.

15.High and Me dium Cyl in der valve still open.

Pres sure Leak Check for leaks.

Shut off valve af ter test.

66
PROCEDURES FOR GETTING UNDER OXYGEN

DRAEGER BG-174A BREATHING APPARATUS

Procedures for Getting Under Oxygen:

1. Open cyl in der valve fully.

2. Don the facepiece by pressing the chin against the chin

sup port; pull the facepiece up into po si tion; then, pull

the har ness over the head. Tighten the neck straps.

Tighten the temple straps next.

3. Tighten the top straps last. It is essen tial that the

facepiece fit well. A badly fit ting facepiece not only en -

dan gers the wearer by the possi ble in ward leak age of

con tami nated air, but also short ens the pe riod of use of

the ap pa ra tus by al low ing the escape of ox y gen from the 

closed circuit.

4. Check the facepiece tight ness by tightly clos ing both

breath ing tubes and in hal ing. The facepiece should collapse against the face, in di cat ing no leaks. Main tain the

tubes closed and ex hale slowly and forc ibly into the

facepiece. Sig nif i cant pres sure should build up in the

mask be fore leak ing be tween the facepiece and the face

in di cat ing a good facepiece seal.

5. Check the pres sure gauge to see that a suf fi cient ox y gen 

sup ply re mains. Press by-pass valve mo men tarily and

ob serve the chest gauge. If the pres sure drops and the

whis tle blows, the O2 group is restricted and the unit is

not in a useable condition.

6. Each team member and ap pa ra tus should be re checked

by the team cap tain. The team cap tain and appa ra tus

should be re checked by a team member.

Items to be Checked Prior to Going Underground and

at 20-Minute Intervals

1. Vi su ally check ap pa ra tus.

2. Check gauge.

3. Ques tion member as to member’s ability to con tinue.

67
BENCHMAN’S CONTEST

BIOMARINE BIOPAK 240LW/240S

BREATHING APPARATUS

GENERAL RULES

1. One bench man will be al lowed for each team en tered in

the Mine Res cue Con test.

2. Reg is tra tion will be made with the team reg is tra tion.

3. Con testants will compete in reverse or der from the

team's field draw ing or der.

4. The Bench man’s Con test will be held at des ig nated lo -

ca tions and times over a two-day pe riod in con junc tion

with the pre lim i nary Mine Res cue Field Com pe ti tions.

The teams not work ing the mine res cue prob lem will

com pete in the Bench man’s Con test. All writ ten test ing

will be conducted at the same time. Con tes tants will re -

main in isola tion until they fin ish the bench com pe ti tion

or they will be disqual i fied. The lo ca tion of the compe tition will be noted. The Con test Di rec tor may waive this

pro vi sion, if warranted by ex ten u at ing cir cum stances.

68
 5. The bench con testants will be pro vided with one fully

as sem bled Biopak 240LW or one fully assembled

Biopak 240S, along with a Test/Ser vice Kit, defogging 

so lu tion, leak de tector fluid, and all parts neces sary to

complete the prob lem(s). Only tools, ap pa ra tus, and

test ing equip ment pro vided by the judge will be used

by con testants to work the prob lem.

 6. To tal dis counts of the written and monthly ap pa ra tus

checks/prob lem di ag no sis will de ter mine the win ner. In 

the event of a tie, to tal time will be the first tie breaker.

The writ ten test will be the sec ond tie breaker. Third tie -

breaker will be the time to find the first de fi ciency.

 7. At the comple tion of the Monthly Ap pa ra tus Checks/

Prob lem Di ag no sis, there will be a five-min ute re view,

at which time the judge will dis cuss the discounts in -

cluding the writ ten test. After the re view, both the

judge and con testant will sign the judge’s score card.

All ap peals must be in writ ing and sub mitted within one 

hour of the five-min ute re view.

 8. The Bench Con test Di rec tor’s rul ing will be fi nal.

 9. When un planned de fi cien cies are en coun tered in the

ap pa ra tus, the judges will no tify the con testants that the 

de fi ciency is not part of the prob lem. The con testant

will turn his/her back while the judge stops the clock

and cor rects the de fi ciency. If the de fi cien cies are

caused by the con testant, the clock will not be stopped.

10. One trophy will be awarded for each three contestants

en tered in the Bench man’s Con test.

WRITTEN TEST

1. The writ ten test will be given while the contes tants are

in isola tion and will con sist of twenty-five true/false,

mul tiple choice ques tions. The ques tions for the Biopak

240S will be taken from the Bench man In struction Man -

ual, Re vi sion K, and User In struction Man ual Re vi sion

E. The ques tions for the Biopak 240LW will be taken

69
from the Bench man In struc tion Man ual, Re vi sion A,

and User In struction Man ual, Re vi sion G. The

contestants will be assessed one dis count point for each

in cor rect or un an swered ques tion. Any al ter ations to the 

test questions or an swers will be determined to be in cor -

rect by the test judge and discounts as sessed.

2. Scor ing of the test will be com pleted by at least two

qual i fied judges.

MONTHLY APPARATUS CHECKS/PROBLEM

DIAGNOSIS

1. Monthly checks must be per formed in order from the visual in spection for ward and recorded. If and when defi -

cien cies are en countered, con tes tants must call out to the 

judge and prop erly correct and re cord any and all

deficiencies.

2. Prior to stop ping the clock; Turn-Around Main te nance

Tag must be con nected to the cylinder valve, hoses must 

be connected to the face mask and ap pa ra tus, back cover 

on and latched. Anti-fog agent must be ap plied to the

mask lens. Ap pa ra tus se rial number is re quired.

3. Con testants may re turn to cor rect any un cor rected de fi -

cien cies within the time limit.

4. If con testants per form checks out of or der, there will be

a one-time discount of five (5) points as sessed.

5. If checks are per formed in cor rectly, checks will be dis -

counted as not per formed. For ex ample: bal loon in flated 

without test key in stalled.

6. Thirty (30) min utes will be al lowed to com plete all

checks, re cord and cor rect any and all de fi cien cies, and

be ready to wear. There will be a five (5) min ute warning given by the judge when time is about to expire.

70
 7. Fif teen (15) dis counts will be as sessed for each deficiency not found.

 8. Five (5) dis counts will be as sessed for each de fi ciency

not corrected.

 9. Five (5) dis counts will be as sessed for each monthly

check not performed.

10. Suck ing or blow ing on valves with one’s mouth while

mak ing checks is pro hib ited. There will be a ten (10)

point dis count as sessed for each in frac tion.

