UNIVERSITY OF MINES AND TECHNOLOGY

MINE RESCUE OBJECTIVES

UNIVERSITY OF MINES AND TECHNOLOGY

UNIVERSITY OF MINES AND TECHNOLOGY
The objectives of this section are:
✓ Explain the essence of mine rescue (emergency
response);
✓ Describe the operations of rescue brigade; and
✓ Identify facilities employed in rescue operations.

By
Sylvester Yenzanya
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PRESENTATION OUTLINE BRIEF HISTORY

UNIVERSITY OF MINES AND TECHNOLOGY

UNIVERSITY OF MINES AND TECHNOLOGY

UNIVERSITY OF MINES AND TECHNOLOGY

UNIVERSITY OF MINES AND TECHNOLOGY

The presentation will be as follows: ✓ Mine rescue has a very long history and can be associated
✓ History; with the beginning of underground mining although it was not
✓ Objectives; well organised as today.
✓ Rescue Equipment and Facilities;
✓ Fresh Air Base Requirements and Procedures; ✓ According to Mine Safety and Health Administration
✓ Duties of Team Members; (MSHA), the deadliest history in coal mining was between
✓ Types of Mine Rescue; 1900 and 1909 were a total of 3660 miners died in 133 mine
✓ Team Organisation; disasters.
✓ Rescue Operation;
✓ Communication; and ✓ The U. S. Bureau of Mines in 1911 organised and directed the
first national mine safety demonstration on coal dust explosion
✓ Refuge Chamber. where a team of miners trained in first aid participated
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Instructor: Mr Sylvester Yenzanya 1

 UNIVERSITY OF MINES AND TECHNOLOGY BRIEF HISTORY BRIEF HISTORY

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UNIVERSITY OF MINES AND TECHNOLOGY

UNIVERSITY OF MINES AND TECHNOLOGY

Mine Rescue Team at Forbes Field (Anon., 2015)
Underground Mine Rescue Team (under apparatus): brings victim
5 to the surface for emergency medical care (MSHA, 2015) 6

BRIEF HISTORY BRIEF HISTORY

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UNIVERSITY OF MINES AND TECHNOLOGY

Rescue in Ghana
✓ AGC - Obuasi Mine Rescue - 1960s

✓ By early 1980’s, the training had

become an integral part of the mine

✓ The rescue station was manned 8

hours/day for 5 days/week until Newmont – Ahafo Mine
1988.

✓ There are records of other brigades

that were formed in the then
Prestea, Tarkwa Goldfields, and
Bibiani underground mines.

Chirano Mine Rescue 7 Proto Mac 5 at Prestea 8

Instructor: Mr Sylvester Yenzanya 2

 UNIVERSITY OF MINES AND TECHNOLOGY
HAZARDS DEFINITION

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UNDERGROUND MINING SURFACE MINING
❑ Mine rescue is the practiced response to a mine emergency
situation that endangers life, property, and the continued
✓ Rock burst hazard,
✓ Fire hazard, ✓ Water hazard, operation of the mine.

✓ Roof fall hazard, ✓ Landslide and rock fall, ❑ The term mine rescue is also used to refer to all measures and
✓ Methane hazard, ✓ Seismic hazard. devices used for working in irrespirable and toxic atmosphere
✓ Coal-dust, occurring in the mines (Ramlu, 2007).
explosion hazard, ❑ Mine rescue is a practiced response to mine emergency
✓ Outburst of gas, situations using appropriate equipment and expertise
✓ Water hazard, (Yenzanya, 2016).
✓ Climatic hazard.
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OBJECTIVES OF MINE RESCUE DUTIES OF RESCUE TEAM

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✓ The primary objective of mine rescue is save lives Rescue teams have the following obligations:
and prevent/reduce damage to properties.
✓ Exploring the affected area of the mine;
✓ To achieve this, the team have to; ✓ Searching for and rescuing survivors;
• Locate and bring to safety all missing persons; ✓ Performing first aid;
• Locate and recover dead bodies before ✓ Determining gas conditions;
decomposition; ✓ Locating and fighting fires;
• Locate and extinguish active fires or seal them ✓ Build stoppings/bulkheads/seals;
off; ✓ Clear debris, pump water, install or erect roof
• Restore normal ventilation to all parts of the support.
mine; and
• Reinstate the mine to normal working
condition.
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Instructor: Mr Sylvester Yenzanya 3

 UNIVERSITY OF MINES AND TECHNOLOGY DUTIES OF RESCUE TEAM FORMS OF MINE RESCUE

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UNIVERSITY OF MINES AND TECHNOLOGY

