Mining Publication: Cleaning, Disinfecting, and Sterilizing Self-Contained Self-Rescuer Mouthpiece Assemblies Used in Hands-On Training

• Closed circuit breathing apparatus
• Education and training

This U.S. Bureau of Mines report addresses issues involved in using a limited number of training apparatus to give hands-on self- contained self-rescuer (SCSR) training to a succession of miners, and provides guidance regarding methods for minimizing the spread of infectious diseases. Procedures used for preventing the spread of infectious organisms in dentistry, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training, and scuba training are examined. The sanitizing methods of three organizations that require individuals to insert the mouthpiece as part of the SCSR donning sequence are discussed. It was found that each of these organizations was able to render the mouthpiece assemblies microbe free simply and inexpensively.