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INTRODUCTION This Interim Report describes a mine rescue and survival system that could be developed from existing technology in about one year. The system could potentially save all coal miners who have died of carbon monoxide poisoning following explosions or fires. Bureau of Mines' statistics show that 436 coal miners died in disasters (defined as single accidents causing 5 or more deaths) due to explosions or fires between January 1951 and October 1968. Three-hundred thirty-five of these deaths are attributed to forces of the explosions and 101 to carbon monoxide poisoning. During this period more than 100 additional miners died in fires or explosions that killed less than 5 men. Probably at least 25 of these died of carbon monoxide. The cause of death of the 78 men who died in the explosion at Farmington, West Virginia, in November 1968, is not yet known. In mine accident investigations, the cause of death is determined by the investigator's observation of the body rather than by autopsy. Therefore, the number of deaths attributed to either explosive forces or carbon monoxide is only approximate; and it is likely that more are killed by carbon monoxide than attributed to this cause. Coal mine explosions propagate so rapidly that the only protection against explosive forces is prevention of ignition or rapid quenching of explosions once ignitions have occured. Rapid quenching techniques are being investigated for an advanced mine rescue and survival system, but cannot be developed in time to be a part of the system described here; and ignition prevention is beyond the scope of this study. Therefore, the system proposed in this report is aimed at saving miners explosed to carbon monoxide and other lethal gases. Some of the techniques under review by the Committee are applicable to survival and rescue of miners trapped by inundation. However, the greatest potentials are related to fires and explosions. The physical disruptions after an explosion are aggravated by the destruction of the communications system locally or, in extreme instances, throughout the mine. Miners who are near but not in the immediate explosion area may suffer from shock and some injuries, although they are most often ambulatory. Others more distant may suffer no injuries whatsoever and may not realize that an explosion has occurred.
- 2 - Unabated fire makes the danger of methane gas explosion, with or without coal dust propagation, a real hazard. As fire disrupts ventilation, accumulations of explosive gas mixtures and sources of ignitions are more likely to come together. Explosive gases are even given off by the fire itself, adding to the hazard. Fortunately the foregoing does not occur rapidly. The smoke and carbon monoxide follow the ventilating current; and in the early stages of the fire, the location and direction of travel of the gases are known. In the vast majority of fires, miners have been evacuated around the fires and gases. The improved emergency breathing device, discussed later as part of the proposed system, should aid miners in evacuating during the early stages of fires. In explosions the gases are very rapidly forced throughout the affected part of the mine. The force of the explosion destroys stoppings and disrupts ventilation. Miners attempting to evacuate the mine are much more likely to walk into concentrations of lethal gas. Thus, following explosions, evacuation is more hazardous; and unless an obvious escape route is available, barricades should be erected or the proposed refuge chambers used. There is strong evidence that, in addition to proper equip- ment, proper training is essential to survival and rescue. Each mining crew should be organized for and drilled in behavior that would maximize their chances for survival. They should be taught the specific hazards associated with different types of emergencies and the best way to meet them. The records of coal mine disasters show very clearly that many more miners would have survived had they known the proper course of action to follow. The proposed system consists of a survival subsystem using improved emergency breathing devices and refuge chambers, a communications subsystem using seismic or electromagnetic devices to locate and communicate with survivors, and a rescue subsystem of large- and small-hole drilling equipment and rescue teams. Except for providing them with location information, the operation of rescue teams can be only marginally improved upon in the first phase system.
