The Mine’s Emergency Notification Plan

The Mine’s Emergency Notification Plan :-

Federal regulations require each underground mine to have and post the mine’s emergency

notification plan outlining the procedures to follow in notifying the mine rescue teams when

there is an emergency that requires their services (30 CFR Section 49.19).

The mine’s notification plan should also include any other people or services that will be

needed at the mine site such as police officers, supply clerks, telephone operators, medical

personnel, ambulances and other emergency vehicles.

NOTE: Show the team a copy of their mine’s emergency notification plan, or you can refer

to the sample mine emergency notification plan.

Surface Arrangements:-

Surface arrangements cover a wide range of activities requiring the coordinated efforts of

many people, including such tasks as establishing a Command Center; briefing all mine

rescue teams on vital information, conditions, and up-to-date plans; and obtaining and

distributing necessary supplies and equipment necessary for the operation.

NOTE: Maintaining readiness for a mine emergency operation requires preparation,

training, and planning, all of which must be a part of your mine’s Emergency Response Plan

(ERP).

Command Center

The Command Center is the hub of rescue and recovery operations and is typically

comprised of mine management personnel, federal and state officials, and miners’

representatives.

The Command Center receives a tremendous amount of information and will require secure

communications equipment connected to underground phones, other surface phones, and

should allow direct communications capabilities with mine rescue teams underground.

All decisions concerning the mine rescue teams such as assignments, scheduling, tracking,

rotations, and methods of exploration and/or firefighting are made by the Command Center.

The decision process of the Command Center is sometimes time-consuming, but it is

important to understand the impact a single decision will have on the entire operation. A

hasty or wrong decision could mean disaster and the loss of life.

 

Security

Having good security at the mine is important in order to keep the roads open and to ensure

that curious bystanders do not hinder the mine rescue effort and are not injured while on the

mine property.

All roads and paths leading to the mine should be secured and guarded by assigned

company personnel or police officers.

Incoming traffic on the roads leading to the mine property should also be regulated by

authorized personnel to keep unnecessary vehicles off the roads so that they can remain

open for needed personnel, supplies, and emergency vehicles.

NOTE: Command Center access should be maintained secure.

Staging and Briefing Area for Teams

When the teams arrive at the mine site, they should be checked in and assigned to a team

area. The mine rescue team coordinators should develop a “rotation schedule” for the

deployment of all teams called to the mine site.

NOTE: The rotation schedule should be designed so there is a clear working order and

standby teams always available. Time should be allotted for teams to rest and to clean, test,

and prepare their apparatus and other equipment. Refer to the sample rotation schedule.

Bench Area for Apparatus

An area that has work benches should be set aside as an apparatus room where the

apparatus can be cleaned, tested, and prepared by bench persons and/or team members.

The area should be free of clutter, have water supply for cleaning equipment, and also safe

access to the correct type of electrical outlets that provide power for compressors, dryers,

and bench-testing equipment.

NOTE: Arrangements for facilities, mine emergency services, and personnel must be

planned out, in advance, as part of your mine’s Emergency Response Plan (ERP).

Laboratory.

If it will be necessary to test samples of the mine air during the rescue and recovery

operation, a laboratory with suitable air analysis equipment should be set up at the mine

for testing such air. If this is not possible, the air samples may have to be sent to an off-site

laboratory for analysis.

 

Medical Facilities

Arrangements for medical services and facilities should be made. This could range from

standby ambulances and a first-aid room to a temporary hospital, depending on the nature

of the emergency. These arrangements should consider identifying and/or designating a

helicopter landing pad.

Information Center

An information center (which is directed by the Command Center) should be established on

the surface to release information related to the emergency to families and the public. The

information center must be secured, staffed, and controlled by authorized personnel only.

Liaison Function

The liaison function serves to maintain a point-of-contact between the Command Center

personnel and other concerned parties such as:

• Family Members

• Mining Company Representatives

• Legal Representatives

• Local Officials

• Property Owners

• News Media

NOTE: Section 7(3) of the MINER Act of 2006 requires that in such accidents, that the Mine

Safety and Health Administration shall serve as the primary communicator with the operator,

miners’ families, the press and the public.