11. For comple tion, the con testant must have the ap pa ra tus

fully assembled, cover in place with hoses con nected,

facemask on top of the ap pa ra tus (ready to wear), be -

fore stop ping the clock. If the con testant does not leave

the ap pa ra tus in “ready-for-use” con di tion, a five (5)

point dis count will be as sessed.

12. If the prob lem is not completed in the spec i fied time, an

ad di tional ten (10) dis counts will be as sessed.

JUDGING

 1. All judges must suc cess fully complete a Bench train ing

course as pre scribed by the Contest Di rec tor per the ap -

pa ra tus they are go ing to judge.

 2. Judges must stand clear of the con testants.

 3. Prior to and be tween each con testant, the judges shall

per form monthly ap pa ra tus checks and cor rect any and

all un planned de fi cien cies.

 4. When un planned de fi cien cies are en coun tered, judges

shall stop the clock, in struct con testants to turn his/her

back to the bench area, at which time the judge will

cor rect the de fi cien cies. Judges shall in struct contes -

tants that upon turn ing back to face the ap pa ra tus, the

clock will start. If the de fi cien cies are caused by the

con testant, the clock will not be stopped.

71
BENCH MAN’S CON TEST - BIOMARINE

BIOPAK 240LW/240S

Judges’ Working Score card

Ap pa ra tus Se rial # Team No. ________________

Test Date Bench Per son _____________

Com pany ________________

Vi sual In spec tion

Plumb ing Leak Test

Con stant Flow Test 1.6 - 2.4

Breath ing Sys tem Leak Test

Ready for Use

Judge __________________________

Judge __________________________

72

Time

0 Bug _________

1st Bug _________

2nd Bug _________

3rd Bug _________

4th Bug _________

5th Bug _________

Time to Com plete Problem

Min ______ Sec ______

Summary of Dis counts

Written test ques tions in cor rect:

1 dis count x = 

Monthly check not performed:

5 dis counts x = 

Monthly checks out of order:

5 dis counts (to tal) 

De fi ciency (bug) not found:

15 dis counts x = ______

De fi ciency (bug) not cor rected:

5 dis counts x = 

Sucking/Blowing Valves:

10 dis counts x = 

Ap pa ra tus not “Ready for Use”:

5 dis counts (to tal) 

Prob lem not completed in

Spec i fied Time:

10 dis counts (to tal) _______

 To tal Dis counts 
BENCH MAN’S CON TEST - BIOMARINE

BIOPAK 240LW/240S

Bench Per son’s Blank Testing Card

 TEST PROCEDURES Team No. ________________

Bench Per son _____________

Com pany ________________

Judge’s Sig na ture

Bench Per son’s Sig na ture

73

Prob lems Found Cor rected 

0 Bug _________

1st Bug _________

2nd Bug _________

3rd Bug _________

4th Bug _________

5th Bug _________
TESTING PROCEDURE

BIOMARINE BIOPAK 240LW/240S

BREATHING APPARATUS

STEP EQUIPMENT PROCEDURE HINTS

1. Vi sual Vi su ally in spect theenIn spec tion tire Biopak 240LW/240S

for worn, loose or missing parts, and parts that

could fail un der use.

2. Plumb ing Tongue In stall fully charged cylHigh Pres sure De pres sor inder. Re move breath ing

Leak Test Leak Tec cham ber lid and CO2

scrub ber. Hold di a phragm

away from de mand valve

with tongue de pres sor.

Open O2 cyl in der valve.

Check each plumb ing

joint with leak tec.

3. Con stant Flow Tongue Slip the flowmeter over

Test De pres sor the flow restrictor. Hold

Flow Meter di a phragm away from

de mand valve with

tongue de pres sor. Open

O2 cyl in der valve. Flow 

should be 1.6 - 2.4 lpm

4. Breath ing Leak Test Con nect leak test fix ture

Sys tem Leak Fix ture to hoses. In sert pres sure

Test Pres sure test knob into the hole in

Test Knob back of unit and turn 1⁄4

turn to lock in place.

Open O2 cyl in der valve,

de press by-pass to 

in flate bal loon. Close

cylinder valve, de press

by-pass to vent in ter nal

pres sure. Vent pres sure

at test fix ture un til bal loon

reaches ap prox i mately 45

de gree. Time for two 

min utes look ing for significant drop in bal loon.

74
PROCEDURES FOR GETTING UNDER OXYGEN

BIOMARINE BIOPAK 240LW/240S BREATHING

APPARATUS

Procedures for getting under oxygen:

Pre-Use Inspection

1. If ap pa ra tus is stored in a ready to use con di tion,

Turn-Around Main te nance Tag at tached to ox y gen cyl -

in der valve (date less than one year old). Before don -

ning the ap pa ra tus in stall frozen Gel Tube In sert into

cool ing can is ter, se cure lid.

2. If ap pa ra tus is not stored in a ready to use con di tion,

prior to don ning the ap pa ra tus, complete the pe ri odic

long term main te nance pro ce dures as out line in the

Biopak 240LW Bench man In struc tion Man ual, Re vi sion 

A, or Biopak 240S Bench man In struction Man ual, Re vi -

sion K. Refill and install the CO2 ab sor bent can is ter

(LimePak dated within one year). In stall a frozen Gel

Tube In sert into cool ing can is ter, se cure lid.

Donning, Getting under Oxygen

3. Don the ap pa ra tus, tighten shoulder straps, buckle and

ad just waist strap, con nect and ad just chest strap.

4. Place facemask har ness over head, cen ter chin in chin

cup, hold facemask to face and snug bottom (chin)

straps first, then the up per (temple) straps, and then the

top (head) strap. A poor facemask seal will cause a signif i cant de crease in du ra tion.

5. Per form neg a tive pressure check by block ing the in ha la -

tion port with hand and in hal ing. If you can not in hale,

mask fit is good and ex ha la tion valve is OK.

6. Per form pos i tive pres sure check by cov er ing the ex ha la -

tion port with hand and ex hal ing. Mask should push

away from face. If air does not es cape, mask fit is good

and in ha la tion valve is OK.

75
7. Re move hose cou pler or red caps; con nect in ha la tion

hose and then ex ha la tion hose to mask. Open ox y gen

cylin der valve fully coun terclock wise and back 1⁄4 turn.

Note whis tle chirp.

Op tion: Hoses con nected to the facepiece prior to don ning.

a. Don facemask as out lined above (item 2).

b. Open cyl in der valve fully coun terclock wise and back

1/4 turn. Note whis tle chirp.

c. Per form neg a tive pressure check by pinch ing off the

in ha la tion hose and in hal ing. If the wearer can not

in hale, mask fit is good and ex ha la tion valve is OK.

d. Per form pos i tive pressure check pinch ing off the

ex ha la tion hose and ex hal ing. Mask should push

away from face. If air does not es cape, mask fit is

good and in ha la tion valve is OK.

