Untitled

Western Canada Mine Rescue Manual

• This document is the Alberta Edition of the Western Canada Mine Rescue Manual.
• It Includes Alberta-specific information as of February 2018.
• The manual provides basic training for rescue procedures in surface or underground mining incidents.
• It applies to jurisdictions in Western Canada, where mining laws mandate trained, equipped mine rescue teams.
• The purpose is for educational use.

Adoption and Purpose

• The BC Ministry of Energy & Mines and other jurisdictions approved the manual for training in Alberta.
• It standardizes mine rescue training across Western Canada.
• Revisions and further development of the manual are encouraged.
• The manual acts as a reference for emergency response training and complies with local legislation.

Foreword

• Mines in B.C., Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut must maintain a mine rescue team.
• Rescuers need basic knowledge of equipment, procedures, practices, and principles for surface and underground incidents.
• Mine rescue teams have responded to incidents and disasters in Northern and Western Canada for a century.
• Individual effort in mastering skills, equipment, and knowledge is required for emergency response.
• The manual and course are initial steps towards being able to respond to incidents.
• Teams may encounter electrical fires, gas leaks, avalanches, and motor vehicle accidents.
• Mine Rescue can be dangerous, and it should be performed properly; rescuers are responsible for their safety and the safety of their team.
• Responders may need to tend to casualties, and the committee creating the manual used up-to-date research from government and industry experts.
• Mine rescue training requires consistent practice with fellow rescuers to establish cohesion, communication, and trust.
• Teams may assist in responses at other mining operations or off-site emergencies.

Chapter 1 - Introduction

• The manual teaches procedures for surface or underground mining emergency responses.
• Western Canadian mining laws state mine rescue teams must be on-site for surface and underground mining.
• Team members should practice maximum allotted training time, as stipulated by local legislation,.

Fundamental Principles

• The fundamental principles of mine rescue training are, in order of importance:
• Ensuring safety of self and rescue team
• Rescuing or ensuring the safety of trapped or injured workers
• Protecting the mine from further damage
• Rehabilitating the work area and salvaging equipment

Rescue teams will gain familiarity with

• Mine rescue equipment.
• Mining equipment useful in emergencies, such as cranes, loaders, and scoop trams.
• Hazards during mine rescue work, such as toxic gases, flammable gases, electricity, and rock falls..
• The most common dangerous occurrences, involving fire, machinery, or electricity.

Training Requirements

• Mine rescue work is physically and mentally taxing, and dangerous.
• Team members need intimate knowledge of equipment
• Team members must be physically sound and able to perform strenuous work with breathing gear.
• Team members must maintain good judgement and temperament through thorough instruction.
• Frequent additional training in an irrespirable atmosphere is key to dealing with emergencies.
• Training exercises for recovery problems should be conducted periodically.
• Many hours of training and practice are needed to develop a competent, efficient rescue team.
• Mine officials must receive periodic instruction and training to perform their duties both individually and collectively.
• Mine officials must know where all tools, equipment, and materials can be obtained, both on-site and from outside sources.

Other Personnel

• Supervisory staff must take charge in the absence of higher authority.
• They must also notify persons needed to assist at a disaster
• Notify the regulator for the mine's district, the mine rescue team, and any other help available.

Minimum Training

• Candidates must meet the following requirements for mine rescue training:
• Must be 18 years of age.
• Needs to be able to speak, read, and write English.
• Solid physical and mental condition.
• Familiarity with mining conditions, practices, hazards, and equipment.
• No perforated eardrums (subject to discretion of the manager)
• Must have Medical First Responder Certificate with spinal immobilization.
• Clean-shaven, with no facial hair interfering with the breathing apparatus seal. Whether training for underground, surface, or first aid, applicants must be capable and ready to render assistance when called upon.

Certification

• The Basic Underground or Surface Mine Rescue Certificate is for candidates that successfully complete the training course.
• Candidates must achieve a grade of 70% upon examination to pass.
• Continuous participation in mine rescue service and maintaining minimum requirements will ensure that the certification does not expire.
• A rescuer can apply for an advanced certificate after 5 years of service with further competencies completed.