Waiting Area for Family Members

A separate and secure area (preferably off-site from incident ground) will usually be set

aside to brief families and friends of any affected miners.

Press Room

An area completely separate from family members and preferably offsite from incident

ground, should be set up for press and media representatives to gather and receive the

news releases issued from the information center.

Establishing a Chain-of-Command

A great number of people will be doing many different jobs during a rescue and recovery

operation. Therefore, it is important to establish a clear chain-of-command so that rescue

and recovery work can be well-coordinated and carried out efficiently.

Located at the top of the chain-of-command is the mine superintendent and/or the

operator’s designated Responsible Persons who will delegate duties for all mine rescue

personnel, according to the mine’s Emergency Response Plan (ERP).

All personnel involved in the operation, especially mine rescue team members, must know

exactly the duties and responsibilities expected of them, to whom they report, and who

reports to them. Teamwork, coordination, and good communications are crucial during a

mine emergency operation.

Local, state and Federal (MSHA) officials will also respond and work directly with mining

company officials and mine rescue team personnel. Local and Federal officials normally do

not take charge of a mine rescue operation, unless it is deemed absolutely necessary. Their

role is usually to provide assistance and guidance during the mine emergency, approve

modifications to the rescue and recovery plan, and ensure that all rescue and recovery work

is carried out safely and according to the state and Federal law.

The mine rescue team is a crucial link in the chain-of-command. The team is under the

direct supervision of the team captain who also works and communicates directly with all

the designated official(s) responsible for coordinating the operation.

NOTE: Responsible Persons designated and certified by the mine operator are

required to take charge in the event of a mine emergency. Responsible Persons

will need to perform and delegate a variety of duties during the initial phases of rescue/

recovery efforts (see 30 CFR Section 75.1501 for training requirements for Responsible

Persons).

Mine rescue teams must receive accurate, concise, and reliable briefing information from

the Command Center to perform rescue/recovery duties in a safe, timely, and efficient

manner. The teams will also need up-to-date mine maps for exploration duties.

It is extremely important to develop a standardized method of reporting gas readings and

other critical information to the Command Center and the Fresh Air Base (FAB).

Conducting Effective Briefing and Debriefing Sessions 

Effective, accurate briefing and debriefing sessions are extremely important during any

rescue/recovery operation. Valuable information is gained through effective briefing or

debriefing of teams.

Personnel from the Command Center are in charge of conducting the briefing/ debriefing

sessions, and it is recommended that they determine who should be included in the

sessions. It is also suggested that the team captain, map man, and, and the team’s trainer

be included in briefings.

Input from the working teams is crucial. Accurate information exchange from the team

to the Command Center is vital. Every possible effort to ensure accuracy of information

gained from teams at debriefing sessions will be used to make decisions on future activities

concerning the effort.

Thorough briefing sessions with mine rescue teams, before they enter the mine or

dispatched to their assigned area, are essential. The exchange of information and ideas

between the Command Center and the mine rescue teams carrying out the assignments is

extremely important to the successful completion of the assignment.

This exchange can be fruitful for both parties, but it must be emphasized that the Command

Center makes the final decisions regarding all aspects involved in the operation.

The safety of the team and other persons is dependent upon the team receiving

accurate and up-to-date information on the mine’s conditions which should be accurately

communicated to the oncoming team(s).

 

The team(s) should ask questions concerning items about which they are unsure, and

the team(s) should express to the Command Center any concerns they have with their

assignment. Below are the types of items that may be covered in a team briefing:

• Mission of the exploring team

• Missing miners (if any) and their possible location

• Team Safety

• Conditions in the affected areas such as:

• current air readings and methane liberation

• adverse roof conditions

• water accumulation

• mine height

• Environmental conditions:

• ambient air temperatures and/or humidity

• barometric pressure

• electrical storms, etc.

• Condition of the mine fan(s)

• Mine rescue work that has already been completed and covered in the debriefing of the

previous team

• Review of the Approved Rescue/Recovery Plan.

 

 

Key Personnel and Responsibilities

NOTE: The following list suggests a sample break-down of personnel and various duties to

be carried out during a mine emergency. Thoroughly review and understand the Emergency

Response Plan (ERP) and procedures in place at the mine(s) covered by your team.

