"Objective: Researchers with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) have developed a training module to educate both new, inexperienced miners as well as veterans on important issues related to self-rescue and escape procedures. These include: (1) physical and environmental conditions that can be encountered in a mine after a major explosion, (2) knowledge of emergency meeting locations and escape routes, (3) the importance of using self-rescuers, even in seemingly clear air, to keep the lungs isolated from contaminants, and (4) why miners should not go off to look for others who are missing. In addition, the module may stimulate miners to think about and discuss mine explosions and the devastating effects of such an event. Background: On November 20, 1968, a massive explosion rocked the underground workings of Mountaineer Coal Co.'s Farmington No. 9 Mine in West Virginia. Of the 99 miners who were working in the mine at the time of the explosion, only 21 survived and escaped the mine. This group included eight miners who were rescued from the Mahan's Run air shaft. Nearly 40 years after the event, researchers from the NIOSH Pittsburgh Research Laboratory conducted oral history interviews with two of the eight survivors rescued from the shaft. During their interviews, Waitman "Bud" Hillberry and Gary Martin discuss the Farmington Mine disaster, including the workplace climate leading up to the explosion, and give detailed accounts of their escape from the mine's 7 South section and rescue from the Mahan's Run air shaft after the explosion. During their discussions, Hillberry and Martin describe: (1) Events and conditions leading up to the explosion, such as ventilation stoppings lagging far behind the faces of 7 South section. (2) The explosion event and their initial response to it. (3) The devastation caused by the initial explosion. (4) The possible problems that could occur by going back to look for missing miners. (5) Problems that can occur when miners remove their self-rescuers, even in seemingly clear air. (6) Knowing how to properly use self-rescue equipment . (7) Starting the fans prematurely. (8) Decisions and actions that played a role in the explosion and subsequent rescue efforts. Until 2006, training to prepare miners to escape an underground mine explosion was largely informal and not detailed. At most, trainers reviewed emergency escape procedures and discussed emergency response. In addition, miners may have walked the escapeways from their respective work stations. In 2006, several fatal incidents occurred at U.S. underground coal mines. These included an explosion at the Wolf Run Mining Co.'s Sago Mine in West Virginia, in which 12 miners perished; a mine fire at the Aracoma Coal Co.'s Alma No. 1 Mine in West Virginia, in which 2 miners died; and an explosion at the Kentucky Darby Coal Co.'s Darby No. 1 Mine, in which 5 miners died. These incidents raised a number of issues related to mine escape and self-rescue following catastrophic events. As a result, new regulations were promulgated requiring mines to provide quarterly mine escape and evacuation training to their workforces. Approach: NIOSH researchers first learned of Hillberry and Martin in 2002. Both men were contacted and agreed to individual videotaped interviews. Hillberry worked as a brattice man at the mine and was in the 7 South section building ventilation stoppings. Segments of his interview provided important information that set the stage for the interview with Martin. On the night of the explosion, although a mechanic, Martin was running a shuttle car on 7 South section. He gave a vivid, detailed account of the event from the time the explosive forces came into the working section until he and the seven other crew members with him were rescued via the Mahan's Run air shaft. Martin also dramatically described underground conditions and the devastation he observed after the initial explosion. The videotapes of both interviews were reviewed and edited by NIOSH researchers for content. Careful attention was paid to ensure that valuable information with explicit teaching points was presented within a reasonable timeframe. Results and Accomplishments: A 25-minute videotape and instructor's guide for use in safety training or other settings were developed. The target audience consists of all underground mine workers, regardless of commodity. This training video will help safety instructors better prepare both new, inexperienced miners as well as veterans for the situations they could encounter should they have to escape an underground mine following an explosion. This "expectations" training will help miners to better respond should an explosion occur. The training module will also provide a powerful reminder to all miners that it is critical to make safety an everyday practice."--NIOSHTIC-2.

