Improving Self-Escape from Underground Coal Mines
Improving Self-Escape from Underground Coal Mines

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2013-07-26

Total Pages: 181

ISBN-13: 0309282764

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Coal mine disasters in the United States are relatively rare events; many of the roughly 50,000 miners underground will never have to evacuate a mine in an emergency during their careers. However, for those that do, the consequences have the potential to be devastating. U.S. mine safety practices have received increased attention in recent years because of the highly publicized coal mine disasters in 2006 and 2010. Investigations have centered on understanding both how to prevent or mitigate emergencies and what capabilities are needed by miners to self-escape to a place of safety successfully. This report focuses on the latter - the preparations for self-escape. In the wake of 2006 disasters, the U.S. Congress passed the Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act of 2006 (MINER Act), which was designed to strengthen existing mine safety regulations and set forth new measures aimed at improving accident preparedness and emergency response in underground coal mines. Since that time, the efforts of the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) have contributed to safety improvements in the mining industry. However, the Upper Big Branch mine explosion in 2010 served as a reminder to remain ever vigilant on improving the prevention of mine disasters and preparations to help miners survive in the event of emergencies. This study was set in the context of human-systems integration (HSI), a systems approach that examines the interaction of people, tasks, and equipment and technology in the pursuit of a goal. It recognizes this interaction occurs within, and is influenced by, the broader environmental context. A key premise of human-systems integration is that much important information is lost when the various tasks within a system are considered individually or in isolation rather than in interaction with the whole system. Improving Self-Escape from Underground Coal Mines, the task of self-escape is part of the mine safety system.

Improving Self-Escape from Underground Coal Mines
Improving Self-Escape from Underground Coal Mines

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2013-06-26

Total Pages: 181

ISBN-13: 0309282799

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Coal mine disasters in the United States are relatively rare events; many of the roughly 50,000 miners underground will never have to evacuate a mine in an emergency during their careers. However, for those that do, the consequences have the potential to be devastating. U.S. mine safety practices have received increased attention in recent years because of the highly publicized coal mine disasters in 2006 and 2010. Investigations have centered on understanding both how to prevent or mitigate emergencies and what capabilities are needed by miners to self-escape to a place of safety successfully. This report focuses on the latter - the preparations for self-escape. In the wake of 2006 disasters, the U.S. Congress passed the Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act of 2006 (MINER Act), which was designed to strengthen existing mine safety regulations and set forth new measures aimed at improving accident preparedness and emergency response in underground coal mines. Since that time, the efforts of the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) have contributed to safety improvements in the mining industry. However, the Upper Big Branch mine explosion in 2010 served as a reminder to remain ever vigilant on improving the prevention of mine disasters and preparations to help miners survive in the event of emergencies. This study was set in the context of human-systems integration (HSI), a systems approach that examines the interaction of people, tasks, and equipment and technology in the pursuit of a goal. It recognizes this interaction occurs within, and is influenced by, the broader environmental context. A key premise of human-systems integration is that much important information is lost when the various tasks within a system are considered individually or in isolation rather than in interaction with the whole system. Improving Self-Escape from Underground Coal Mines, the task of self-escape is part of the mine safety system.

Human-Centered Design for Mining Equipment and New Technology
Human-Centered Design for Mining Equipment and New Technology

Author: Tim Horberry

Publisher: CRC Press

Published: 2018-02-07

Total Pages: 235

ISBN-13: 1351602152

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Human-Centered Design for Mining Equipment and New Technology first introduces Human-Centered Design (HCD) and outlines the benefits of this approach for mining equipment and new technology: HCD is a process that aims to make equipment and systems more usable and acceptable by explicitly focusing on the end-user, their tasks and their work environment/use context. The book outlines three linked areas of mining HCD: key principles, examples of design processes, and what kinds of tools for data collection and evaluation are available. The possible future uses of Human-Centered Design in more fully automated mining are presented, and the role of HCD within wider human system integration are outlined. The ‘how to’ nature of this book makes it attractive to mining equipment manufacturers, technology developers, mine site personnel, human factors researchers, safety scientists and regulators. Features: Includes an introduction useful to anyone wanting to learn about the field Provides extensive case studies of HCD which also show failures when HCD was not considered Covers cutting edge mining technology- such as proximity detection devices and new mining automation systems Directly outlines the benefits of HCD for the minerals industry Human-Centered Design for Mining Equipment and New Technology, through case studies, provides a much needed guide to undertaking HCD for mining equipment and new technology.

To Punish or Persuade
To Punish or Persuade

Author: John Braithwaite

Publisher: State University of New York Press

Published: 1985-06-30

Total Pages: 226

ISBN-13: 0791497372

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In To Punish or Persuade, John Braithwaite declares that coal mine disasters are usually the result of corporate crime. He surveys 39 coal mine disasters from around the world, including 19 in the United States since 1960, and concludes that mine fatalities are usually not caused by human error or the unstoppable forces of nature. He shows that a combination of punitive and educative measures taken against offenders can have substantial effects in reducing injuries to miners. Braithwaite not only develops a model for determining the optimal mix of punishment and persuasion to maximize mine safety, but provides regulatory agencies in general with a model for mixing the two strategies to ensure compliance with the law. To Punish or Persuade looks at coal mine safety in the United States, Great Britain, Australia, France, Belgium, and Japan. It examines closely the five American coal mining companies with the best safety performance in the industry: U.S. Steel, Bethlehem Steel, Consolidation Coal Company, Island Creek Coal Company, and Old Ben Coal Company. It also takes a look at the safety record of unionized versus non-unionized mines and how safety regulation enforcement impacts productivity.