A DIFFERENT TYPE OF SKILL COMPETITION ANTHRACITE MINE RESCUE

1. A DIFFERENT TYPE OF SKILL COMPETITIONANTHRACITE MINE RESCUE Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Bureau of Mine Safety Paul Wagner – Deep Mine Safety Emergency Response Training Specialist Schuylkill County Fire School, July 20, 2011 Frackville, Pa.

2. This program was developed to share with you some specialized equipment and procedures which the Anthracite Mine Rescue Teams have come to rely on heavily and included in our SKILLS Competitions. • Besides equipment, another issue which changes our competitions is the fact that we train not only as 6 man teams but because of the size of our mines, we train as 4 man teams. A typical competition will consist of one 6 man team competing against two 4 man teams. • What we have done is added this equipment and training to the required MSHA Skills Competition and developed additional score cards related to this equipment for use in our Anthracite Competitions. • Some of the equipment is necessary because of the mining methods used to mine the vertical pitch in our mines while other equipment has simplified our rescues and perhaps it will benefit your operations or rescue.

4. SIMS MINE EXERCISE • This exercise involved an MSHA mine rescue problem which included: • Explore the entire mine • It required two ventilation changes • Locate and map the entire mine • Rescue or identify all miners within the mine • Preform all required mine rescue procedures the same as any other rescue competition.

7. Because of the extreme heat (102F), after each exercise, all team members were required to participate in a health screening station.

8. Open book written examines and bench competition were also included as part of the competition.

9. The smoke and mapping included the teams working their way through an obstacle course. • Once entering the building, the teams had to follow a pre-determined course, find and map 10 objects, and communicate what was found with the briefing officer. Several areas of the course required the team members to remove their BG’s and advance them through the obstacles while still under oxygen.

13. Rappelling and First Aid • The information given to the teams included the following: • The first aid treatment inby the fresh air base addresses life threatening injuries or injuries that could become life threatening during transport to the fresh air base. Non-life threatening injuries will be treated by the team after immediate transport to the fresh air base. • The fresh air base is located on the third floor of the fire building. Teams will be given the problem and have (5) minutes to study the statement.

14. The problem is: • You are located at the mine portal (FAB). A miner was riding on the bail of the slope buggy when his foot slipped between the buggy and the rail which resulted in a fall. Because of his unknown location in the slope due to the changes in pitch, the slope buggy CANNOT be used as a means of transportation. Pitch in this mine varies up to 90 degrees and the slope buggy has been blocked from movement.

17. Anthracite rappelling equipment includes: • 1” tubular webbing (600’) • Edge guards • Rappelling gloves • Figure 8’s • Carabineers • Ladder brakes • 4 sections of 5/8” rappelling rope (1200’) • Ascenders • Chest and seat harnesses • 2 sections of ½” rappelling rope

21. Power Ascender • Besides covering our active mines, our area has thousands of abandoned mines which can require the rescue of hikers, ATV and motorcycle riders, or others in inaccessible areas. The power ascender provides a portable rescue device capable of quick efficient rescue. • The power ascender is a battery powered device capable of lowering and retrieving one or two people at a time. The ascender can be operated by the rescuer or can be operated remotely to allow hands free movement. The ascender has a 550 pound weight lift capacity and a capacity of 6 Amp Hours per battery. • Use of the PQ500 AX battery is permitted in hazardous atmospheres but connecting or disconnecting CANNOT be done in a potentially explosive environment.

23. Reeves Sleeve • Reeves Sleeve – A complete patient packaging device in an easy to use and store format. Conforms with OSHA standards dealing with Emergency Rescue Equipment in Confined Space and can be used in conjunction with any 16” or 18” backboard, scoop stretcher or bifold metal stretcher. Resists acids and stains and is easily decontaminated. Helicopter hoist compatible with a load of 1500 lbs. • The sleeve has CID, adjustable velcro and 6 strap closures, 6 carry handles, and D-rings attached to it. • Because of the way the patient is secured, the sleeve provides protection from moisture and provides warmth in colder temperatures.

24. Reeves Sleeve continued • Unlike other packaging transport devices, the patient does not have to be packed into this device to prevent movement. • The sleeve provides some bleeding control and splinting of the entire body except ankles and feet which makes it ideal for load and go high priority patients. • It can be rappelled either horizontally or vertically depending on the space available. • It can also be carried like a brief case depending on available space or if the patients aspirates. • The only disadvantage we have found is it cannot be dragged over a rough surface.

26. Competition Awards and Scoring • The MINE RESCUE AWARD included team scores on the following items: A Card Map Discounts B Card Rescue Discounts The A Card Time discounts were not used as all teams were given and completed the all problems within the time limit. • The FIRST AID & RAPPELLING AWARD which included: A Card First Aid Rappelling Score Card • The OVERALL MINE RESCUE SKILLS AWARD which included team scores from: Bench, Written, Smoke and Maps, Mine Rescue, First Aid and Rappelling.

27. Additional Equipment • Two other pieces of equipment which were not used at this particular skills competition are: • Splints which are found by the following names; SAM Splints, Universal Splints, or Flex-All Splints. • Paratech Maxi Force Air Lifting Bags rescue system.

28. Splints • The Anthracite teams favor the SAM splints only because of the way they are packaged taking up less room in the first aid bags which the teams carry. • Any of these splints are flexible to fit any person but rigid when applied to provide support for any injury where air or board splints would be used. • These splints can also be used as a cervical collar, or finger splints. • Easily decontaminated and reusable, they will not deteriorate over a long period of time and are not affected by heat or cold.

29. Paratech Maxi Force Air Lifting Bags • The entire system which the Anthracite rescue teams utilized during emergency situations such as collapse, structural stabilization, and entrapment, can easily be transport by two men. These systems can be customized for each site or use. • Unlike a jack which needs several inches of clearance and a level surface, our air lift bags are only 5/8 of an inch thick, can be used on a slope, and spread the weight over a larger area. • Because of the confined spaces in the Anthracite mines, the bags the Anthracite teams use are smaller (12”X18”) but can lift or move a minimum of 10.2 tons 8” with the press of a button.

30. During one of our MERD competitions we simulated a miner being run over by a loaded mine car. The rescue teams used the air lift bags to lift the mine car off the manikin prior to preforming the first aid portion of the problem. • The picture on the right shows the team practicing lifting a roof bolting machine.

31. Besides all of the equipment mentioned the Anthracite Mine Rescue teams have other types of equipment which we have come to rely on for more rapid, efficient rescues. • Perhaps you can apply some of it to your rescue applications. • Most of the equipment listed can be purchased through local medical or rescue supply companies. • The power ascender is available through PowerQuick Inc., Dayton, NV. www.powerquickinc.com/

32. THANK YOU!!