8. Check chest-mounted pres sure gauge, 2700 - 3000 psi.

within one min ute.

9. The team cap tain should re check each team member and 

ap pa ra tus. A team member should re check the team cap -

tain and ap pa ra tus.

Items to be checked before going underground and at

20-minute intervals.

1. Vi su ally check ap pa ra tus.

2. Check chest mounted pres sure gauge.

3. Ques tion member as to member’s ability to con tinue.

76
NATIONAL METAL AND NONMETAL

FIRST AID CONTEST

GENERAL RULES

1. The First Aid team must furnish the ba sic first aid supplies needed to complete the prob lem un less speci fied

by the con test co or di na tor that the sup plies will be

avail able at a spe cific station.

2. All ma te rial used to solve the first aid problem will be

picked up by the team prior to mov ing on to their next

pro spec tive sta tion.

3. CPR and ab domi nal thrusts will only be per formed on a

man i kin.

4. Any vio la tions of the gen eral rules not cov ered in the

dis count sheets will result in ten (10) dis counts for each

in frac tion.

5. Team members must wear an ap proved pro tec tive hat,

iden ti fi ca tion tag, safety shoes, per mis si ble cap lamps,

self-rescuer, and safety glasses.

GUIDELINES AND PROCEDURES

1. The First Aid Con test will consist of first aid prob lems

and a writ ten ex am i na tion.

2. One first aid team will be al lowed to com pete for each

mine res cue team en tered in the Mine Res cue Contest.

3. The first aid team will consist of three mem bers of the

mine res cue team. 

4. Con testants will compete in reverse or der from the

team's field draw ing or der.

5. All first aid team mem bers will at tend a brief ing while

in isola tion and will remain in isola tion until their team

name is called.

6. If par tic i pat ing teams need ad di tional help, such as

trans port ing or mov ing a patient, help will be pro vided

by con test of fi cials.

77
 7. There will be a min i mum of two (2) judges at each of

the first aid sta tions.

 8. Judges will be as signed spe cific tasks to be scored prior

to the judg ing and will record their find ings on a spe -

cific scor ing card is sued prior to the con test.

 9. Judges must be cur rent in first aid meth ods and knowledgeable in the sta tion they will be judg ing.

10. There will be two (2) sepa rate first aid sta tions (not

nec es sar ily in any or der).

 a. Foreign body obstructed airway-unconscious victim,

artificial respiration, CPR.

 b.Patient assessment, control of bleeding, physical

shock, wounds, burns, scalds, musculoskeletal

injuries, and transportation. 

11. When the team re ceives the first aid sce nario the clock

will be started.

12. Judges must keep an ac cu rate time and re cord it on

scor ing sheets for tie breaker pur poses. First tie breaker

will be field scores on all sta tions, sec ond tie breaker

will be scores on writ ten test, and third tie breaker will

be total time on field scores.

13. Judges will not dis cuss any first aid prob lem with

con tes tant teams un less there are techni cal problems.

14. Only judges, con test of fi cials, es corted pho tog ra phers,

and news me dia ap proved by the con test direc tor will

be per mit ted in the first aid sta tions.

15. On the day prior to the con test, a meeting will be held

to dis cuss offi cials’ and judges’ as sign ments and train -

ing. All person nel who will be offi ci at ing dur ing the

contest shall at tend this meet ing.

16. The Sev enth Edi tion of Brady “First Re sponder,”

Chap ters: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11, the pub lished

rules, and the in terpre ta tions of the dis count sheets are

au tho rized for ref er ence and guid ance.

78
17. The team will not be permit ted to use first aid man u als

for ref er ence pur poses during the prob lem solv ing or

be tween work ing sta tions.

18. If ox y gen is re quired in the treatment of a pa tient, it

may be simu lated with the use of a mask. No ox y gen

tank will be re quired.

19. There will be no simu la tions on the pa tient. All

dressings and splints must be placed prop erly.

20. Team members are not al lowed to leave the work ing

area to ob tain ma te ri als for the prob lem.

21. Stim u lants will not be given to any pa tient.

22. When dig i tal pres sure is ap plied to the proper pres sure

point, bleed ing will be con sid ered un der con trol and acknowl edged by the judge.

23. Rough treatment of pa tient is not al lowed.

24. If a tour ni quet is re quired in First Aid prob lem, do not

se cure tightly.

25. As sis tance in treat ment from a sup pos edly un con scious

pa tient is not al lowed.

26. Teams fail ing to com plete prob lems at sta tion 2 in the

 speci fied time will be dis counted.

27. The win ning six teams will be an nounced dur ing the

ban quet.

28. Fol low ing the award ing of the tro phies and plaques,

team rankings will be avail able to the teams. The re sults 

from each station of the con test will be given to the

teams at the earli est pos si ble time.

WRITTEN TEST

1. The writ ten test will be given while the contes tants are

in isola tion and will con sist of twenty-five (25) true/

false and mul tiple choice questions. The ques tions will

be taken from the Sev enth Edi tion of Brady “First Re -

sponder”, Chap ters: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11. The con -

testants will be as sessed one (1) dis count point for each

in cor rect or un an swered ques tion. Any al ter ations to the 

79
test questions or an swers will be determined to be in cor -

rect by the test judge and discounts as sessed.

2. Scor ing of the test will be com pleted by at least two

qual i fied judges.

3. In spe cial cir cum stances, in di vid ual team mem bers may

be given oral in stead of writ ten tests by one or more

judges. Re quests for con sid er ation shall be pre sented to

the Con test Di rec tor at the time of regis tra tion. All other

team members will take the test at the same time.

APPEALS

1. Upon comple tion of the ex ami na tion of the pa tient by

the judges at each station, the team shall be in formed of

any infrac tions re gard ing treat ment while at the sta tion.

The team will be per mit ted to verbally ap peal any in -

frac tions either with the field judge or the chief judge. If 

not resolved, the chief judge will make the final deci -

sion un til an ap peal can be filed by the team.

2. Dur ing the ver bal ap peal pro cess, all question able

splints/dress ings shall re main in tact until the appeal is

re solved. If any ques tion able splints/dressings are re -

moved or altered by the team prior to be ing resolved,

the ap peal shall not be allowed.

3. Teams will have 15 min utes af ter be ing no tified to report to the area des ig nated for 20 min ute looks. The

team shall have 20 min utes for re view ing the judges

scorecards and an additional 30 min utes to pre pare and

sub mit any ap peals. All ap peals shall be in writing and

shall clearly state the team’s com ments to the dis count

in question. All ap peals will be con sid ered by the Fi nal

Ap peals Committee and a deci sion will be bind ing and

fi nal.

