Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Taking Refuge During a Mine Emergency Escape

“When Do You Take Refuge? Decision Making During Mine Emergency Escape Instructor´s Guide and Lesson Plans” is the latest mine training program from NIOSH. It is designed to help trainees practice correct decision-making skills during an underground mine emergency. The three-part program contains a computer-based training module that can be used by groups or individual trainees. It contains pictures and audio files that simulate the decisions involved in mine emergencies. The second part is the instructor's guide and lesson plans, and the third part is an optional evaluation form that the instructor can use to obtain feedback. According to NIOSH, the program incorporates recent safety developments in underground coal mining technology by including emergency escape options such as refuge alternatives located near the working face, outby refuge alternatives and caches of self-contained self-rescuers. Although designed for coal miners, NIOSH says the program may be used for training miners at all types of underground operations that have added refuge alternatives. Download the CBT portion of the program here. Download the instructor’s guide and lesson plans here.