The document provides guidelines for conducting mine rescue and recovery operations after an explosion. It discusses locating and rescuing survivors, as well as recovering bodies. Key steps include locating survivors through clues, opening barricades and chambers, treating injured survivors using triage, and safely evacuating them. For recovery, teams locate and map bodies, handle them carefully considering conditions, and wrap or bag them. The document also examines case studies of mine explosions and outlines rules for mine rescue from 1985, including establishing rescue stations and rooms and appointing trained personnel.

1. HOW TO CONDUCT RESCUE AND RECOVERY AFTER
MINE EXPLOSION WITH CASE STUDIES & MINE
RESCUE RULES,1985
Submitted by:
Deepak Kumar Behera
715mn1114
Date:- 24/08/2018
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2. Introduction
• Mine explosions are generally regarded as a serious and constant hazard in mining sector.
This is about how to rescue survivors and recover dead bodies from a mine in which a
disaster has occurred. Rescuing survivors is the most rewarding part of your job as a mine
rescue team.
Rescue system Recovery system
Locating survivors Locating the dead area
Opening refuge chambers and alternatives Condition of bodies
Injured survivors Handling the bodies
Bringing survivors out Surviving families
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3. Rescue
A) Locating survivors
• While entering into a mine for rescuing purpose, survivors may be found in open passageways, perhaps
along the escape routes, injured and unable to walk out of the mine.
• It is important to both look and listen for clues while searching for survivors. Miners who barricade
themselves into an area will usually try to leave indications of where they are barricaded to aid rescuers in
finding them.
• In some instances, teams may find fresh footprints indicating the direction survivors had taken. When
listening for clues, one should be on the alert for any noise, such as voices or pounding on rails or pipes.
• When survivors are located, their location, cidentities and condition should be reported immediately to
the command center. The command enter can then send in a backup team with any equipment that may be
needed, such as stretchers or breathing apparatus.
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4. B) Opening refuge chambers, refuge
alternatives or barricades
If a refuge alternative (RA), refuge
chamber, or barricade is located try to
determine as quickly as possible whether
the miners inside are still alive and
conscious. Verbal communication or noises
should be created so that those inside can
respond. If there is no response, don’t
assume the miners are dead; they could be
unconscious. If there is a response, try to
find out how many miners are inside and
their condition. Then you will have a better
idea of what medical supplies you may
need when you reach them. Ask if they
have used their self-rescuers, and how long
they have been inside.
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5. The safest procedure for getting survivors out is
usually to advance fresh air to the barricade by
the quickest means possible. Once the fresh air is
advanced, the barricade can be opened.
Sometimes, however, it may be necessary to
rescue the survivors before fresh air can be
advanced to them. For instance, fresh air cannot
be advanced to the survivors if a fire is spreading
and moving in their direction. In these cases, an
air lock should be established outside the refuge
chamber or barricade before it is opened.
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6. c)Injured survivors
• After survivors have been found in the mine, the next step is to get them to safety and fresh air as
quickly as possible. In some cases, survivors may need emergency first aid treatment before they can
be transported.
• It is of 2types:- 1) Triage system 2) psychological factors
• When several survivors suffering from physical and/or psychological trauma have been located, the
accurate sorting of priority victims may mean the difference between life and death. This sorting of
victims is commonly referred to as a “triage” system. Survivors can be categorized into three priority
groups according to their condition or Injuries:-
• One thing to remember when dealing with any injury is to stay as calm as possible. Sometimes when
faced with a gruesome or unnerving sight, the best thing to do is to take a deep breath and continue to
breathe fully and deeply until the job is finished. It helps also to try to concentrate on the fact that
what you’re doing is a “job” and that “job” is helping someone else to continue living.