80
DISCOUNTS

1. Dis counts will not be added to the team score once the

judges have signed their dis count sheets fol low ing a re -

view with team members. This does not preclude

changes due to ad min is tra tive er rors or a mis ap pli ca tion

of a rule.

2. Teams shall not be discounted more than once for any

one mis take in the same prob lem where such mis take

may qual ify un der more than one dis count. Judges will

con fer and as sess the high est sin gle discount.

3. Teams shall be ad di tion ally dis counted for rep e ti tion of

the same mis takes in the same problem. For ex ample;

improper ban dag ing on two sep a rate wounds (2 times

the ap pro pri ate dis count), three granny knots (3 times

the ap pro pri ate discount), etc.

4. Teams shall not be discounted for do ing more than the

problem calls for, unless it is det ri men tal to the pa tient

or improper care.

5. If the dis count is not listed on the dis count sheet and if it

is not cov ered un der one of the ap proved rules of the

con test, judges will not impro vise a discount to cover

the sus pected vi o la tion.

81
METAL AND NONMETAL FIRST AID CONTEST

Judges’ Discount Card

Sta tion #1

Cardiopulmonary Re sus ci ta tion (CPR)

Ar ti fi cial Res pi ra tion

For eign Body Ob structed Air way - Un con scious Vic tim

Team Team

Name: _________________ Num ber: _________________

Team Members: Cap tain __________________________

__________________________

__________________________

Date: __________________

A. One Res cuer CPR Dis counts 

(In ac cor dance with the 2005 Amer i can Heart As so ci a tion Guide lines)

