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Milestones in Mining Safety and Health Technology

OFFICE OF MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH RESEARCH

Technology

No.

News

553 August 2015

Interactive BG 4 Training Software Reinforces Skills for 

Benching Mine Rescue Breathing Apparatus

Summary

An effective training tool, the 

BG 4 Benching Trainer software, 

now helps to reinforce the 

critical skills that mine rescue 

team members must possess to 

accurately “bench” closed-circuit 

breathing apparatus. This software 

supplements traditional hands-on 

training through a 3D interactive 

environment in which rescue 

personnel can practice benching 

a virtual Draeger BG 4 apparatus. 

Knowledge of critical benching skills 

helps in maintaining the integrity of 

breathing apparatus and in keeping 

mine rescue team members safe 

during mine emergencies.

By Jason Navoyski, Michael Brnich, CMSP, 

and Timothy Bauerle

Background

Hands-on training is the traditional 

method for teaching individuals how to 

bench a BG 4 breathing apparatus. Mine 

rescue team trainers typically work with 

new rescue team members to teach them 

the process of benching a closed-circuit 

breathing apparatus. Once they receive 

initial training, trainees demonstrate their 

proficiency by benching an apparatus 

from start to finish. After completing 

the initial training, benchmen practice 

benching a breathing apparatus during 

regular monthly mine rescue training 

sessions. Benching competitions at 

Figure 1: Mine rescue instructor shows trainees the BG 4 Benching Trainer software.

mine rescue contest events are another 

method of evaluating trainee competency. Despite the proven value of training 

with an actual breathing apparatus, a 

need exists to reinforce benching skills 

when an actual apparatus is not available due to the logistics of providing the 

equipment and scheduling classroom 

time. Through feedback from mine rescue trainers and team members, the 

National Institute for Occupational Safety 

and Health (NIOSH) determined that a 

critical need exists for new approaches 

to benchmen training. To address this 

need, NIOSH developed the BG 4 Benching Trainer software. The new software 

serves as a supplemental method of 

introducing new mine rescue team 

members to the Draeger BG 4 apparatus 

and guiding them through the benching 

process in a 3D interactive environment. 

Trainers can use the software to teach 

trainees (see Figure 1) about the different parts that make up the apparatus, the 

potential flaws in each part, and how to 

install the parts. Although not a substitute for hands-on training, the software 

allows rescue team members to practice 

benching a BG 4 apparatus outside of 

traditional training sessions with the help 

of realistic 3D models. NIOSH developed 

this software as part of a suite of training applications using 3D interactive 

environments for teaching critical thinking skills to miners. Other applications in 

the suite include Underground Coal Mine

Map Reading Training (http://www.cdc.

gov/niosh/mining/works/coversheet1825.

html), which was released in 2009, 

and Mine Emergency Escape Training 

(planned for 2016). 

About the New Software

NIOSH software developers designed the 

BG 4 Benching Trainer module to emulate the BG 4 benching process, allowing 
users to interact with realistic 3D apparatus parts within a 3D

interactive environment. The software places the trainee in

front of a virtual table where all of the BG 4 apparatus parts are

shown. The trainee selects parts from the virtual table one at

a time with each part gliding into view for closer inspection. 

Figure 2 shows the breathing air bag being inspected through 

the software. The trainee inspects each individual part for flaws 

with the inspection tools provided in the software. Most 

apparatus part flaws are visual and require an attention to 

detail to find, just like in the real-world benching competitions where judges introduce actual flaws in breathing apparatus parts for benchmen to find. In the software, apparatus part

flaws range froma ripped breathing bag to missing O-rings.

When a trainee finds a flaw, they can swap it for a replacement

part as they normally would in a real-life mine rescue benching 

contest. Once fully assembled, the trainee can test the BG 4 for 

leaks using the virtual RZ tester. Figure 3 illustrates the BG 4

Figure 2: The breathing air bag selected for inspection within the 

software.

Figure 3: A completely assembled virtual BG 4 attached to the RZ 

tester unit within the software.

completely assembled within the software and attached to 

the virtual RZ tester. The software generates a score sheet for 

the trainee, which the trainer can use to review a trainee’s 

performance and provide post-training feedback.

The portability of downloading the software onto a PC allows 

mine rescue team members to practice benching techniques 

without the need to use an expensive, live apparatus. This 

provides greater training flexibility and more opportunities 

to become familiar with the apparatus outside of hands-on 

training sessions.

Field Test Results

Thirty mine rescue team members participated in the field test 

evaluation of the software. Participants had an average of 1.85 

years of apparatus benching experience. Experience levels 

ranged from zero to seven years, with nearly 67% of trainees 

having one year or less of benching expertise. Following each 

field test session trainees filled out a post-training questionnaire to provide feedback regarding their training experience 

and opinions on the effectiveness of the software. Mine rescue 

team members and benchmen who participated in the testing 

provided mostly positive feedback:

• 87% agreed that the training software reinforced

knowledge and skills learned through previous mine

rescue training.

• 84% agreed that the training software made them more

confident in having the ability to correctly bench a BG 4

during a real mine emergency.

• 71% agreed that the training software helped to prepare

them for a benching competition.

• 94% agreed that the training software motivated them to

learn about benching a BG 4.

• 94% agreed that training in a virtual environment is a good

supplement to training in a real-life environment.

How to Obtain the BG 4 Benching Trainer Software

The software is now available for download at no cost from the 

NIOSH OMSHR website at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/

Works/coversheet1877.html. 

For More Information

For more information on BG 4 Benching Trainer software, contact Jason Navoyski, JNavoyski@cdc.gov, 412-386-5041, or the Health Communications Coordinator (OMSHR@cdc.gov), NIOSH Office of Mine Safety and Health Research, 626 Cochrans Mill Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15236.

To receive NIOSH documents or for more information about occupational safety and health topics, contact: 

1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636), 1-888-232-6348 (TTY), or request information at the CDC website at 

www.cdc.gov/info, or visit the NIOSH website at www.cdc.gov/niosh.

DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2015–225