Underground Mining Self-Escape and Mine Rescue Practices: An Overview of Current and Historical Trends

Details

• Personal Author:
  Brown Requist KW ; Gordon, Jane E. ; Lotero Lopez S ; Lutz E ; Momayez M ; Stafford A
• Description:
  This formal literature review identifies strengths and shortcomings of current literature related to mine rescue, self-rescue, and self-escape technology. Key concepts and factors that influence the decision making behind mine rescue and self-escape were identified. Historically, underground mining has been one of the most dangerous occupations due to the harsh nature of working environments. During the latter half of the twentieth century, and into the twenty-first century, mining fatalities have declined, yet large-scale mine emergencies persist. The emergence of new technologies, in combination with evidence based mine emergency research, is resulting in new training methods, monitoring systems, and self-escape approaches being tried in operating mines. This review identifies areas in which substantial research is being conducted, such as the use of virtual reality and game-based training and areas that warrant further development such as the measurement and information gathering capabilities of unmanned ground and aerial vehicles, as well as emergency management and incident command systems. This paper summarizes the current underground mine rescue and self-escape landscape in the USA, including the breadth and depth of mine rescue and self-escape training and practices as evident in the literature. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Emergencies Mining Occupational Health Safety Staff Development
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Mine Rescue Emergency Management Emerging Technology Escape Systems Mine Emergency Mine Incident Command System Mine Rescue Mining Health And Safety Self-escape Training Underground Mining Virtual Reality

  More +
• ISSN:
  2524-3462
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Arizona ; New Mexico ; OSHA Region 6 ; OSHA Region 9
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  40
• Issue:
  6
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20069010
• Citation:
  Min Metall Explor 2023 Dec; 40(6):2243-2253
• Contact Point Address:
  Andrew Staford, Department of Community, Environment and Policy, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
• Email:
  andrewstaford@arizona.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2024
• NORA Priority Area:
  Mining
• Performing Organization:
  New Mexico Institute of Mining & Technology
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20210901
• Source Full Name:
  Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration
• End Date:
  20250831
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:604c669734db57809307dbe19284c2f5fc42f1cd13a982bba84f4a22de518b3c7739640be515daa6c5ad84b1649eed0bca4677b9922e45ae2597c5973c422d0c
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/207566/cdc_207566_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 661.33 KB ]