UNIVERSITY OF MINES AND TECHNOLOGY

✓ Rescue operation
✓ Conduct fire evacuation and other drills for workers. ✓ Technical Rescue: Respirable Atmosphere
✓ Mine Rescue: Irrespirable Atmosphere

✓ Train employees on emergency procedures. ✓ Mine Organisation

✓ Mine-owned
✓ Train employees on basic firefighting. ✓ State owned
✓ Private
✓ Cooperatives
✓ Inspect fire equipment (i.e. surface and underground). ✓ Funded Scheme

✓ Respond to emergencies in all areas of the country ✓ Team organisation

✓ Permanent
when the need arises. ✓ Volunteer

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RESCUE EQUIPMENT RESCUE EQUIPMENT

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Fire Emergency Preparedness Fire Emergency Preparedness Cont’d
Hydrants at Fire Truck at NAM
NAM

WSF at Ahafo

Fire
Extinguishers
at NAM

Fire Truck at CGML

Resources for Firefighting 15 Underground Recue Truck at CGML 16

Instructor: Mr Sylvester Yenzanya 4

 UNIVERSITY OF MINES AND TECHNOLOGY RESCUE EQUIPMENT RESCUE EQUIPMENT

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UNIVERSITY OF MINES AND TECHNOLOGY

UNIVERSITY OF MINES AND TECHNOLOGY

Hazmat Response
Fire Emergency Preparedness Cont’d
Safety Shower

Hazmat Truck at NAP

Containing Spillages at NAP

Rescue Truck at NAP
17 Hazmat Response Materials 18

RESCUE EQUIPMENT RESCUE EQUIPMENT

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Water Rescue Irrespirable Atmosphere Truck with a Canoe at NAP
Truck with a Canoe at NAP

Training at NAP

SCBA at NAP
BG 4 at CGML Resuscitation Device

Life Buoy Rings at NAP

BG4 Demonstration at NAP Multigas Detector Self Rescuer at CGML
Water Rescue Resources 19 Rescue Devices 20

Instructor: Mr Sylvester Yenzanya 5

 UNIVERSITY OF MINES AND TECHNOLOGY RESCUE EQUIPMENT RESCUE EQUIPMENT

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Vehicle Extrication
Communication

Cutter – used to cut accidented vehicle

Stench Gas at NAP Tetra Radio at CGML

Vetter Bag at NAP Tetra Comline at NAP

Radio at
Cutter and Accessories at NAP NAP

Vehicle Extrication Resources 21

Communication Devices 22

RESCUE EQUIPMENT RESCUE FACILITIES

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Rope Rescue
At CGML 1 At CGML 2 At NAP Underground Simulations

Training Centre with Vehicles

Sand Bags

Confine Space
Training Sessions
23 Fig. 11 Rescue Gallery at NAP 24

Instructor: Mr Sylvester Yenzanya 6

 UNIVERSITY OF MINES AND TECHNOLOGY RESCUE FACILITIES RESCUE FACILITIES

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CGML Smoke Chamber Permanent Refuge Chamber (Anon., 2013)
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RESCUE FACILITIES REFUGE CHAMBER

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Manufactured Refuge Chamber (Anon., 2014) Interior of a Refuge Chamber at Newmont-Ahafo

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Instructor: Mr Sylvester Yenzanya 7

 UNIVERSITY OF MINES AND TECHNOLOGY RESCUE FACILITIES RESCUE FACILITIES

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Rescue Capsules (Anon., 2012)
Escape Route @ CGML 29 30

RESCUE FACILITIES RESCUE FACILITIES

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UNIVERSITY OF MINES AND TECHNOLOGY

Rescue Capsules (Anon., 2017)

Chilean Mine Rescue, 2010
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Instructor: Mr Sylvester Yenzanya 8

 UNIVERSITY OF MINES AND TECHNOLOGY RESCUE FACILITIES OTHERS FACILITIES

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A team is generally equipped with

✓ a lifeline for connecting all personnel when

traveling in smoke,
CAESAR from UKZN Gemini Scout from SANDIA ✓ gas-measuring equipment,
✓ first-aid supplies, and
✓ a stretcher if applicable,
✓ Foam generators
✓ Thermal Image cameras, etc

Carnagie Mellon University Drones

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Robots in Mine Rescue

FRESH AIR BASE FRESH AIR BASE

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✓ This is a base of operations established as close as
possible to the affected area of the mine, but situated Furnishing
where it’s assured a supply of good air.
✓ Table and benches for the rest of the rescue team
✓ Requirements:
✓ Tools and spare parts for the apparatus
▪ Adequate supply of fresh air
✓ Benches for the rescue apparatus like safety lamps,
▪ Means of communication with emergency coordination center;
fire fighting equipment, first aid equipment, stretchers.
▪ Assured travelling way of material and men to and from the
surface; ✓ Updated mine plan of the area
▪ Good illumination as possible; ✓ Log book for reporting rescue activities
▪ Sufficient room to permit efficient work;
✓ Spare BG4s (Oxygen set)
▪ Good strata condition (meshed).
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Instructor: Mr Sylvester Yenzanya 9

