MINE RESCUE Procedures: Establishment of surface control For dealing emergencies like explosions, fires, heating, outbursts at any mine, the first step is to establish a surface control. The senior management of mine concerned and senior inspector together decide to establish a surface control. Objectives: To decide: 1.Specific conditions of mine to be explored 2.Route of travel, familiarity with location 3.Rescue team available and limitations in terms of manpower and apparatus

MINE RESCUE Objectives of rescue work 1.Locating trapped men and bringing them to surface 2.Locating and combating incipient or active fires 3.After the emergency is over, examination of the mine to determine that there is no dangerous concentration of noxious gases Procedures prior to entering an irrespirable zone: Constitution of a rescue team: Rescue team: 5 to 8 trained rescue men A captain and a vice-captain

MINE RESCUE Equipment: The minimum apparatus to be carried by a rescue team besides their breathing apparatuses: Captain: Folder, cards, watch, pen and plan V. Captain : axe, chalk or markers No. 3 man : bag containing oxygen therapy unit, resuscitator No. 4. man : first aid equipment, tools, lights, spare oxygen cylinder and captain’s book. No. 5 man : collapsible stretcher No. 6 man : escape units.

MINE RESCUE Additional equipment: Based on circumstances Link lines Life lines gloves, Knee pads Gas sampling and testing equipment Communication equipment Escape apparatus Fire fighting equipment Miscellaneous tools Flash proof clothing

MINE RESCUE The Fresh Air base: Place from where rescue and recovery work in irrespirable environment is conducted. Location:  may be on surface or underground depending upon the emergency situation but as near as possible to the scene of operation.  The location must involve minimum risk of environmental hazards like contamination by gases, etc.  It should be located in a positive air current to avoid contamination.  Necessary conditions of the environment should be checked before establishing the base at a particular site.

MINE RESCUE Fresh air Base Location:  An assured supply of fresh air  An assured travel way for men and materials  Effective communication with surface control  The best possible illumination  Sufficient work room for efficient operation  Good roof conditions

MINE RESCUE Management of fresh air base: When rescue teams are at work beyond the fresh air base, the following should be available at the base: Two men of whom one should understand the breathing apparatus and first aid. A spare rescue team Two or more oxygen revivers, stretchers and suitable means for gas testing. Rescue officials:  communication with surface control  Advising colliery officials  Sending gas samples to surface control as soon as possible  Checking the atmosphere for possible presence of noxious gases Duties

MINE RESCUE Colliery officials: Important duties: Briefing operational, gas testing, and stand by teams Noting the time of departure and return of inby team Organizing standby team to search for an over due rescue team Keeping record of every body proceeded into mine Ensuring adequate supply of materials and supply needed for rescue work Receiving written report from the captain

MINE RESCUE Standby Team Functions and duties: To search for the inby team if they become overdue To take message from the inby team to return in case of danger To assist the inby team if survivors are located To assist inby team in the event of a collapsed team member

MINE RESCUE Briefing of rescue team (Important points) o Nature of emergency o Status of information o Mine plan o Whether lives are involved o Status of standby team o The details of mine entries o Status of ventilation o Status of electric power o Details of work already completed o Ground water conditions o The type of roof support o Location of fire fighting equipment o Communication system and its status o Availability of medical aid o Main and alternate routes o Contact persons with whom the team shall coordinate o Results of gas analysis since the emergency

MINE RESCUE Responsibilities: The captain’s responsibilities Discipline, safety, work performance by the team The team member’s responsibilities Complete checks on his breathing apparatus Keeping plan of the area Knowing his place and responsibility in the team Ensuring that he is comfortable in the apparatus

MINE RESCUE Procedures after entering an irrespirable zone Order of travel The team captain will always lead the team Man No. 4 Man No. 3Man No. 2V. CaptainCaptain Rate of travel: Weakest or slowest member of the team as a standard Other factors:  Visibility  Obstructions  Amount of oxygen available  Burden to be carried

MINE RESCUE The first stop Shortly after entering the irrespirable zone Duration is approximately 2 minutes This stop allows team members to adjust themselves to the conditions Captain performs essential checks on each member of the team Route marking Captain or V. captain will mark the route of travel by specifically noting the following Team name Time Date Direction of travel

MINE RESCUE Route marking: Marking at: 1.Every intersection or each 100 meters 2.Every turning from the straight road 3.Passing through ventilation doors, regulators, stopping Communication Communication between the team captain and fresh air base through radio contact. Where underground telephone system is available that may be used.

MINE RESCUE Communication Where there is no radio communication between team members, following codes shall be used. One hootdistress or help wanted Two hootshalt Three hootsRetire Four hootsadvance Five hootsAttention Captain’s and team members responsibilities after entering in irrespirable environment

MINE RESCUE Smoky conditions Using lifelines or link lines Sail To prevent back lush of smoke in intake airway while fighting fire. Portable sail made up of curtain, brattice cloth, etc can be used. The purpose to reduce the area of the airway and to increase the velocity of air. The increased velocity tends to push the smoke back towards fire.

MINE RESCUE Return to fresh air base After completing the rescue work or reaching the safety limits of oxygen supply, the team shall return to fresh air base along the same route as traveled inby. Alternate route shall only be used if it is hazardous to follow the main route. The team shall also return to fresh air base before the completion of the task for any of the following reasons: A breathing apparatus malfunctioning or oxygen shortage An injury or any related problem to a team member A change occurred in the mine environment The team encountered unexpected adverse conditions The team is called back from the fresh air base Survivors in need of assistance are discovered.

MINE RESCUE Search for survivors After a gas or coal dust explosion, the most hazardous task for rescue team is to search for survivors. In case of fires, etc. large amounts of afterdamp is possible that could adversely effect surviving workers. One possible approach in such case is to barricade themselves and isolate their position and wait for rescue team. Besides danger of afterdamp, there may exist dangerous roof conditions. The rescue teams should first make the roof secure before proceeding but in some cases this may endanger lives of those trapped and have limited time to survive.

MINE RESCUE Barricades Procedures: All useful things including tools should be collected Suitable place should be chosen to built a barricade Construction must be started without delay To provide a maximum quantity of air as much territory as possible in drifts and cross cuts should be included into the barricade After constructing the barricade, make sure that there are no openings from where hazardous gases could enter. Men should keep as quite as possible to avoid exertion Only one cap lamp should be kept alight to save batteries.