Mining Publication: Self-Contained Self-Rescuer Field Evaluation: Fourth-Phase Results
Original creation date: January 1994
A joint effort by the U.S. Bureau of Mines (USBM) and the US. Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) was undertaken to determine how well self-contained self-rescuers (SCSR's), deployed in accordance with Federal regulations (30 CFR 75.1714), held up in the underground environment with regard to both physical damage and aging. This report presents findings regarding laboratory-tested SCSR's in the fourth phase of testing from 1989 to 1993. The SCSRYs were tested on human subjects and on a breathing and metabolic simulator (BMS). These results indicate that most of the apparatus, if they pass their inspection criteria, perform as expected except units with manufacturing defects. However, when the apparatus are carried in and out of the mine daily and stored at the working section, they may suffer abuse. Physical signs of abuse, unless extremely obvious, are frequently not detected by the miners or mine operators. In addition, some apparatus collected for this study had not been returned to the manufacturer in a recall effort for correction of a manufacturing defect. In both cases, the apparatus would have presented problems in emergency use. Recommendations include improved training in inspection procedures and better enforcement of recall notices.
Authors: N Kyriazi, JP Shubilla
Report of Investigations - January 1994
NIOSHTIC2 Number: 10005160
U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Mines. Report of Investigations 9499, NTIS No. PB94-171915, 1994; :1-10
See Also
- How to Operate a Refuge Chamber: A Quick Start Guide
- I Can't Get Enough Air! Proper Self-contained Self-rescuer Usage
- Probability of Making a Successful Mine Escape While Wearing a Self-Contained Self-Rescuer
- Refuge Chamber Expectations Training - 1.0
- Self-Contained Self-Rescuer Field Evaluation: Fifth-Phase Results
- Self-Contained Self-Rescuer Field Evaluation: First-Year Results of 5-Year Study
- Self-Contained Self-Rescuer Field Evaluation: Results From 1982-90
- Self-Contained Self-Rescuer Field Evaluation: Seventh-Phase Results
- Self-Contained Self-Rescuer Field Evaluation: Sixth-Phase Results
- Self-Contained Self-Rescuer Long Term Field Evaluation Tenth Phase Results
- Content source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Mining Program