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7. 1.Triage system
First priority
 Airway or breathing problems
 Severe bleeding
 Deep shock
 Unconsciousness
 Second degree burns covering more
than 30 percent of the body
 Third degree burns covering more
than 10 percent of the body or
involving
 hands, feet, or face
 Inhalation of poisonous gases
 Dismemberment
 Chest injuries
 Severe head injuries
Second priority
 Multiple lacerations
 Multiple fractures
 Second degree burns involving 15
to 30 percent of the body
 Third degree burns covering less
than 10 percent of the body (not
including
 hands, feet, or face)
 Moderate shock
 Moderate heat exhaustion
 Back injuries with or without spinal
injuries
Third priority
 Mild hysteria
 Abrasions
 Minor bleeding
 First degree burns of less than 20
percent of the body (not including
face, hands,
 or feet)
 Second degree burns involving less
than 15 percent of the body
 Third degree burns involving less
than 2 percent of the body
 Fractured arm, hand, or foot
 Mild heat exhaustion
 Obviously dead (DOA)
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8. 2. Psychological factors
• Psychologically, when survivors are found, their behavior may range from apprehension to
uncontrollable hysteria. The best way to relieve psychological stress in survivors is to try to
communicate with them as soon as possible. Most importantly, the communication must be
continued.
• Whether survivors are showing signs of hysteria or not, they should never be left alone. You should
make every effort to assure them that they will be helped. Survivors should never be allowed to walk
out on their own even if they appear to be in good shape. They will need your assistance and support
in leaving the mine. You may even need to restrain a person to prevent them from “bolting” into fresh
air as it is neared.
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9. D) Bringing survivors out
• If survivors are found in contaminated or
questionable air, they will need to be given
breathing protection if they are to be
transported to fresh air. If a survivor is able
to walk, he or she should be positioned
between two rescue team members and
guided out to fresh air. If the person is
unable to walk, a stretcher will have to be
used to bring that person out.
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10. Recovery
A) Locating the dead body area
• When a team locates a body, the usual procedure is to report the location to the command center You
should also mark the body’s location and position on the mine map and on the roof or rib close to
the body. It is suggested that a team member outline the body with chalk or paint on the floor, or at
least mark where the head and feet are.
• When a body is first located, every effort should be made not to disturb any possible evidence in the
area. Evidence will be important later in ensuing investigations. Usually, the first team that
discovers a body is not the team that actually does the body recovery work. The recovery of bodies
may wait until fresh air is advanced or it may be decided to bring the bodies out immediately. Either
way, a fresh team will probably be sent in to handle the work.
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11. B) Condition of bodies
• There are very unpleasant things that the team may have to deal with. Some team members will
probably be better able to cope with recovering bodies than others. Rescue workers, especially
those recovering bodies for the first time, may very well begin to feel sick or apprehensive. The best
advice for them is to try to work with a businesslike and professional attitude. Most of your
reactions to the situation will be from your senses of sight and smell.
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12. C) Handling the bodies
• Normally, when bodies are brought out of a
mine, they are placed in rubber body bags
and brought out on stretchers. If body bags
are not available, the bodies can be wrapped
in brattice cloth or canvas.
• When dealing with bodies that have been
underground awhile, you should be sure to
wear rubber gloves. Also, the bodies should
be sprayed well with a disinfectant before
you touch or handle them..
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13. Case studies
1. Monongah mine explosion, West Virginia
• On Friday, December 6, 1907, at 10:28 AM an explosion occurred that killed most of the men inside the
mine instantly & has been described as "the worst mining disaster in American History".
• The first volunteer rescuers entered the two mines twenty-five minutes after the initial explosion. The
biggest threats to rescuers are the various fumes, particularly “blackdamp”, a mix of carbon dioxide and
nitrogen that contains no oxygen, and “whitedamp”, which is carbon monoxide. The lack of breathing
apparatus at the time made venturing into these areas impossible. Rescuers could only stay in the mine
for 15 minutes at a time.
• In a vain effort to protect themselves, some of the miners tried to cover their faces with jackets or other
pieces of cloth. While this may filter out particulate matter, it would not protect the miners in an
oxygen-free environment. The toxic fume problems were compounded by the infrastructural damage
caused by the initial explosion: mines require large ventilation fans to prevent toxic gas buildup, and the
explosion at Monongah had destroyed all of the ventilation equipment. The inability to clear the mine of
gases transformed the rescue effort into a recovery effort. One Polish miner was rescued and four Italian
miners escaped. The official death toll stood at 362.