 UNIVERSITY OF MINES AND TECHNOLOGY COMMANDANT REQUIRED NUMBER OF MEN

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Number of men required
The commander/coordinator is responsible for ✓ First 5 – first responders - standby
the: ✓ Second 5 - not under oxygen- (2nd Response)
✓ Safety of the base; ✓ Third 5 – reassemble equipment and receive
causalities (backup)
✓ Periodic check of the base air;
✓ Administration of first aid to any casualty; ✓ The number of teams members varies from country
✓ Arrangement for the casualties to be sent to to country.
the surface/hospital; etc.
✓ In Ghana, at least 5 people are required in a team
including the captain.

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REQUIRED NUMBER OF MEN REQUIRED NUMBER OF TEAMS

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1 Determination of the Number of Rescue Brigades for Different Countries
Country Number of People Rescue Brigade(s)
(x) Required
Czech Republic
Total employees 5%
(Lehnen et al., 2013).
Ireland
Total employees 2%
(Lehnen et al., 2013).
US (Anon., 1977) Total employees At least 2
100 At least 1
India
(Anon., 1985) 1 additional personnel for
>500
every hundred employees
South Africa 100-1100 At least 1
(Anon., 2008b) 1100<x<3600 At least 2
<50 At least 1
Ghana 150<x<500 At least 3
(Anon., 2012) 500<x<2000 At least 4
>2000 At least 5
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Instructor: Mr Sylvester Yenzanya 10

 UNIVERSITY OF MINES AND TECHNOLOGY THE TEAM CAPTAIN

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❑ He leads and directs actions of other members

❑ He is the team’s chief decision maker.

❑ The captain is also responsible for the team’s safety..

❑ The captain also regulates the pace at which the team

works throughout the entire operation.

❑ The captain takes the first place in line, leading the

team as it advances through the mine.

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RESCUE AND RECOVERY OPERATIONS RESCUE AND RECOVERY OPERATIONS

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❑ A typical rescue or recovery operation begins on the ✓ You’ll proceed inside the mine to an area known as
surface with an information gathering session known as a the “fresh air base.”
“briefing.”
✓ Communication is maintained between the team
❑ During the briefing, you learn what happened in the members and emergency coordination centre at the
mine, what has already been done, and what the team is FAB.
expected to do.
❑ A coordinator stationed at the fresh air base
❑ While on the surface, you also prepare your apparatus specifically to handle important team-to-base
and check your equipment. communications link.

❑ When it’s time for team to enter the affected area, you ❑ You’ll proceed into the mine beyond the fresh air
don your apparatus and make all functional checks. base, carrying your supplies.
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Instructor: Mr Sylvester Yenzanya 11

 UNIVERSITY OF MINES AND TECHNOLOGY RESCUE AND RECOVERY OPERATIONS RESCUE TEAM ORGANISATION

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✓ The service time is established assuming that you ❑ TEAM GUIDE
work at a moderate rate.
In major under fire, rescue teams which are not familiar with
the mines workings are usually brought. Mine Captain or shift
✓ Note: If you work extremely hard, you will be boss may act as captain.
breathing faster and you will be consuming your
oxygen or air at a faster rate. ❑ ORDER OF TRAVEL
The team should travel in a straight file and be as close as
✓ Then the team proceeds to the surface where you’ll possible, especially where visibility is poor. (employs Link
be “debriefed.” Line/Service Line)

✓ During the debriefing session, you will report and ❑ FASTENING TEAM MEMBER TOGETHER
• When travelling strange territory
discuss what your team did, saw, and found in the
• Where visibility is poor
mine.
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COMMUNICATION COMMUNICATION
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Hooter 47 48

Instructor: Mr Sylvester Yenzanya 12

 UNIVERSITY OF MINES AND TECHNOLOGY

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❑ What is the driving force behind these “heroes in
hard hats”?

❑ Why do they unselfishly risk their own lives in this

mine rescue tradition?

❑ What is the reward for their exhausting labors?

❑ The answer is simple: The Recovery of Life

Mine Rescue: The Miners’ Hope
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THE END
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UNIVERSITY OF MINES AND TECHNOLOGY

Thank You

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Instructor: Mr Sylvester Yenzanya 13