Developing the Keeping Cool 

Training Module

NIOSH developed Keeping Cool 

in response to safety managers’ 

concerns about heat stress incidents 

in deep metal mines. However, 

Keeping Cool can be applied to any 

mining environment.

NIOSH followed current researchbased guidelines to design the 

learning activities [Ambrose et al. 

2010; Clark 2015; Dirksen 2016; Moore 

2017]. That research emphasizes 

(1) designing for behavior goals; (2) 

distinguishing what trainees must 

know from what they can look up 

later; (3) having learners apply what 

they know to solve realistic problems; 

Background

Miners working in hot environments—

whether inside, outside, or deep 

underground—are at risk of illness and 

even death due to heat stress. Heat can 

affect workers differently and can even 

affect the same worker differently on 

different days [NIOSH 2018]. This could 

cause miners to misjudge the risk to 

themselves or their coworkers and fail 

to take suitable precautions or first 

aid actions. Miners need to recognize 

what actions and conditions put them 

at greater risk, what steps they can 

take to reduce their risk, and how to 

read and respond to the signs of heat 

stress in themselves or a coworker. 

Lectures are a common training 

choice, but they aren’t the best way to 

develop and practice skills [Clark 2015; 

Moore 2017]. Training with activities 

that engage learners leads to better 

learning outcomes and better transfer 

of learning into action [Ambrose et 

al. 2010; Dirksen 2016]. This is the 

approach taken by Keeping Cool. 

Keeping Cool is designed to help 

mines reduce the number and severity 

of heat stress incidents. The module’s 

learning activities allow miners to 

practice assessing risk factors and 

identifying the appropriate response 

to heat stress in themselves or a 

coworker. 

Summary

Keeping Cool is an instructor-led 

training module to reduce heatrelated illnesses in miners. It is now 

available from the National Institute 

for Occupational Safety and Health 

(NIOSH). Safety trainers can use the 

module to guide discussions on (1) 

what on- and off-shift behaviors 

increase heat stress risk, (2) how to 

recognize the signs of heat stress in 

oneself and one’s coworkers, and 

(3) what first aid actions to take 

when someone has a heat-related 

illness. The module also includes 

a simple explanation of how heat 

affects the body, a short video 

testimonial to motivate action, an 

instructor’s guide, and fact sheets 

that managers can make available 

as on-demand job aids.

By Blaine Connor

No. 565 August 2023

Milestones in Mining Safety and Health Technology

NIOSH MINING PROGRAM

Technology News

Figure 1. Keeping Cool home screen showing links to two activity modules, 

two informational modules, and the instructor’s guide

Keeping Cool: Training to Reduce Heat Stress Incidents in Mines
For More Information

For more information on Keeping Cool, contact the NIOSH Mining Program (mining@cdc.gov).

Find NIOSH products and get answers to workplace safety and health questions:

(4) structuring activities so learners don’t have to wade 

through explanations they don’t need, but do have the 

opportunity to pull in extra information when they wish; 

and (5) guiding learners as they apply knowledge to new 

situations. NIOSH conducted field tests of the materials 

with miners working in underground metal mines and 

with miners working in surface stone and gravel mines. 

NIOSH then made refinements based on miner feedback.

How to Use Keeping Cool 

Keeping Cool includes four units: two risk-assessment 

activities, a video testimonial from a victim of heat stress 

and his supervisor, and a brief primer on how excessive 

heat affects the body internally. 

The core of Keeping Cool is its first two activities, which 

ask trainees to assess a crew of miners. Trainees identify 

heat stress risks, evaluate symptoms, and recommend 

appropriate first aid measures. 

The instructor’s guide details the heat-related illness 

and first aid associated with each crew member. Trainers 

should familiarize themselves with this material and the 

included NIOSH fact sheets prior to leading the activities. 

To customize the class, trainers can choose specific crew 

members to evaluate or design their own.

These activities should be completed before trainers 

provide any information on heat stress. This approach 

requires trainees to apply prior knowledge, which 

promotes learning better than passive listening or 

looking up answers. Instructors can provide trainees 

with the NIOSH fact sheets to assist with their task of 

evaluating crew members. In field tests, miners shared 

their knowledge with each other during small group and 

class discussions. 

The training can be run with any size group. However, in 

field tests, it worked well to create breakout groups of 

three to five miners each. Small group discussions gave 

trainees the chance to raise questions and even make 

mistakes in a low-stakes setting. Instructors can present 

the units separately or in one session. In field tests with 

classes of approximately 15 miners divided into four small 

groups, running the entire set took about 45 minutes.

How to Get Keeping Cool 

The module is available for free on the 

NIOSH Mining website: 

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/

works/coversheet2223.html. 

1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636) | TTY: 1-888-232-6348

CDC/NIOSH INFO: cdc.gov/cdc-info | cdc.gov/niosh

Monthly NIOSH eNews: cdc.gov/niosh/eNews

DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2023-138

DOI: https://doi.org/10.26616/NIOSHPUB2023138

Disclaimer: Mention of any company or product does not constitute endorsement by NIOSH.

Accessible version: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/works/coversheet2226.html

References 

Ambrose SA, Bridge MW, DiPietro M, Lovett MC, Norman MK [2010]. 

How learning works: seven research-based principles for smart teaching. 

San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. 

Clark RC [2015]. Evidence-based training methods: a guide for training 

professionals. 2nd ed. Alexandria, VA: ATD Press. 

Dirksen J [2016]. Design for how people learn. 2nd ed. San Francisco, CA: 

New Riders. 

Moore C [2017]. Map it: the hands-on guide to strategic training design. 

Montesa Press.

NIOSH [2018]. Heat stress: understand heat stress risk factors, prevention, 

and treatment. Poster. Spokane, WA: U.S. Department of Health and Human 

Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for 

Occupational Safety and Health, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2018-116.

Figure 3: Sample symptom assessment from Activity 2

Figure 2: Sample risk assessment from Activity 1