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14. 2. Sago mine explosion, West Virginia, US
• The explosion occurred at approximately 6:30 a.m. at the beginning of the first shift after the mine
reopened after the New Year's holiday weekend.
• Five four-man teams tried to make their way through the entries and they had reached 10,200 feet
(3,100 m) into the mine. It was believed that the trapped miners were somewhere between 11,000 to
13,000 feet (3,400 to 4,000 m) from the entrance.
• Two 6.25-inch (15.9 cm) holes were drilled from the surface into areas where the miners were
believed to be; microphones and video cameras lowered into them for ten-minute periods did not find
any signs of life. Air quality tests performed through the first hole indicated that carbon monoxide
(CO) levels in that part of the mine were at 1,300 parts per million .
• Officials called this "very discouraging." A third hole encountered groundwater and could not be
drilled all the way down.
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15. • Experts expected that a third hole, if successful, could expand the opening and provide a better way of
rescuing the miners than proceeding into the mine.
• The first hint of the miners' status came around 5:00 p.m. on January 3 when it was reported that a
body had been found.
• In the early morning of January 4, 41 hours after the incident began, 12 of the miners were found dead.
• The remaining miners were found at the working face of the second left portion of the mine, some 2.5
miles (4.0 km) from the mine entrance, behind a “rough barricade structure”.
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16. Mine rescue rules, 1985
• Mines Rescue Rules have been framed under the Mines Act 1952 keeping in mind the
occurrence of emergencies in mines, particularly in belowground mines due to explosion,
fires etc.
• Mines Rescue Rules framed under the Mines Act 1952 provide for setting-up of rescue
stations/rescue rooms, appointment of superintendent, instructors, rescue personnel, rescue
room in-charge etc, specifies the duties and responsibilities of these persons, organization
and contains provisions on maintenance of equipment in mines, conduct of rescue work etc.
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17. 1. Relevant provisions of the rule
1.1 Application (Section 1)
Rules apply to below ground mines.
1.2 Definitions (Section 2)
• Below ground mine means any excavation which extends below superjacent ground.
• Chief Inspector means the Chief Inspector of Mines appointed under section 5 of the Act.
• Principal Official means the senior – most mine official in mining discipline on duty in the mine.
• Rescue room means a rescue room as established and maintained.
• Rescue trained person‖ means a person certified by the Superintendent to be rescue trained person.
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18. 1.3 Establishment and location of rescue station (Section 3)
• Chief Inspector may permit the owner of a below ground mine or a group of below ground mines to
establish and maintain rescue station, stations. At every rescue station there shall be appointed one
Superintendent and at least two instructions. There shall be maintained a rescue brigade of not less
than eighteen rescue trained persons.
1.4 Functions of rescue stations (Section 4)
• Functions of rescue station shall include:-
• Imparting initial training in rescue and recovery work;
• Imparting refresher training to rescue trained persons;
• Providing support by its own rescue teams and equipment in case of major accidents or long lasting
rescue and recovery operations.
• Carrying out the functions of rescue room in respect of these below ground mines where there is no
rescue room.
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19. 1.5 Establishment and location of rescue rooms (Section 5)
• At every below ground mine where, more than 100 persons are ordinarily employed below ground
and there is no rescue station within its radius of 35 kms, the owner, shall establish and ;maintain on
surface close to mine entrance a rescue room. It may be sufficient to provide one rescue room for a
number of mines belonging to the same owner where the total number of persons ordinarily employed
in below ground workings of all such mines does not exceed 5000 and the mines are situated radius of
35 kms.
1.6 Functions of rescue room (Section 6)
• A rescue room shall provide facilities for the storage, assembly, testing and adjustments of breathing
apparatus and other rescue equipment and apparatus and for their speedy transport to mines.