1. Not checking ac ci dent scene to 

as sure per sonal safety 5 x = 

2. Not tak ing body sub stance isolation (BSI) pre cau tions (glasses,

gloves and CPR barrier) 15 x = 

3. Not de ter min ing un re spon sive ness 1 x = 

4. Not calling for help 1 x = 

5. Not open ing air way 2 x = 

6. Us ing head-tilt/chin-lift ma neu ver

when mod i fied jaw thrust should

be used 2 x = 

7. Not as sess ing breath less ness 1 x = 

a. As sess ing breath less ness 

should take no lon ger than 

10 seconds (time be gins when 

the res cuer looks, lis tens and 

feels for breath ing) 1 x ___ = 

8. Not giving 2 breaths ini tially 1 x ___ = 

a. Not giv ing two breaths within 

3-4 seconds 1 x ___ = 

b. Not in flat ing lungs ad e quately 1 x ___ = 

c. Not al low ing for de fla tion 

be tween breaths 1 x ___ = 

82
Dis counts

9. Not re po si tion ing head when 

air way ob struc tion is found 1 x ____ = 

10. Not giv ing two breaths be tween 

com pres sions 1 x ____ = 

a. Not giv ing two breaths 

within 3-4 sec onds 1 x ____ = 

b. Not in flat ing lungs adequately 1 x ____ = 

c. Not al low ing for de fla tion 

be tween breaths 1 x ____ = 

11. Not check ing for pulse 1 x ____ = 

12. Im prop erly check ing for pulse 1 x ____ = 

a. As sessing pulse should take

no lon ger than 10 sec onds

(time be gins when the 

res cuer feels for a pulse) 1 x ____ = 

13. Not us ing “notch” or “nip ple

line” tech nique for proper 

hand po si tion 1 x ____ = 

14. Not mak ing paral lel axis with

heels of hands 1 x ____ = 

15. Not completing five sets of 

30 compres sions and 2 ventilations within 2 min utes of

pa tient con tact 5 x ____ = 

a. Depth of compres sions not 

be tween 1.5 to 2 inches 1 x ____ = 

b. Not re leas ing com pres sions 1 x ____ = 

16. In cor rect hand po si tion 1 x ____ = 

17. No pulse re as sess ment 1 x ____ = 

18. Not be gin ning com pres sions 

af ter re as sess ment (when

re quired) 1 x ____ = 

19. In terrupt ing CPR for more than

7 sec onds (each) 1 x ____ = 

20. Not giv ing ar ti fi cial ven ti la tion

when pulse is found 4 x ____ = 

83
Dis counts

21. Not com mu ni cat ing and physically ex am in ing each con di tion 

found (each) 1 x ____ = 

One Res cuer CPR Sub to tal __________

B. Ar ti fi cial Res pi ra tion Dis counts 

1. Not checking ac ci dent scene to 

as sure per sonal safety 5 x ____ = 

2. Not tak ing body sub stance isolation (BSI) pre cau tions (glasses,

gloves and CPR barrier) 15 x ____ = 

3. Not de ter min ing un re spon siveness 1 x ____ = 

4. Not calling for help 1 x ____ = 

5. Not open ing air way 2 x ____ = 

6. Us ing head-tilt/chin-lift 

ma neu ver when mod i fied 

jaw thrust should be used 2 x ____ = 

7. Not as sess ing breath less ness 1 x ____ = 

a. As sess ing breath less ness 

should take no lon ger than 

10 seconds (time be gins when

the res cuer looks, lis tens and 

feels for breath ing) 1 x ____ = 

8. Not giving 2 breaths ini tially 1 x ____ = 

a. Not giv ing two breaths within

3-4 seconds 1 x ____ = 

b. Not in flat ing lungs ad e quately 1 x ____ = 

c. Not al low ing for de fla tion 

be tween breaths 1 x ____ = 

9. Not re po si tion ing head when 

air way ob struc tion is found 1 x ____ = 

10. Not check ing for pulse 1 x ____ = 

11. Not giv ing ar ti fi cial ven ti la tion

when pulse is found 4 x ____ = 

12. Im proper tim ing of ar ti fi cial ventilations (12 to 15 per min ute) 2 x ____ = 

84
Dis counts

13. Not recheck ing pulse af ter one 

min ute of ar ti fi cial res pi ra tions 2 x ____ = 

14. Not com mu ni cat ing and 

phys i cally ex am in ing each 

con di tion found (each) 1 x ____ = 

Ar ti fi cial Res pi ra tion Sub to tal 

C. For eign Body Ob structed Air way - 

 Un con scious Vic tim Dis counts 

1. Not checking ac ci dent scene to 

as sure per sonal safety 5 x ____ = 

2. Not tak ing body sub stance isolation (BSI) pre cau tions (glasses,

gloves and CPR barrier) 15 x ____ = 

3. Not de ter min ing unresponsiveness 1 x ____ = 

4. Not calling for help 1 x ____ = 

5. Not open ing air way 2 x ____ = 

6. Us ing head-tilt/chin-lift 

ma neu ver when mod i fied 

jaw thrust should be used 2 x ____ = 

7. Not as sess ing breath less ness 1 x ____ = 

a. As sess ing breath less ness 

should take no lon ger than 

10 seconds (time be gins 

when the rescuer looks, listens and feels for breath ing) 1 x ____ = 

8. Not giving 2 breaths ini tially 1 x ____ = 

9. Not re po si tion ing head af ter 

ini tial ven ti la tion at tempt fails 2 x ____ = 

10. Not us ing tongue-jaw lift, cross

fin ger tech nique or fin ger sweep

when re quired (each) 1 x ____ = 

11. Not giv ing ab dom i nal or chest

thrust when re quired 2 x ____ = 

85
Dis counts

12. Im proper num ber (max i mum

of 5) or improper tech nique in 

ad min is ter ing abdominal or 

chest thrusts (off to one side,

im proper hand po si tion) 2 x ____ = 

13. Not at tempt ing to ven ti late af ter

each se ries of abdom i nal or chest

thrusts 2 x ____ = 

14. Not as sess ing for breath less ness 

or pulse once ob struction is 

cleared 2 x ____ = 

15. Not giv ing ar ti fi cial ven ti la tion/

CPR when airway has been 

cleared, if nec es sary 4 x ____ = 

16. Not com mu ni cat ing and physically ex am in ing each con di tion

found (each) 1 x ____ = 

For eign Body Ob structed

Air way - Un con scious Vic tim Sub to tal 

Station #1 Total Discounts ________

 

Judge

Judge

Scorecard Examiner

86
METAL AND NONMETAL FIRST AID CONTEST

JUDGES’ DISCOUNT CARD

Station #2

Patient Assessment

Control of Bleeding

Physical Shock

Wounds, Burns and Scalds

Musculoskeletal Injuries

Transportation

Team Team

Name: _______________ Number:__________________

Team Members: Captain _________________________

_________________________

_________________________

Date:________________

A. Patient Assessment

Primary Assessment Discounts 

1. Not checking ac ci dent scene to 

en sure per sonal safety 5 x ____ = ____

2. Not tak ing body sub stance isolation (BSI) pre cau tions (glasses,

gloves and CPR barrier) 15 x ____ = ____

3. Not ad min is ter ing pa tient 

as sess ment 25 x ____ = ____

4. Not check ing un re spon sive ness 1 x ____ = ____

5. Not calling for help 1 x ____ = ____

6. Not sta bi liz ing head if spi nal 

in jury is sus pected 2 x ____ = ____

7. Not plac ing pa tient in su pine 

po si tion 1 x ____ = ____

8. Improper turning of patient 5 x ____ = ____

9. Not as sessing air way - us ing 

head-tilt/chin-lift maneuver when 

mod i fied jaw-thrust should be 

used and visa versa 10 x ____ = ____

87
Discounts 

10. Not re mov ing vis i ble for eign 

 sub stance from mouth 2 x ____ = ____

11. Not as sessing breath ing - look, 

 lis ten, feel 10 x ____ = ____

12. Not check ing for pulse 10 x ____ = ____

13. Improp erly check ing for a pulse 2 x ____ = ____

14. Not vis i bly check ing for pro fuse 

 bleed ing - state to judge that

 you are look ing for bleed ing 10 x ____ = ____

15. Not do ing pri mary as sess ment in 

 proper sequence 15 x ____ = ____

Secondary Assessment

16. Not ex am in ing head (scalp, 

 blood in hair, etc.) 2 x ____ = ____

17. Not ex am in ing neck 2 x ____ = ____

18. Rais ing head if spinal in jury

 ex ists 6 x ____ = ____

19. Not check ing chest (plac ing 

 hand on chest) 2 x ____ = ____

20. Not gently feel ing ab dom i nal area 2 x ____ = ____

21. Not gently feel ing un der pa tient 

(lower back) for in jury 2 x ____ = ____

22. Not check ing pelvic area for in jury 2 x ____ = ____

23. Not check ing geni tal area for

ob vi ous in jury 2 x ____ = ____

24. Not check ing lower ex trem i ties 

 for in jury 2 x ____ = ____

25. Not check ing lower ex trem i ties 

for pa ral y sis 2 x ____ = ____

26. Not check ing up per ex trem i ties

 for injury 2 x ____ = ____

27. Not checking upper extremities

 for paralysis 2 x ____ = ____

88
Discounts 

28. Not check ing back sur faces for 

 in jury 2 x ____ = ____

29. Not check ing medic alert 

brace lets/neck lace 2 x ____ = ____

30. Check ing out of or der 15 x ____ = ____

31. Work other than tak ing sup port 

 or con trolling bleed ing dur ing 

sec ond ary sur vey 4 x ____ = ____

Patient Assessment Subtotal __________ 

B. Control of Bleeding Discounts 

1. Not con trol ling ar te rial bleed ing 20 x ____ = ____

2. Not ap ply ing di rect pres sure to 

con trol ar te rial bleed ing 20 x ____ = ____

3. In ef fec tive in di rect pres sure 

(off pres sure point, etc.) 4 x ____ = ____

4. Re leas ing di rect or in di rect

pres sure or el e va tion be fore

bleed ing is con trolled 4 x ____ = ____

5. Tour ni quet - In ef fec tive ap pli ca tion,

im prop erly ap plied or loos ened 

dur ing prob lem 4 x ____ = ____

6. Ap ply ing tour ni quets when not 

re quired 4 x ____ = ____

7. Not giv ing any treat ment for 

in ter nal bleed ing 4 x ____ = ____

8. Ban dages im prop erly ap plied

(not en tirely covered, wrong 

lo ca tion, method, or position 

of knot, etc.) 2 x ____ = ____

Control of Bleeding Subtotal _________

89
C. Physical Shock Discounts 

1. Not loos en ing tight cloth ing at

neck, chest, and waist line, if 

closed (un opened belt, but ton,

snap, or fas tener) (each in frac tion) 1 x ____ = ____

2. Not cov er ing pa tient 2 x ____ = ____

3. Im proper cov er ing of pa tient 1 x ____ = ____

4. Giv ing pa tient a stim u lant 4 x ____ = ____

5. Not el e vat ing foot end or head 

end of stretcher in re quired cases 1 x ____ = ____

6. Not keep ing calm and not as sur ing

the pa tient (emo tional well be ing) 2 x ____ = ____

Physical Shock Subtotal __________

D. Wounds, Burns and Scalds Discounts 

1. Not ap plying dress ing for wound 

or burn (each) 8 x ____ = ____

2. Not ap plying cover dressing (each) 4 x ____ = ____

3. Not us ing ster ile gauze or ster ile 

com press 1 x ____ = ____

4. Ban dages im prop erly ap plied (not

en tirely cov ered, wrong lo ca tion, 

method, or po si tion of knot, etc.) 2 x ____ = ____

5. Fail ure to place gauze be tween 

fin gers, toes, or back of ear 

(when required) 2 x ____ = ____

6. Fail ure to ap ply cold ap pli ca tions

or el e vate bruise when prac ti cal)

