The "Mine Safety and Rescue" Series of Courses

This course is the first in a series of courses that cover safety and rescue procedures to be used in prevention, preparedness and rescue operations for accidents or disasters at surface and underground mining operations. This course focuses on recognition, effects, treatment and instrumentation for mine gases. The course also serves as a guide to good practice at any time when people are working in physically dangerous mining situations.

Mine Safety and Rescue - Underground Gas Hazards is the first course in the "Mine Safety and Rescue" series. It covers:

• recognition, effects and treatment of gases that may be found in a mine, particularly following a fire
• administration of oxygen therapy to personnel exposed to mine gases
• common types of instrumentation used for detection of mine gases

Other courses in the series include:

• Mine Safety and Rescue 2 - Underground Fire Hazards
• Mine Safety and Rescue 3 - Terrain, Cold and Other Hazards

Acquiring a basic knowledge and understanding of mine safety and rescue is essential in order to be well prepared for any dangerous occurrence at the workplace. The mine safety and rescue courses provide in depth coverage of the theoretical application of mine safety and rescue techniques. Practical application of the rescue techniques covered in these courses requires supplementary physical training of rescue teams. The author has been training in rescue awareness and preparedness for over twenty years and provides on or offsite training services to mining operations.

Mine rescue work is demanding and at times dangerous. Mine rescue teams are highly trained and skilled personnel. They must have an intimate knowledge of their equipment and master all the skills required to accomplish rescue missions. It is important that mine personnel receive periodic instruction and training in the duties they will be required to perform in the event of a mine accident or disaster at their operation. Once the basic mine rescue skills are learned, training and practice are required to develop a competent mine rescue team that can work together and accomplish rescue objectives.

These courses have been derived from the "Mine Rescue Manual" developed by the Ministry of Energy and Mines, British Columbia, Canada. The courses are now supported and presented by the author, who has extensive experience in mine rescue training and safety procedures.

Course Content

The course consists of 27 viewing sessions each with supporting figures, tables and examples, plus interactive course reviews. Course duration is equivalent to approximately 15 hours of viewing content.

Learning Outcomes

1. Discuss the terms: threshold limit, short-term exposure, time-weighted average.
2. Discuss the properties and effects of mine gases and the thresholds and treatments for personnel exposure.
3. Discuss the application, benefits and hazards of oxygen therapy, and the use of oxygen-therapy equipment..
4. Discuss methods and instrumentation for detecting and monitoring mine gases.

Duration: 15 Hours

Category: Safety

Level: Intermediate