The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1916-11-30
NINE PREPAREDNESS
FOR POSSIBLE DISASTER
BUREAU OF MINES ISSUES MAN
UAL OF INSTRUCTION FOR
RESCUE WORK.

A plea for preparedness at coal and
metal mines, so that if a disaster
comes and imprsons many miners the
officials may have a definite plan for
action in saving life is outlined in
report just issued by the bureau of
mines of the department of the in
terror and which is being sent to prac-
tically all OF the mines in the United
ed in rescue work at many mine eX-
plosions and has been instrumental in
saving the lives Of many men, but in
almost every instance where there has
been great disaster the bureams Of
fcials say they have found great con-
fusion prevailing with much valuable
time wasted before a proper rescue
organization could be effected. There
has also been a serious absence of the
equipment necessary for the recovery
of the men entombed. Lack of such
preparedness, the bureau says, no
doubt has often resulted in an unne-
cessary loss of life among the impris-
oned men and also among the rescue
force
Uniform Rescue Organization.
Since the bureau began it's rescue
work it has endeavored to guide in
the formation of competent rescue or
CARNATIONS at mine disasters, but has
been greatly hampered because of the
different methods in practice in differ
ent parts of the country Based on it's
experience at many mine disasters,
the bureau has now formulated code
which it is felt should be in the hands
of every responsible official at mine.
This code provides for an organization
at each mine that would become auto
Imatically active the moment there is
a disaster. 1t also gives list of the
necessary materials to have on hand
at all times and outlines the most i'm
portant duties for these organizations
during such emergencies.
waning Explains OySten'
| N'At times there has been some lit
tie misunderstanding as to just what
part the bureau of mines is expected
to take in rescue work." said Van H.
Manning, director of the bureau.
This manual is intended to define
the duties of the rescuers and to
bring about a better understanding
between the men engaged in rescue
work as to the functions of the bur-
eau 1t has been a popular notion
that the rescuers of the bureau wear
| ing heavy oxygen rescue apparatus
should carry the dead from the mine
and there has been some little disap-
pointment at the refusal of the res
cuers to take part in this work 1t
has been my policy Ahat the rescuers
should seek to save live men and give
them assistance and should not be
called upon except in special emer-
gencies to carry bodies and then only
for short distance. The entire
strength of men, thus handicapped by
the heavy apparatus, should be ex-
pended in saving life.
Rescue and Safeguard Miners.
Disasters do not come frequently to
individual mines and there has been
natural feeling that they will never
come. Consequently very little
thought is given to what should be
done when such a catastrophe does
come. The result has been very lit
tie preparedness and considerable
confusion, especially when some of
the best men in the employ of the
company are imprisoned sor killed.
This manual is intended to give the
operators and superintendent and
other officials of the mines some idea
of the character of organization that
should be normally in force at mine
every day it is working, and explains
how this organization may be turned
into an effective rescue force when a
disaster comes. 1t is an effort on the
part of the bureau to save the maxi
mum possible number of men impris-
lbned in mine and at the same time
TO safeguard the lives of the rescuers
many of whom have been sacrificed in
the past. The bureau does not like
to think of disasters happening; Al
the same time it believes in prepar-
edness when they do come. If the
suggestions in this little book succeed
in saving the life of a single miner
the bureau will be repaid for it's eff.
forts along this line"
=, -, 1~,. - 49,