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Mining Contract: New Vest Style Escape SCSR Through SCSR Efficiency Improvement Study
Keywords: Closed circuit breathing apparatus Emergency response Equipment design Escape and rescue equipment Rescue
This page is archived for historical purposes and is no longer being maintained or updated.
Contract #
12FED1213244Start Date
6/1/2012End Date
4/30/2014Research Concept
This research will investigate efficiency improvements for pure oxygen breathing apparatuses used by miners in emergencies, namely self-contained self-rescuers, and develop an improved ergonomic design.Topic Area
Rescue Technologies and Training
Contract Status & Impact
This contract is complete. To receive a copy of the final report, send a request to mining@cdc.gov.
Current self-contained self-rescuers (SCSRs) operate inefficiently by providing a constant flow rate of oxygen that is not based on the user's breathing pattern. Because of their design, current SCSRs also tire users by requiring “respiratory pulling” on the demand valve when users are breathing more heavily. The objective of this research was to develop a vest style mine escape SCSR by studying and adapting efficiency enhancements that can be applied to existing SCSRs.
Under this contract, the Navy Experimental Diving Unit improved the efficiency of the current SCSR oxygen dosing system by incorporating electronic and/or mechanical ventilation-linked, dosing valve control designs into a hybrid prototype using existing mining SCSRs as a test platform. Based on this research, a separate contract was awarded to a different contractor to develop a new one-hour duration vest style SCSR prototype.
This contract was funded as part of an interagency agreement program, which provides a formal means for federal government agencies to share and further technology that could apply to and benefit mine safety and health. Through this program, the Office of Mine Safety and Health Research (OMSHR) identifies other government agencies with the knowledge, skills, and abilities relevant to a health and safety gap and works collaboratively with these agencies to identify the type of technology solution desired and to determine specifications for this technology.
Following a catastrophic event, mine workers and rescue teams may be exposed to harmful gases in the mine atmosphere. Breathing air supplies (BAS) technologies are used to isolate the lungs from this atmosphere or provide refuge alternatives where the atmosphere is controlled. Breathing air supplies for underground mining refer to a range of devices and systems that offer respiratory protection to miners in the event of an emergency. Some examples of BAS are SCSRs, closed-circuit oxygen breathing apparatus (CCBAs), and gas supplies for refuge alternatives. Advanced BAS technology could improve a mine worker’s chances of surviving a mine disaster.
See Also
Development and Demonstration of a Robotic Support Vehicle for Underground Mine Rescue Efforts
Efficiency Improvement Study of Mine Rescue Breathing Apparatus and Development of an Improved Prototype CCBA
A Global Inventory of Mine Rescue Training Facilities: Compendium of Ideas to Improve U.S. Coal Mine Rescue Training
Mine Rescue and Response
Mine Rescue Training Facility Inventory - Compendium of Ideas to Improve US Coal Mine Rescue Training
Mine Rescue Training Simulations and Technology
Refuge Alternatives in Underground Coal Mines
Rescue Technologies and Training
Seismic Detection of Trapped Miners Using In-Mine Geophones
System Reliability and Environmental Survivability
Page last reviewed: July 18, 2016
Page last updated: May 23, 2016
Content source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Mining Program
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