Mine Superintendent and/or Responsible Persons – The mine superintendent and/ or

other Responsible Person(s), designated and trained by the company, will have a wide

variety of crucial responsibilities during mine emergency and rescue operations.

These designated persons will be part of the group from the Command Center. Working

in cooperation with state and federal officials, they will oversee and manage numerous

aspects of rescue and recovery operations, which include:

• Brief and coordinate mine rescue teams and other mine rescue personnel.

• Maintain up-to-date mine maps.

• Obtain and monitor gas readings and other conditions.

• Monitor underground communications continuously.

• Communicate directly with the FAB personnel and mine rescue teams underground.

• Notify and brief family members of any trapped or missing miners and other personnel

(this should be done in person).

• Brief news media (if and when necessary).

Mine Foreman – Duties of the mine foreman may include the following:

• Organize underground operations for each shift in cooperation with the person in

charge, Federal inspectors, and, if involved, state inspectors and miners’ representatives.

• Provide suitable transportation for people and supplies, as needed.

• Notify all persons on the notification plan and inform them of the emergency.

• Attend the telephone at the Command Center.

• Assign people for errand duty.

Chief Electrician – Duties of the chief electrician may include the following:

• De-energize, lock-out, and tag-out all electric switches controlling the electricity to the

mine, when authorized by the person in charge.

• Maintain the communication infrastructure, both voice and data, on-site.

• Provide power connection needs of mine rescue equipment that arrives on-site.

• Arrange for any needed assistants.

  

Chief Mechanic – Duties of the chief mechanic may be:

• Check explosion doors (for exhausting fan) or weak wall (for blowing fan) for damage.

Make sure explosion doors are closed or weak wall is repaired.

• Check fan and, if necessary, instruct an electrician or machinist to make repairs to the

fan.

• Monitor the operation of the fan and the atmosphere in and around the fan house if the

fan is exhausting.

• With an exhausting fan, proper precautions should be taken to avoid asphyxiation or an

explosion in the fan house.

Mine Manager (Outside) – Duties of an outside manager may include:

• Arrange for guards and state and/or local police to:

• Rope off and guard all mine openings.

• Guard all roads and paths leading to the mine.

• Designate a check person to monitor people entering and leaving the mine. The check

person should:

• Attend to assigned station within the roped-off area.

• Allow no one to go underground except persons authorized by the officials in

charge.

• Examine each person (entering the mine) for matches and smoking materials,

making no exceptions.

• Check off each person by name and number and record the time as they go in

and come out of the mine.

• Set up an area where food and drinks are available for the rescue teams and other

personnel.

• Set up medical facilities and make arrangements for sleeping quarters.

Safety Director – Duties of the safety director may include:

• Assemble mine rescue teams and first-aid crews.

• Provide facilities and equipment for testing, cleaning, and recharging the breathing

apparatus.

• Assign personnel to issue, record, and return mine rescue equipment.

• Consult with the mine manager or superintendent regarding plans for rescue and recovery operations.

  

Chief Engineer – The chief engineer may perform the following duties:

• Provide copies of up-to-date maps (both hard copy and in electronic form) showing the

regular flow of air and the location of ventilation controls, doors, pumps, substations,

machinery, and the electrical system (with control switch locations).

• Alert adjoining mines if they are connected underground with the affected mine.

• Obtain maps of adjoining mines.

• Make arrangements to furnish drilling rig equipment, if needed.

• Direct surveyors to establish control points on the surface should drilling be necessary.

Supply/Warehouse Personnel – A supply person may be responsible for the following

duties:

• Have ready for immediate use: nails, brattice cloth, hatchets, axes, saws, picks,

boards, telephones, wires, any needed gas testing equipment, sledge hammers, slate

bars, shovels, suitable roof supports, lifting jacks, stretchers, batteries, first- aid supplies as needed, and apparatus parts and supplies.

• Obtain and distribute all equipment, supplies, and non-sparking tools used for the operation.

• Prepare an inventory of existing equipment and supplies.

• Contact other mines and suppliers to obtain other needed supplies and equipment.

• Provide coveralls, safety shoes, gloves, caps, flashlights, safety glasses, and lamp

belts.

• Keep a record of all equipment issued and returned.