Mine Rescue and Safety Certifications

Mine Rescue and Safety

• Hold additional certifications as required by jurisdiction
• East Kootenay Mining Industry Safety Association, North/Central/South Mine Rescue, and Northern Mine Safety Forum provide training and resources

Training and Reference Materials

• The Handbook of Training in Mine Rescue and Recovery Operations (Ontario Ministry of Labour)
• Mine Rescue Crisis Response Manual (Yukon Territorial Government)
• Occupational First Aid Manual (British Columbia Workers' Compensation Board)
• Various publications from ACGIH, NIOSH, Environment Canada, CCOHS, and Health Canada

Frostbite and Trench Foot

• Frostbite occurs when tissue temperature falls below freezing point, or blood flow is obstructed, causing damage to blood vessels and potentially leading to infection and gangrene
• Trench foot occurs when feet have been wet, but not freezing cold, for prolonged periods, causing tingling, numbness, itching, pain, and swelling

Electrical Safety

• Control the incident scene to eliminate unauthorized access and prevent exposure to electrical hazards
• Use lock-out/tag-out devices when working near energy sources
• Guard against electrical shocks, burns, and eye injuries from electrical arcs
• Establish an exclusion zone around downed power lines

Gases and Hazardous Atmospheres

• Terms, concepts, and formulae: 1 metre step in 1,000 kilometres, 1 millilitre per 1,000 litres of liquid, etc.
• Properties and effects of mine gases: irritation, chronic or irreversible tissue damage, or narcosis
• Gases produced by burning rubber, neoprene, and PVC: carbon monoxide, hydrogen chloride, hydrogen sulphide, nitrogen dioxide, and hydrogen cyanide

Western Canada Mine Rescue Manual

• Concepts and definitions: general safety considerations, tool classes, and equipment
• Tool classes: rotating, pushing, pulling, and lifting, prying and spreading, striking, cutting, and miscellaneous
• Safety considerations: wear appropriate PPE, follow manufacturer's instructions, and evaluate consequences before operation

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

• Protective hood (balaclava): protects face and neck
• Bunker pants and coat: protects body from heat, cuts, and abrasions
• Gloves: protects hands from heat, cuts, and abrasions
• Bunker boots: protects feet from cuts and abrasions
• Eye protection: protects eyes from foreign matter
• Hearing protection: protects ears from excessive noise
• Respiratory protection: protects against heated gases and toxic atmospheres
• Personal Alert Safety System (PASS): built into breathing apparatus or attached to rescuer

Fire Triangle

• Requirements for burning: fuel, oxygen, and heat
• Fire triangle: fuel, oxygen, and heat
• Ways to extinguish a fire: remove the reducing agent, exclude the oxidizing agent, reduce the temperature, and interrupt the chemical chain reaction