Emergency Rescue Operations

Size Up and Hazard Assessment

• Information gathered during size up is either factual (known or confirmed) or probable (assumptions made based on situation)
• Hazard assessment involves identifying and evaluating hazards that may be encountered during the rescue operation
• Hazards include:
  • Fire
  • Hazardous atmospheres (e.g., chemical hazards, toxic gases, oxygen displacement)
  • Energy sources (e.g., electrical, gas, nuclear)
  • Physical (e.g., structure, traffic, topography)
  • Biological
  • Environmental
• Evaluate all influencing factors (e.g., time, location, environment, weather)

Formulating an Objective

• Formulate an objective based on known information and resources
• Determine what resources are required to accomplish the task (e.g., offensive or defensive)
• Risk-based decision-making based on the fundamental principles of mine rescue

Selecting Alternatives and Taking Action

• Select one or more alternatives from the available options
• Choose priorities based on the task and the resources available
• Conduct all activities in a manner that ensures the safety of team members, casualties, and bystanders
• Analyze results and be prepared to choose an alternative action if results are unsatisfactory

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

• PPE is essential for mine rescue teams
• PPE has limitations that must be recognized to avoid overextension of protection
• Extensive training in the care, use, and maintenance of PPE is essential for optimum protection

Electrical Hazards

• Direct contact with power lines is not necessary to pose an arcing hazard
• Responders should know that electrical systems are used by welders and take steps to eliminate and/or mitigate hazards
• Crane operators should be aware of overhead power lines and take precautions to avoid contact
• Haul trucks may experience tire explosions during or after contact with power lines

Avalanche Awareness

• Mines operating in avalanche-prone areas must develop an avalanche emergency response plan
• Avalanche safety officer must be identified, consulted, and lead the safe emergency response
• An avalanche has three main parts: starting zone, track, and run-out zone
• Avalanche can occur anywhere given the right conditions (e.g., geography, snow accumulation on a moderate to steep slope)

Ice Travel and Safety

• Load reduction of at least 15% on clear or natural ice (black or blue hue)
• Slush ice (white hue) is weaker than clear blue lake-ice
• Cracks in ice may affect its ability to support a load
• Table shows maximum allowable mass of a vehicle in motion for ice of various thicknesses

Threshold Limit Value (TLV)

• TLV-STEL (Short Term Exposure Limit) is the concentration to which workers can be exposed for a short period without suffering from irritation, chronic or irreversible tissue damage, or narcosis
• TLV-STEL is not a separate independent exposure limit, but supplements the time-weighted average (TWA) limit
• TLV-C (Ceiling) is the concentration that should not be exceeded during any part of the working exposure