(each) 2 x ____ = ____

7. Not re mov ing or in di cat ing re moval

of cloth ing from af fected area 2 x ____ = ____

8. Not ren der ing any treat ment for 

rup ture 6 x ____ = ____

90
Discounts 

9. Not sim u lat ing or in di cat ing that 

 gauze is moist (when re quired) 2 x ____ = ____

10. Fail ure to prop erly treat suck ing

 chest wound 10 x ____ = ____

11. Not treat ing in juries in their

 proper or der (accord ing to 

fun da men tals) 4 x ____ = ____

12. Improperly ap plied slings when

 re quired (each) 1 x ____ = ____

Wounds, Burns and Scalds Subtotal __________

E. Musculoskeletal Injuries Discounts 

1. Not ren der ing any treat ment for a

strain or sprain (each in frac tion) 4 x ____ = ____

2. Not treat ing sus pected spi nal 

in jury frac ture of pelvis or thigh 

(each) (this in cludes not using a 

prop erly sized cer vi cal col lar) 12 x ____ = ____

3. Not treat ing frac tures other

than (#4) (each) 10 x ____ = ____

4. Fail ure to properly treat sus pected 

skull frac ture 2 x ____ = ____

5. Fail ure to sup port frac tures/dislocat ions un til prop erly splinted 6 x ____ = ____

6. Not prop erly treat ing dis lo ca tions

(each) 8 x ____ = ____

7. Fail ure to prop erly splint 2 x ____ = ____

8. Fail ure to prop erly ap ply pad ding 

where needed 1 x ____ = ____

9. Lift ing or roll ing pa tient from 

wrong side when ap plying splint 2 x ____ = ____

10. Improp erly lifting or roll ing of

 pa tient (lift ing to knee when pa tient

 has dis lo cated or fractured hip or

 spi nal in jury) 2 x ____ = ____

91
Dis counts 

11. Fail ure to prop erly test bro ken-

 back splint 4 x ____ = ____

12. Im prop erly as sem bled splint/

 back board 2 x ____ = ____

13. Im prop erly ap plied ban dages 2 x ____ = ____

14. Improp erly ap plied slings when 

re quired (each) 1 x ____ = ____

 Musculoskeletal Injuries Subtotal __________

F. Preparation for Transportation Discounts 

1. Fail ure to prop erly test stretcher 4 x ____ = ____

2. Lifting pa tient from wrong side

(three members on least in jured 

side) 2 x ____ = ____

3. Pa tient not placed on stretcher

(when re quired) 2 x ____ = ____

4. Im prop erly ap plied bas ket sling 1 x ____ = ____

Preparation for Transportation Subtotal________

Fail ure to locate and treat any 

con di tion (each in frac tion) 10 x ____ = ____

Not com plet ing prob lem in 

spec i fied time 25 (to tal) 

 Station #2 Total Discounts 

92
 

Judge

 

Judge

 

Scorecard Examiners

93
GLOSSARY OF TERMS

ACCESSIBLE - Able to be traveled into; not impassable.

ADIT - A nearly horizontal passage from the surface by

which a mine is entered.

AIR LOCK - An area in the mine closed at both ends by

two doors or two bulkheads. An air lock is used to

prevent mixing of different atmospheres while still

permitting miners to enter and exit.

AIR SHAFT - Shaft used exclusively for conducting air.

AIR SPLIT - The division of an air current into two or

more parts.

AIR TRACK DRILL - A heavy drill mounted on crawler

tracks.

AIRWAY - Any passage through which air is flowing.

ALTERNATE - Person qualifying to participate as a mine

rescue team member. Can replace any team member who

cannot continue or who is removed from the problem.

ASSISTANT – Optional seventh person who may assist

the fresh air base attendant but is not eligible to

substitute for another team member including the fresh

air base attendant. 

ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE - Force exerted by air.

Atmospheric pressure is measured on a barometer.

AUXILIARY FAN - A small, por ta ble fan used to sup ple -

ment the ven ti la tion of an in di vid ual work ing place.

AUXILIARY VENTILATION - Portion of main

ventilating current directed to face of dead-end entry by

means of an auxiliary fan and tubing.

BACK FILL - The rough material used to refill a place

from which the earth has been removed.

BACK/ROOF - That part of an opening which is nearest

the surface in relation to any portion of the workings of

the mine, the roof. Overhead surface of an underground

opening.

94
BACKUP TEAM - The rescue team stationed at the fresh

air base as a “backup” for the working team beyond the

fresh air base.

BAFFLE - A device used to deflect, check or regulate the

flow of air.

BARRICADE - Enclosed part of mine to prevent inflow of 

noxious gases from a mine fire or explosion. This may

be done by doors or by building one or more airtight

walls using any available materials such as rock, wood,

brattice cloth, mud, clothing, etc., so as to enclose a

maximum quantity of good air. If contact is not made

with person behind the barricade, conditions inside the

barricade will be unknown.

BARRICADING - Enclosing part of mine to prevent

inflow of noxious gases from a mine fire or an

explosion.

BATTERY LOCOMOTIVE - Battery powered machine

used for moving cars within the mine.

BATTERY CHARGING STATION - Area set aside for

charging and storing batteries.

BATTERY OPERATED EQUIPMENT - Any

equipment powered by batteries.

BELT FEEDER - The dump end of a belt system. To

disperse ore on the belt.

BLASTING BOX - The unit used for firing of one or more 

charges electrically.

BLASTING CAPS - A detonator containing a charge of

detonating compound, which is ignited by electrical current

or the spark of a fuse used for detonating explosives.

BOREHOLE - Any deep or long drill hole. It may be a

source of air, supplies and communications in an

emergency.

BORER - A device for making large holes.

BRATTICE CLOTH - Fire-resistant fabric or plastic used 

in a mine passage to control ventilation.

95
BRIEFING - Session held before a team goes underground 

to inform team members of conditions underground and

give them their work assignment.

BULKHEAD - A wall or partition constructed across a

passageway to direct the ventilating air in its proper course.

CAGE - A shaft conveyance used in hoisting personnel

and materials.

CAVED - Ground which has fallen.

CAVED IMPASSABLE - Incapable of being passed,

traveled, crossed, or surmounted, but allows some

ventilation flow.

CAVED TIGHT - Ground caved in to prevent access and

allows no ventilation flow.