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20. 1.7 Duties and responsibilities of Superintendent (Section 12)
• The Superintendent shall be in overall control of the rescue station and the rescue rooms served by
such rescue station. The Superintendent shall ensure that all the rescue equipment and apparatus kept
at the rescue station, rescue rooms and at the entrance of the below ground mines under his control are
maintained in perfect working order; inspected by Instructors at specified intervals; and tests are
conducted and adjustments are made.
• Superintendent shall ensure that adequate stock of spare parts and supplies are kept for maintaining
rescue equipment and apparatus in perfect working order.
• The Superintendent shall submit to the Chief Inspector and to the Regional Inspector detailed report
on the functioning of the rescue station and rescue rooks under his control in the preceding year on or
before the 20thl day of February of the succeeding year.
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21. 1.8 Duties of Instructors (Section 13)
• impart course of instructions and practices to persons selected for training in rescue and recovery work as
well as to rescue trained persons and maintain a record thereof; and
• Make inspection, test and adjustment of rescue equipment and apparatus and maintain a record thereof.
• Instructor shall not leave the rescue station without prior permission of the Superintendent.
• In the absence of the Superintendent, the Instructor shall be in charge of the rescue station.
1.9 Duties and responsibilities of rescue room in-charge (Section 14)
• Display prominently a list of mines served by his rescue room;
• Maintain the equipment and apparatus kept at the rescue room in perfect order;
• Not allow any unauthorized person; to enter into, or permit any unauthorized person to take out any
apparatus or equipment from the rescue room.
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22. 1.10 Duties of rescue trained persons posted at rescue station (Section 15)
• Obey order of the Superintendent and Instructor and assist them in discharge of their functions
• Attend to messages, telephone calls and wireless and maintain record thereof
• Maintain the equipment and apparatus kept at the rescue station in perfect order;
• Not leave rescue station without obtaining permission from the Superintendent
1.11 Duties of rescue room attendant (Section 16)
• Not leave the rescue room until relieved by a substitute
• Not allow any unauthorized person to enter in or to take out any apparatus or equipment from the
rescue room
• Attend to telephone calls and maintain a record.
• Obey orders of the rescue room in-charge and assist him in discharge of his functions.
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23. 1.12 Appointment of rescue trained persons in mines, their disposition & accommodation
(section 19)
The manager shall ensure that at least 5 rescue trained persons are readily available at surface. It shall be
the responsibility of the owner to provide suitable accommodation:-
• close to the rescue station to the Superintendent, Instructors and members of rescue brigade;
• close to rescue room to rescue room in-charge rescue trained persons and attendants attached to it.
1.13 Duties of Manager in emergency (Section 24)
• Inform the owner, agent or manager of nearby mines to make available the services of rescue trained
persons employed therein: if so required
• Inform the rescue station about the nature of the occurrence; stating whether assistance would be
needed from the rescue station;
• Summon medical assistance; and Send information of the occurrence to the Regional Inspector.
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24. 1.14 Entry into below ground mines for rescue or recovery work (Section 26)
• No person shall be allowed to enter a below ground mine or part thereof which is unsafe for the
purpose of engaging in rescue or recovery work, unless authorized by the manager or in his absence
by the principal official of the mine present at the surface. Only rescue trained persons shall be
permitted to enter the mine for the purpose of using self -contained breathing apparatus.
1.15 Rescue team members and their duties (Section 32)
• The number of persons in any rescue team using breathing apparatus in a mine shall not be less than
five not more than six, including the leader. Members of rescue team shall in general, use the signals
for communicating to one another. In travelling with rescue apparatus on, every member of the team
shall keep the place given to him when numbering off. If the pace is too quick or if distress is felt, the
member shall at once call attention to the fact.
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25. 1.16 Obligation of owner, agent and manager in certain situations (Section 34)
• Whenever emergency arises at a below ground mine, whether served by a rescue room or rescue
station or not, the owner, agent or manager may seek assistance or additional assistance as the
case may be from the nearest rescue room or rescue station and in such an event:-
• All possible assistance shall be promptly rendered by the rescue room or rescue station; and
• The owner of the mine shall pay to the owner of the rescue station or rescue room, rendering such
assistance
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