Workplace accidents and errors cost organizations hundreds of billions of dollars each year, and the injured workers and their families endure considerable financial and emotional suffering. It's obvious that increasing employee health and safety pays. The accumulating evidence shows that investing in occupational health and safety results in improved financial and social responsibility performance. There are extensive country differences and wide occupational differences in the incidence of accidents and errors. The International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates that every year there are 2.2 million fatal and 270 million non-fatal accidents or occupational diseases worldwide. Occupational Health and Safety looks at the research into what causes accidents and errors in the workplace. In line with other titles in the series, Occupational Health and Safety emphasizes the psychological and behavioral aspects of risk in organizations. It highlights how organizations differ in their health and safety performance, with case studies throughout and best practices. Key elements focus on: employee selection and training, fostering employee understanding, participation and engagement in health and safety matters, developing a health and safety culture at organizational and group/work unit levels, communicating and reinforcing safe workplace practices and bench-marking one's organization against the industry leaders. The contributors to this volume come from various countries, reflecting unique interest and knowledge in particular areas.

"Content: This paper-and-pencil simulation is an interactive story that presents a scenario in which Harry Hamilton, a section foreman on a longwall setup section, must decide what to do when he learns there is a fire in his mine. As time goes along, Harry must face a series of choices about how best to increase his and his crew's chances for survival. The story is taken in part from real-life incidents. Objectives: The completion of this exercise can help new miners, experienced miners, trainers, and others who must deal with issues of self-rescue and escape become more aware of: 1. The need to gather as much information as possible as early as possible; 2. The value of knowing one's escapeways; 3. The need to use self-contained self-rescuers (SCSRs) properly; 4. The value of a multigas detector in an emergency; and, 5. When, and under what circumstances, to enter a refuge alternative. Intended Audiences: 1. Miners in annual refresher classes; 2. Trainers; 3. Responsible Persons; 4. Command center personnel; 5. Original equipment manufacturers; and, 6. Researchers." - NIOSHTIC-2

Refuge chambers may potentially save the lives of miners during a mine emergency. For this reason, it is crucial that miners know how to operate them. Unfortunately, because refuge chambers provide so many services, they can be very complicated and difficult to operate. Therefore, NIOSH has created this document with suggestions for developing manuals and educational materials. A multidisciplinary team comprised of NIOSH engineers, sociologists, psychologists, health communication professionals, and geologists developed the recommendations contained in this document. These recommendations are based on an evaluation of manufacturers' instruction manuals from both the U.S. and globally, interviews with over 20 mining and safety experts, and an extensive literature review. This research, focused on the best practices for refuge chambers, led to the formulation of this document. It is intended to offer suggestions to manufacturers and mine operators on how to create effective and easy-to-understand training manuals for miners as well as tips to create the most comfortable and usable refuge chambers. It should be noted that these recommendations are not meant to substitute for manufacturer-supplied materials but rather to be used in conjunction with manufacturer's materials. Manufacturers should always be consulted for up-to-date information about their chamber. Although different states and different mines refer to underground refuges by different names, this guide will simply refer to underground refuges nearest to the face as refuge chambers, whether inflatable from a skid or constructed from steel. Other popular terms for refuge chambers are rescue chambers, rescue shelters, and refuge shelters. Refuges that are nearer to the shaft, whether a prefabricated refuge chamber or one built into a crosscut, will be referred to as outby refuges because of their location in the mine. Outby refuges can be permanent, semipermanent, or portable and are usually located at every other SCSR cache. Outby refuges are sometimes called hardened rooms, outby shelters, and in-place shelters. When discussing outby refuges and refuge chambers collectively, this guide will refer to them as underground refuges. Other terms for underground refuges include refuge alternatives, locations of safety, and safe havens. The purpose of this document is to provide manufacturers and mine operators with guidance on the development of instructional materials for refuge chamber set up, use and maintenance in support of the Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response (MINER) Act of 2006. This document offers suggestions to aid those responsible for instructing miners in the operation of refuge chambers. Mention of any company or product does not constitute endorsement by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).

The U.S. mining sector has the highest fatality rate of any industry in the country. Fortunately, advances made over the past three decades in mining technology, equipment, processes, procedures, and workforce education and training have significantly improved safety and health. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Mining Safety and Health Research Program (Mining Program) has played a large role in these improvements. An assessment of the relevance and impact of NIOSH Mining Program research by a National Research Council committee reveals that the program makes essential contributions to the enhancement of health and safety in the mining industry. To further increase its effectiveness, the Mining Program should proactively identify workplace hazards and establish more challenging and innovative goals toward hazard reduction. The ability of the program to successfully expand its activities, however, depends on available funding.