CHOCKS - Wedge shaped blocks to put under vehicle

wheels to prevent movement.

CHUTE/ORE PASS - Vertical or inclined passageway for 

downward movement of ore.

CLEAR AIR - An atmosphere which is free of smoke and

all dangerous and/or harmful concentrations of

flammable, combustible, noxious, and/or toxic

contaminants.

CONTINUOUS MINER - A mining machine designed to

remove ore from the face and load it into cars or

conveyors.

CRIB BLOCKS - Blocks used for support.

CROSSCUT - A horizontal opening driven across the

direction of the main workings; a connection between

the two drifts or tunnels.

CURTAIN - Brattice cloth, canvas or plastic curtain used

to deflect or direct air into a working place. Constructed

in a manner to allow the passage of miners and

machinery.

CUTTING MACHINE - A power (electric) driven

machine used to undercut ore.

96
DEBRIEFING - Session held when teams return to the

surface after completing an assignment to review what

they saw and did.

DETONATING FUSE - A round, flexible cord containing 

a center core of high explosives. (Primacord)

DETONATOR - A device used for detonating explosives.

DISTRIBUTION BOX - An enclosure through which

electric power is carried to one or more cables from a

single incoming feed line.

DOWNCAST - An opening though which fresh ventilating 

air is drawn or forced into the mine; the intake.

DRIFT/ENTRY - A passage underground

EXHAUST - The air course along which the air of the

mine is returned or conducted to the surface.

FACE/RIB - Vertical surface of an underground opening.

FEEDER - Small cracks in rock strata from which gas

escapes.

FILL - Any material that is put back in place of the

extracted ore.

FLOOR - That part of any underground opening upon

which one walks.

FOOTWALL - Lower side of a dipping ore body.

FRESH AIR BASE - Base of operations from which the

rescue and recovery teams can advance into irrespirable

atmospheres.

FRONT-END LOADER - Self-propelled machine used

for moving or loading muck.

HANGING WALL - Upper side of a dipping ore body.

HOLE CHARGED - A drilled hole that is charged with

explosives ready to be blasted.

IMPASSABLE - Incapable of being passed, traveled,

crossed, or surmounted.

97
INACCESSIBLE AREAS - All areas of the mine where

team travel is blocked by one of the following conditions:

seals, unsafe roof (rib-to-rib) that cannot be supported or

scaled, inextinguishable fires, water over knee deep,

caved impassable falls, or the top of an overcast.

INCLINE/SLOPE - A non-vertical shaft, usually on the

dip of a vein.

INTAKE - The passage through which fresh air is drawn

or forced into a mine.

INTENSE HEAT - Air heated to the extent that it cannot

be entered.

INTERSECTION - For contest work, any area driven 3

feet or more off a drift.

LAGGING - Materials used for flooring or shoring.

LEAD WIRE - Wire used to fire electric detonators.

LIFELINE - Rope, line, or cable that links the team to the

fresh air base.

LINE BRATTICE - Fire-resistant fabric or plastic partition

used in a mine passage to direct the air into the working

place. Also termed “Line Canvas or Line Curtain.”

LOADING MACHINE - A machine to load broken ore or 

rock.

LONG HOLE DRILL - A drill using sectional steel to

drill holes to greater depths.

LOOSE BACK - Unstable overhead surface which must

be controlled before entry.

LOOSE RIB - Unsupported loose ground on the side of

the drift.

MAGAZINE - A storage place for explosives or for

detonators.

MANDOOR - Door installed in a permanent stopping

(bulkhead) to allow persons to travel from one drift to

another.

98
MANHOLE - A refuge hole constructed in the side of a

drift.

MANTRIP - A trip on which personnel are transported to

and from a work area.

MINE DOOR - A large, hinged door used to close off a

mine entry.

MISFIRE - The complete or partial failure of a blasting

charge to explode as planned.

MOTOR - Machine usually on a track used for tramming

ore or supplies.

MULTI-GAS INSTRUMENT - Gas detector capable of

continuously and simultaneously measuring atmospheric 

concentrations of oxygen (O2), methane (CH4), carbon

monoxide (CO) and at least one other toxic gas (e.g.

nitrogen dioxide - NO2).

ORE PASS - A vertical or inclined passage for the

downward transfer of ore.

OVERCAST - Enclosed airway built at an intersection of

mine passages that permits one air current to pass over

another air current without mixing.

PERMISSIBLE - A machine, material, apparatus or

device which has been investigated, tested and approved 

by MSHA for use in gassy mines.

PILLAR - A column of ore or rock left in place.

POST - A mine timber.

RAISE - A vertical or inclined opening driven upward.

RAISE CLIMBER - Equipment used in an opening (raise) 

that is mined upward.

REFUGE CHAMBER - An airtight, fire-resistant room in 

a mine used as a method of refuge in emergencies by

miners unable to reach the surface.

REGULATOR - An adjustable door or opening in a

stopping, used to control and adjust the quantity of

airflow.

99
RETURN AIR - The air that has passed through the

working areas of the mine.

RIB - The wall of a mine opening.

ROOF BOLTER - A machine designed to drill holes in

the roof and install bolts.

ROOF BOLTS/ROCK BOLTS - A long bolt inserted and 

anchored in holes drilled in the rock.

ROOF JACKS - A roof support designed for immediate

temporary use.

SCALING BAR - Tool with a flat point and a heel used to

pry in a crack of the rock.

SEAL - A stopping built of greater thickness and more

substantial construction used to isolate abandoned areas

of the mine from the active workings or to isolate a fire.

SHAFT - A vertical opening of limited area compared with 

its depth, made for finding or mining ore, raising ore,

rock or water, hoisting and lowering workers and

materials, or ventilating underground workings.

SKIP - A hoisting bucket, which slides between guides in a 

shaft.

SLUSHER/SCRAPER - A machine for transferring or

loading rock by pulling an open bottomed scoop back

and forth from the face to the loading point by means of

a drum hoist, cables and sheaves.

SPLIT - To divide the air current in two or more separate

currents.

STOPE - An excavation in a mine, other than development 

workings, made for the purpose of extracting ore.

STOPER - A pneumatic hammer drill used for drilling

upward.

STOPPING - A permanent or temporary wall or partition

constructed across a passageway to direct the ventilating 

air.

100
STULL/PROP - Column of wood or steel used for support 

of underground openings.

SUMP - An excavation in the shaft or mine made below

the mining level to collect mine water.

SUPPLY PLATFORM - Area set aside for storage of

materials.

SURVIVOR - Person found alive in the mine.

SWITCH - An electrical switch.

TAGLINE - Short line no longer than 3 feet hooked from

a team member to the team line.