Chapter 2 - Mine Rescue Organization

• Chapter 2 provides information on how teams and operations are organized and what skills are necessary for the tasks.
• Trainees completing this chapter will be able to demonstrate competency in several areas.
• This includes mine rescue team structure, communication by team members, and understanding requirements for personal protective equipment.
• Trainees will also understand decision–making processes, fresh air bases/zones, first response to hazardous materials and physical/ emotional stress during incidents.

Key Definitions

• A Mine Emergency Response Plan (MERP) guides in procedures and plans of action in site emergencies, including responsibility of management, rescue teams, and support personnel.
• An Incident Management System, like Incident Command System (ICS), allows command, control, and coordination during response and is a component of the MERP.
• Time is an important factor when mine rescue teams respond to many kinds of emergencies.

The Mine Rescue Team

• Proper team structure is the first and foremost aspect to consider.
• Planning and practicing basic procedures prior to emergencies is important.
• The Captain is the number 1 member of the team.
• The Captain must be a competent leader with the confidence and respect of other members.
• The Captain must be in good physical and mental condition and experienced in all aspects of emergency response.
• The captain directs and aids member's work at the scene; determines and inspects all aspects of the rescue operation; and establishes and maintains incident scene security and control.

Additional Members

• The Vice Captain on a surface mine rescue team is the number 2 member.
• On underground teams the Vice-Captain is the number 5 member.
• If the Captain cannot perform the duties, the Vice-Captain must take control if/when necessary.
• Vice-Captains also monitor team members and warn the Captain if a member shows distress or fatigue during a response, they also ensure team members rotate stretcher carrying.
• A standard mine rescue team has six members.
• Member number six of an underground team is the Coordinator, providing information from the surface command center to captain.
• All team members are responsible for recognizing hazards and relaying them to other members.
• Work must be distributed evenly.
• The team must be regularly rested, and the members regularly observed for distress.
• Work is distributed evenly, with the Team Captain delegating such as exploring the affected area, rope related tasks/rigging, firefighting, first aid, and extrication.
• Teams may add members during the response, and must receive a number beyond the six original.
• Collaborating with other agencies to a degree is known as mutual aid with a MERP.
• It is imperative when collaborating with other teams, the numbering format is followed.
• This will ensure communications align with the MERP as a whole, and account for the assignment of added personnel with continuing numbers.

Typical Operations

• The minimum the mine rescue unit consists of is 3 mine rescue teams.
• Teams are summoned to a mine disaster with shifts rotating to allow for fatigue.
• If the operation extends beyond six hours, additional teams must be called in to maintain strength.

Communication

• Radios or sound devices aid direct command
• All members must have strict discipline, and obey all directions given to them by the Team Captain.
• Primary communication relies on phones or intrinsically safe radios where required.
• On the surface and when possible, use whistles for secondary communication.
• On underground teams, the Captain and the Vice-Captain will both carry a horn, bell, whistle, or other site-specific methods/devices.

Standard Code of Signals

• One: advance if stopped or stop if in motion.
• Two: rest.
• Three: distress from the Vice Captain if he observes the team during travel, especially if any show signs of distress.
• Four: all team members will look to the person giving it, and await further directions.
• Five: retreat from the direction they have come, with the VP leading if short distances already explained, but not into explained.
• When possible, command is passed back to Captain to maintain control.
• The key duties include controlling scene, ensure the MERP is initiated, the security for self/team/casualties/bystanders, assistance of casualties and first aid, extinguishment of fires, and the control of chemical spills.
• At the arrival, response begins with equipment checked and staged with responsible traveling. It includes ensuring equipment, PPE, is there, and awareness of local procedures.
• Method of alert/notification can include alarms, radio, phone and at the scene, safely travel to incident, seatbelts and exiting at scene.
• Accountability is key for commanding officers and any personal actions should not overide command at the scene.

