NIOSH Safety Talk: 

The Emergency Communication Triangle

Introduction

 Research has shown that when an emergency occurs, workers often do not get the information they need to take appropriate 

action. Important information about incidents is either not communicated effectively or not at all to those affected by the event. 

The "Emergency Communication Triangle" safety talk focuses 

on the content of emergency warning messages. It presents a 

procedure using mental cues that can be used by senders and 

receivers of emergency warnings. The talk includes graphics for 

use during the presentation, as well as references for more 

information. 

Background

Interviews with 48 miners who had escaped one of three 

different underground mine fires revealed that warning information provided to them was inadequate. Either insufficient 

information was provided to miners inby the fire areas or they 

failed to ask the questions needed to let them plan and execute 

an effective escape. Most of the miners who evacuated from 

these three mines did not have information that would allow 

them to make decisions about efficient escapes. The communication breakdown came from two directions: (1) the individuals providing the warning did not offer details about the 

situations even though some were known and (2) the individuals 

who received the warnings did not ask for clarification of the 

situation. The lack of information allowed miners to continue 

attempting to place cues into normal frameworks after they 

should have evaluated the situation as abnormal and threatening. 

The uncertainty created by the lack of information influenced 

their decision-making and therefore their actions. 

Approach

 Researchers at the NIOSH Pittsburgh Research Laboratory 

have developed a training intervention that can be used by 

senders and receivers of warnings during a mine emergency. 

This material was developed for use in short safety training 

sessions such as start-of-shift safety talks. The information can 

be presented in about 15 minutes. Although the illustrations 

were taken from the underground coal mining industry, the 

training can be tailored to any work setting by substituting 

appropriate examples. 

How It Works

 During the safety talk, miners learn about the six categories 

of critical information that should be provided during emergency 

communications: Who, Where, What, Miners, Event, and 

Response. 

 • Who: When reporting an emergency or receiving a 

warning, the first thing a miner must do is identify himself or 

herself. This is important because people react differently based 

on who gives them information. 

 • Where: Giving or finding out the location of the 

problem is important. Of the 48 miners interviewed about their 

escape, only 2 knew where the fire was located. However, this 

information was known by either the dispatcher or the person 

who discovered the fire. 

 • What: Miners must tell or ask exactly what is happening. At one mine fire, miners near the phone heard the 

message to evacuate and went to gather the others on their crew. 

One worker shouted to a machine operator: "Come on down to 

the mantrip. We're going out." Because it was close to quitting 

time, the machine operator thought they were just leaving the 

section a little early and went through his normal end-of-shift 

routine, wasting valuable time. 

 After giving or obtaining the three initial pieces of critical 

information, miners can then give or obtain details about the 

response in progress. 

 • Miners: Is anyone hurt? Has everyone been accounted 

for? When and where was a missing person last seen? 

No. 507 September 2004 
 • Event: Will this situation require a first aid kit or an 

ambulance? Should we call for mine rescue teams or just a 

couple of fire extinguishers? 

 • Response: What's been done so far? How many people 

are on the scene? What equipment is on the scene? 

Results

 After its development in 1999, the "Emergency Communications Triangle" safety talk was extensively field tested 

with a group of 236 miners at a western underground coal mine. 

Researchers used a pre-test/post-test design for the field test. 

Before the safety talk was given, workers were asked to list three 

pieces of information that should be included in an emergency 

warning message. After the safety talk had been given to all 

miners, researchers returned to the mine about 90 days later. 

Workers were asked again to list three pieces of information to 

include in a warning message. Considerable improvement was 

seen in the percentage of miners who accurately reported three 

information components after versus before the training (see 

figure 1). 

For More Information 

 The NIOSH safety talk can be downloaded from the NIOSH 

Web Site (http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/pdfs/99-157.pdf). A printed 

copy can also be ordered from Bobbie Calhoun, NIOSH Pittsburgh 

Research Laboratory, P.O. Box 18070, Cochrans Mill Rd., 

Pittsburgh, PA 15236–0070; phone: (412) 386–5091; e-mail: 

minetraining@cdc.gov. For additional information about the 

NIOSH safety talk, contact Michael J. Brnich, Jr., CMSP, or 

Launa G. Mallett, Ph.D., NIOSH Pittsburgh Research Laboratory, P.O. Box 18070, Cochrans Mill Rd., Pittsburgh, PA 15236–

0070; phone: (412) 386–6840 or (412) 386–6658; e-mail: 

MBrnich@cdc.gov or LMallett@cdc.gov. 

To receive more information about occupational safety and 

health problems, call 1–800–35–NIOSH (1–800–356–4674), 

or visit the NIOSH Web site at www.cdc.gov/niosh

Mention of any company name or product does not constitute 

endorsement by the National Institute for Occupational Safety 

and Health. 

Figure 1.—Percentage of miners able to report three components of an emergency warning message before and after the NIOSH 

safety talk.