Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link Skip directly to A-Z link Skip directly to A-Z link


Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC twenty four seven. Saving Lives, Protecting People
Search
            ×
                        Mining
                        Mining
                            NIOSH
                            All CDC
                    Submit
                For a full list of topics:A-Z Index
                Advanced Search
            Advanced Search


The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)


Section Navigation
			
			CDC Home





Mining Topic: Emergency Management
Keywords: Emergencies Emergency managers Emergency planning Emergency response Explosions 
 Fires Ground falls
Fast Find
Tools you can use
Related projects
Related contracts
All emergency management content
What is the health and safety problem?
A series of tragic events over the course of a decade demonstrate the need for competency in managing mine emergencies at all levels in the mining community. These events were Brookwood in 2001 (13 fatalities), followed by Sago (2006, 12 fatalities), Darby (2006, 5 fatalities), Aracoma (2006, 2 fatalities), Crandall Canyon (2007, 6 fatalities), and Upper Big Branch (2010, 29 fatalities). The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) orders mine emergency management requirements for mine operators, including designation and training for responsible persons and the development of mine emergency response plans. To minimize the impact of mine emergencies, it is crucial for companies to be adequately prepared to manage them.
How is the NIOSH Mining program addressing this problem?
Researchers from the Office of Mine Safety and Health Research (OMSHR) have conducted a series of group and individual interviews to learn what happens in the first crucial moments of a mine emergency. The subjects represented underground mines in several commodities and were located throughout the U.S. They included on-site responders, mine rescue team members, and experts in mine emergency response with extensive experience in managing mine disasters. The goal is to learn lessons from these experts that can be passed on to future responders. The loss of critical mine emergency management knowledge as a result of the departure of employees with firsthand experience in mine emergency response has also been explored.
OMSHR has assessed the need for written mine emergency response plans. A variety of plans were studied and guidance was developed for mine operators. Researchers also studied past mine emergencies and used examples from these events to highlight the importance of emergency response planning.
What are the significant findings?
Mine management officials in a command center during a mock mine disaster.Mine management officials in a command center during a mock mine disaster.
Results from focus groups and interviews about the initial moments of a mine emergency indicate that there are common themes in initial response, which include the importance of mine emergency planning and training, quantity and quality of communication that provides information for decision-making, leadership and trust, and individual personal issues. The findings have resulted in recommendations to enhance initial response in the first critical moments of an emergency.
OMSHR researched and successfully demonstrated the effectiveness of post-incident directional lifelines which are now required.
What are the next steps?
Knowing there will always be the possibility of mine emergency events, it is critical for mine officials at all levels to have the knowledge, skills, and ability to step in and manage response to the event thoroughly and efficiently. Recently, the Mine Rescue and Escape Training Laboratory was created at NIOSH’s Pittsburgh campus. With the inauguration of this laboratory, researchers are poised to investigate how virtual reality (VR) technologies can be used for teaching critical mine emergency response skills including emergency management. As part of this effort, researchers will develop training for command center leaders that incorporates virtual reality components. Broad questions to be answered by this work include:
How can VR training techniques be used to train command center leaders?
How can command center training contribute to the development of integrated live, virtual, and constructive training simulation for mine emergency response?This work will build on past NIOSH findings on command center training, coaching and leadership skills, and crisis decision-making.
See Also
Emergency Response Planning for Small Mines: Who Needs It?
Emerging Technologies: Aiding Responders in Mine Emergencies and During the Escape From Smoke-Filled Passageways
Evaluation of the Bagged Stone Dust Barrier Effectiveness in a Bord and Pillar Mine
Fire Response Preparedness for Underground Mines
A Human Component to Consider in Your Emergency Management Plans: The Critical Incident Stress Factor
Knowledge Management and Transfer for Mine Emergency Response
Leadership Characteristics in Escape from Three Underground Mine Fires
Mine Emergency Response Command Center Training Using Computer Simulation
Mobile Adaptable RF/IT Infrastructure - Experimental (MATRIX)
An Oral History Analysis of Mine Emergency Response
Refuge Chamber Training Products and Guidance
A Review of Recent Accidents Involving Explosives Transport
Training for Safety in Emergencies Inoculating for Underground Coal Mine Emergencies
Underground Coal Mine Disasters 1900-2010: Events, Responses, and a Look to the Future
Using the Internet to Train Emergency Command Center Personnel
Page last reviewed: September 21, 2012
Page last updated: September 21, 2012
Content source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Mining Program
Facebook
        Twitter
        LinkedIn
        Syndicate Mining
        Site BrowserSafety and Health TopicsData & StatisticsMethodologyMine DisastersMSHA Data FilesMine & Mineworker ChartsTools & PublicationsTools You Can UsePublicationsNews & ArticlesResearch ProgramNORA Mining CouncilStrategic PlanMining Program, 2019-2023Miner Health Program, 2020-2030ProjectsContractsFunding OpportunitiesMining LinksAbout UsContact NIOSH MiningEmploymentFacilitiesHistoryVisitor Information NIOSH Homepage
 NIOSH A-Z
Workplace Safety & Health Topics
Publications and Products
Programs


About CDC
					Contact Us
					800-232-4636
 Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn Youtube Pinterest Snapchat
 CONTACT CDC
				Contact Us
							Call 800-232-4636
							Email Us
			ABOUT CDC
				About CDC
							Jobs
							Funding
			POLICIES
				Accessibility
							External Links
							Privacy
							Policies
							No Fear Act
							FOIA
							OIG
							Nondiscrimination
							Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
			CONNECT WITH US
				Facebook
								Twitter
								Instagram
								LinkedIn
							Youtube
								Pinterest
								Snapchat
								Email
			LANGUAGES
				Español
							繁體中文
							Tiếng Việt
							한국어
							Tagalog
							Русский
							العربية
							Kreyòl Ayisyen
							Français
							Polski
							Português
							Italiano
							Deutsch
							日本語
							فارسی
							English


U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
			Accessibility
			External Links
			Privacy
			Policies
			No Fear Act
			FOIA
			Nondiscrimination
			OIG
			Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
			USA.gov


Exit Notification / Disclaimer Policy Close
 Links with this icon  indicate that you are leaving the CDC website. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website.
				Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website.
				You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link.
				CDC is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on other federal or private website. Website Disclaimers
 Cancel Continue