Size-Up

• 4 sections in relation to accomplish safe efficient responses, must have information at each stage:
• Gained from initial call, nature and location of the emergency, number of people hurt, weather, time of day, and the equipment involved.
• Details observed during the route, noting blackouts and flow.
• Comparing observations to phone call on hand, gas, location and actions of any people.
• Gained from initial call, nature and location of the emergency, number of people hurt, weather, time of day, and the equipment involved.
• Hazard assessment is important when identifying the risks of the environment.

Hazard Assessment

• Hazards include, fire, chemicals, energy sources, or biological dangers to maintain full safety at appropriate times.

Objective

• The formulated objective should be based on key resources on hand.

Appropriate action

• Select multiple alternate options for the response for various options for any situations.
• Conduct all activities in a key manner to be safe for all individuals on scene.

Analyses

• Continuously analyses results must occur, and change or be prepared to for other actions of responses.

Equipment

• The proper equipment on duties is key that they be provided at all times.
• Appropriate usage on hand does not assure safety, and the team must have the necessary equipment over time.
• Always follow best practices for the tools, and the crew should know find them.

Fresh Air

• A key role is an are in which good air is available at all times.
• Maintain a high degree to supply this, and consider location in mind of good light and safety and space for the crew.

1st aid

• Rescue groups should know their locations safety procedures for a safety measure in an emergency.
• The emergency handbook should be read for safety measures, supplied by companies on site should be taken in, and the Canutec or Transport Emergency advise center should be in action with aid to site experts.

Stress

• Incidents may produce stress responses that need action over time to be handled with care.
• The amount of reaction depends greatly on the incident.
• Stress can include, thinking, physical changes, emotion and actions.
• Physical changes may include tremors, distress, or headaches withsilence as well.
• These conditions from the body's chemicals make it important to hold a briefing of actions that personnel may need over all issues.

Chapter 3 - Environmental Conditions

• Mine rescue teams must be aware of special dangers associated with the environment.
• This chapter provides an understanding of avalanche terms, concepts, and equipment.
• The chapter also teaches Ice travel and thermal stress.

Definitions

• Mines in avalanche-prone areas need to develop an emergency response plan.
• Personnel may do emergency response due to avalanche hazards, but this chapter only provides basic awareness.
• A qualified avalanche officer must be identified and must lead the response.
• Avalanche safety measure assessments need to occur on a regular basis to be known on hand.
• Starting zone: The area of the unstable snow first breaks away.
• Avalanches have several starting zones depending on incline, wind exposure and elevation and ground and transitions with danger below to destructive potential. The Run-Out Zone comes to rest to be deposited.
• Snow accumulates on slopes between roughly, and can include heavy packs. _ Snowpacks require a good amount to work at all times.
• Natural can occur by wind and temperature and thawing.
• Human Explosives or working on slopes can all create external factors that can have external avalanches at all times.

Types of Avalanches

• 2 common types are recognized.

1. The Loose Snow Avalanche consists of different wet or dry aspects, and after which dry situations can happen on their own. The Point spreads away from the external point.
2. Slab occur when the snow breaks off and causes poor bond and high risk to any person.

Safety

• After which there are actions from the team for a avalanche.
• After any track crossing it must be assured before any actions take over.
• Select the shortest escape route.
• Wear the clothing and know how to remove if need be.
• Watch for hazards
• Always cross quick

Equipment

• Shovels, beacons and probe must be standard and used with the rescue as possible.

Ice

• Operations can be accessed by ice.
• The smallest section is key when determining strength.
• Be aware that water has a huge effect.
• Cracks or loads can all change things.
• All vehicles must be in consideration on the environment with speed of light.

Regulations

• Regulations state the speed is 25 km loaded or 35 unloaded under external force.

Heat

• Stress should be known, and is for reactions to measure over time.
• Hypotehrmia is a loss on body core can is the leading cause of death.
• Causes for hypothermia can be numerous: Poor clothing and dehydration.