TEAM LINE - Line that links team members together

(extension of lifeline).

TIMBER SET - Tunnel support consisting of a roof beam

or arch and two posts.

TYING ACROSS AND BEHIND - Sys tem atic ex plo ra -

tion of all in tersect ing and ad ja cent pas sageways so that

the team is never for ward (to ward the work ing face) of

an ac ces si ble, un ex plored area.

UNDERCAST - An en closed air way built at an in ter sec -

tion of mine pas sages that permits one air cur rent to pass 

un der an other air cur rent with out mix ing.

UPCAST - The opening through which the return air is

removed from the mine. The opposite of downcast or

intake.

VENT BAG - An enclosed airway to direct airflow to a

given area or location.

WINZE - An opening, like a small shaft, sunk from an

interior point in a mine.

WORKING PLACE - Any place in or about a mine where 

work is being performed.

101
MINE MAP LEGEND

This leg end must be used by all teams par tic i pat ing in the

Na tional Mine Res cue Con test.

Gas Test For each gas test con ducted.

Seal If the seal is equipped with devices

such as sam pling tubes or wa ter

traps, or is dam aged, leak ing, or

destroyed that par tic u lar de vice or

con di tion is noted be side the sym bol.

Per ma nent Stop ping is intact, air tight. (No 

Stop ping in di ca tion of open ing or

In tact leak age.)

Per ma nent Stop ping may be de stroyed, partially

Stop ping de stroyed, or have open ings. Is not

Not In tact air tight. Con di tion noted on plac ard

is to be shown on map be side sym bol.

Tem po rary Stop ping is intact and air tight. This

Stop ping sym bol is used for all structures built

In tact by the team, such as airlocks, etc.

Tem po rary Stop ping may be de stroyed, par tially

Stop ping de stroyed, or have open ings. Is not

Not In tact air tight. Con di tion noted on plac ard

is to be shown on map be side sym bol.

Bar ri cade Any in for ma tion an plac ard, such as

leak ing, dam aged, de stroyed, etc.

shall be noted on mine map be side

sym bol.

102
Door The “D” sym bol can be shown by

it self, in per ma nent or tem po rary

stop ping. Type, size, and open or

not if in di cated on plac ard, must be

in di cated on map be side sym bol.

The curve of the “D” in di cates di -

rec tion of door open ing.

Reg u la tor If the reg u la tor is dam aged, leak ing,

or de stroyed, con di tion must be

shown on map. Also, in di cate whether

open (how much), or closed.

Fire Write out any in for ma tion given on

plac ard about fire, on map be side

sym bol.

Air Show ar row in di rec tion of moveMove ment ment as in di cated on plac ard, and

how any quan tity, if given, or other

in for ma tion, such as flow ve loc ity.

Put on map be side sym bol.

Wa ter In di cate depth or any other information as shown on plac ard. Put on

map be side sym bol.

Caved Caved ar eas are not con sid ered airtight un less so stated on placard.

Write out any in for ma tion on placard be side sym bol on map.

Un safe Sym bol used for any in di ca tion of

Roof ques tion able roof con di tions. May

Across or may not be scal able. Write out

En try any other in for ma tion on placard on

Rib-to-Rib map be side sym bol.

103
Un safe Sym bol used for any in di ca tion of

Roof ques tion able roof con di tions. May

Par tially or may not be scal able. Write out

Across any other in for ma tion on placard on

En try map be side sym bol.

Un safe Rib Sym bol used for any in di ca tion of

or Over- ques tion able rib con di tions. May or

hang ing may not be scalable. Project over rib

Brow line area on map. Write out any

other in for ma tion on plac ard on

map be side sym bol.

Body In di cate po si tion of head and feet as

body is found. If word “body” is on

plac ard, show sym bol. In di cate any

ad di tional in for ma tion on plac ard

on map be side sym bol.

Live In di cate po si tion of head and feet as

Per son found. Write out con di tion, such as

con scious, walk ing, etc. In di cate any

in ju ries as given on plac ard. Write out

in for ma tion on map be side sym bol.

Check Con di tion of check, if noted on placCur tain ard, must be shown on mine map 

be side sym bol. Ex. “Par tially down”

Line The full ex tent of cur tain shall be

Brat tice shown. If the cur tain is par tially or

or Line com pletely down, it must be noted

Cur tain on the map be side the sym bol.

Over cast If it is dam aged, leak ing, or destroyed, that par tic u lar con di tion is

to be noted on the map be side the

sym bol.

104
Undercast If it is dam aged, leak ing, or destroyed, that par tic u lar con di tion is

to be noted on the map be side the

sym bol.

Fan Write out the con di tions of the fan,

and any other in for ma tion in di cated

on plac ard, on the map beside the

sym bol.

Fan with Write out the con di tions of the fan,

Tub ing tub ing, vent bag or plac ard on the

map by sym bol.

Brat tice In di cate any in for ma tion on plac ard

Frames on mine map be side sym bol.

Brat tice In di cate any in for ma tion on plac ard

Cloth or on mine map be side sym bol.

Brat tice

Ma te rial

Gas Use for any plac ard in di cat ing a gas

Mix ture or a mix of gases in the mine atmosphere. Write out the gas name or

sym bol and in di cate PPM or per cent 

(%) if shown on plac ard.

Smoke Write out light, heavy, dense, or any

other in for ma tion in di cated on plac -

ard, on map be side the sym bol.

Elon gated For use in in di cat ing pipe lines, 

Ob ject ca bles, and other ob jects usu ally

found that are of any length. Do not

use for ca ble coiled, etc. Write out

any other in for ma tion about ob ject

on map be side sym bol.

Track Write out any in for ma tion noted on

plac ard on map be side sym bol.

105
Mo bile Use for all mo bile face equip ment.

Equip ment Write out any other in for ma tion

given on placard on map be side

sym bol on map.

50 Foot or Used for 50 foot check of team

First Team mem bers 

Check Inby

Fresh Air

Base

20-Min ute Used for ev ery 20-min ute ap pa ra tus

Ap pa ra tus check of team mem bers.

Check

Far thest Should be used only where ar eas

Point of inby will not be ex plored for whatAd vance ever reason. Not to be used where

other con di tions block travel.

Cap tain’s Use for all lo ca tions where the team

Date and cap tain dated and wrote his/her 

Ini tial ini tials.

Power Self ex plan a tory - Write out any inCen ter for ma tion noted on plac ard.

Other Write the name of the ob ject, condiOb jects, tion, or equip ment and other inforCon di tions, mation in di cated by plac ard on map

or be side the sym bol. This would

Equip ment in clude a “face” if marked by a

plac ard.

106