Conditions

• Charts show the temperature and action over time.
• Action must protect high heat loos.
• A key protection at sea is H.E.L.P. (Heat Escape Lessening Position) as well the huddle when possible.
• Average water with the heat can stop after short period for a lack of movement to swim.
• Conditions can be a negative effect and must be recognized on the rescue.

Negatives

• Must be know such as nip, bite, and cold feet to be avoided.
• Stress conditions are high if you are in an area over certain time.

Weather

• Use proper tables to consider added extra additional hazard
• Temperature recorder posted can aid this.

Chapter 4: Electrical Hazards

• Chapter intended to protect rescuers arriving on site, and the training must show competency for definitions.
• Injuries come from electrocution, electrical hazards, emergencies, and guideline followings.
• Many deaths occur from electricity and factors and conditions must be known to have good reactions.
• Moisture increases effect.
• Safe distances in voltage are a must.

Installations

• Power plants generate the electricity. This voltage is stepped up for efficient transmission into substations for lines for customers to use.
• Some remote mines have their own power capabilities, and the situations can change easily during emergencies.

Definitions

Voltage is the difference into two places that happens while on the field with the electricity being measured and mines can require high voltage and amps.

• Current is a flow of the charge, which is measured and the act happens over 60 HZ over time.
• DC current on flow goes from positive effect.

Electrical Factors

• Resistance is friction on the flow between various materials, in ohms often.
• Grounding is the mechanical process that equipment be level with the ground.
• Bonding joins areas that do not create currents.
• Insulators are material with high resistance over time: Examples:
• Ceramix
• Porcelain
• Salt water Semiconductors value resistance between both. The risks are Arcing/overheating.
• Loose factors also have bad protections that needs addressed.
• Voltage is lower when fired to 750v

Canadian Electrical Code's Safe Limits of Approach

• Maintain minimum distance with the various voltages that can be seen:

Voltage Safe Level

• Maintain safety with the various voltage, and account for different grounds and ground gradient.
• All electricity seeks the path with earth from where it spreads.
• Step and touch is key with potential.

Injury

• Electricity always seeks the path with less grounding or more.
• Shock goes depending if passing through critical parts, and household energy can spark and lock to tools until the power source is removed.
• High power circuits often blow and result in damage, but eye injuries and damage from the intense heat are real.

Factors for Injury

• Factors are current, voltage, degree of skin resistance, and exposure during use.
• Some material are used in electrical systems for welds, cranes, heavy equipment, and other areas or tools to work properly .

Guildlines For Electrical Emergencies

• Always assume wiring and gear is charged until noted. Arriving and staging vehicles at far degrees.
• Wait for authorization at a location to work safely with tagged and propered out materials.
• Guardself against shocks, burns and other reactions with electrical wire, and remain a level of safety, and be aware of lines that can move over time.
• Use a safety action to prevent damages if working.

Chapter 5: Gases and Hazardous Atmospheres

• Training will demonstrate gas properties through appropriate training.
• Gases during normal operation have some limited effect if certain levels are reached.
• The emergencies can make this a high risk by emitted materials.
• It is important to act with safety and known limits when using items as well as actions from the team.

Definitions

• Deadly toxins over a few parts per million is what is considered dangerous, and is used in units like the meter and liters.
• TLUS are airborne concentations that may or may not cause adverse effects during a standard normal shift.

Time Frames

• Threshold Limit Value: Time-weighted average (TLV- TWA) is the time-weighted average concentration for a normal eight-hour workday and a 40 hour week.
• Concentration Equivalent: The formula must be used for shifts longer than an eight-hour workday.

Limits

• Exposure is not safe over a limit within a range.
• This is not for independent exposure per STELS in high shifts or time.
• Another form of toxicity is not passed at levels over one part of shifts, nor is it by life of dangerous levels.

Factors of Gas

• The gas is based on a percentage measured by per million or volume.
• Lower and explosion exist when their isn't an agent.
• Relative has relation in the stand of water.
• Measurement is a number that is above or below 7. The higher or lower must be corrosive or deadly over time.