ROMANIAN ASSOCIATION OF MINING AND SURFACE

RESCUERS – AMSR

ROMANIAN ASSOCIATION OF MINING AND SURFACE

RESCUERS

Organization and operation of mine rescuing in Romania

Artur George Găman – senior researcherArtur George Găman – senior researcher INSEMEX Petrosani ROMANIA

The organization of the rescue The organization of the rescue operations in the underground mining operations in the underground mining industry in Romania is regulated by the industry in Romania is regulated by the `` Specific norms for labour protection `` Specific norms for labour protection valid for coal, shales and bituminous valid for coal, shales and bituminous sand mines`` - Edition 1997, detailed in sand mines`` - Edition 1997, detailed in 111 articles and 6 annexes in the 111 articles and 6 annexes in the ``Tehnical prescriptions`` to these ``Tehnical prescriptions`` to these norms.norms.

The mine rescue stations provide The mine rescue stations provide for the operations carried out in special for the operations carried out in special conditions born as a result of accidents conditions born as a result of accidents in underground or at surface and which in underground or at surface and which endanger the personnel or the goods endanger the personnel or the goods and where is necessary to use breathing and where is necessary to use breathing apparatus because of high apparatus because of high concentrations of gases, vapour and concentrations of gases, vapour and toxic or asphyxiant powders above the toxic or asphyxiant powders above the limits settled by norms.limits settled by norms.

The staff of the mine rescue The staff of the mine rescue stations shall be involved in the stations shall be involved in the operations performed during these operations performed during these accidents where there is hazard of accidents where there is hazard of occurrence of gases, vapours and toxic occurrence of gases, vapours and toxic or asphyxiant powders when coming or asphyxiant powders when coming across old mine workings, goafs, or across old mine workings, goafs, or during the control of certain areas with during the control of certain areas with uncertain atmosphere as well during uncertain atmosphere as well during other situations previously settled and other situations previously settled and approved by the technical leader of the approved by the technical leader of the mine unit and until the atmosphere mine unit and until the atmosphere becomes breathable.becomes breathable.

The number of active rescuers shall The number of active rescuers shall be at least 2%, of the most crowed be at least 2%, of the most crowed working shift, but not less than 10 working shift, but not less than 10 rescuers. It is allowed a supplement with rescuers. It is allowed a supplement with 3-5 active rescuers whether the rescue 3-5 active rescuers whether the rescue station has signed a contract for station has signed a contract for performing of rescue operation for two or performing of rescue operation for two or several mine units located nearby. The several mine units located nearby. The mine, rescuing is organized in rescue mine, rescuing is organized in rescue stations located at the mine units or at stations located at the mine units or at central stations.central stations.

1st category mine rescue stations with 1st category mine rescue stations with more than 25 active rescuers employed;more than 25 active rescuers employed;

2nd category mine rescue stations with 2nd category mine rescue stations with more than 15 up to 25 active rescuers more than 15 up to 25 active rescuers employed;employed;

3nd category mine rescue stations with 3nd category mine rescue stations with more than 10 up to 15 active rescuers more than 10 up to 15 active rescuers employed;employed;

Central mine rescue stations (organized Central mine rescue stations (organized in mine fields, branches or autonomous in mine fields, branches or autonomous companies), the number of their employees companies), the number of their employees being determined by the legal person.being determined by the legal person.

a) the rooms for the apparatus where the a) the rooms for the apparatus where the closed circuit breathing apparatus, the closed circuit breathing apparatus, the personal protection apparatus, the personal protection apparatus, the control apparatus are stored. All the control apparatus are stored. All the apparatus shall be stored in glass apparatus shall be stored in glass cases or inside special desks. The cases or inside special desks. The temperature of the room shall be temperature of the room shall be between +150C and +22 0C;between +150C and +22 0C;

b) the room where the personnel of the b) the room where the personnel of the rescue station learns the theory part;rescue station learns the theory part;

c) the room where the breathing apparatus c) the room where the breathing apparatus are repaired, maintained, disinfected are repaired, maintained, disinfected and prepared for future operations; here and prepared for future operations; here the disinfection apparatus or plant shall the disinfection apparatus or plant shall have also to be located;have also to be located;

d) storage room where the rescue items d) storage room where the rescue items and the spare parts are stored;and the spare parts are stored;

e) the room for charging pumps for oxygen e) the room for charging pumps for oxygen cylinders. From a constructive point of view cylinders. From a constructive point of view and considering its location, this room shall and considering its location, this room shall have to comply with the `` Technical have to comply with the `` Technical prescriptions for construction, repairing and prescriptions for construction, repairing and use of mobile vessels under pressure`` in use of mobile vessels under pressure`` in force;force;

f) the room where the cylinders loaded with f) the room where the cylinders loaded with compressed oxygen are stored should be built compressed oxygen are stored should be built in accordance with the `` Technical in accordance with the `` Technical prescriptions for construction, repairing and prescriptions for construction, repairing and use of mobile vessels under pressure`` in use of mobile vessels under pressure`` in force;force;

g) training structures arranged in mine g) training structures arranged in mine workings or at surface for the training workings or at surface for the training of rescuers. Whether these structures of rescuers. Whether these structures are arranged in rescue stations, they are arranged in rescue stations, they have to re-create the most accurate have to re-create the most accurate possible the microclimate and the possible the microclimate and the working conditions in underground working conditions in underground occurred during possible damages, but occurred during possible damages, but with no overpass of the maximum with no overpass of the maximum admitted concentrations of toxic gases.admitted concentrations of toxic gases.

h) lamp rooms, locker rooms – bath-h) lamp rooms, locker rooms – bath-rooms, toilets, whether these utilities rooms, toilets, whether these utilities are not provided adequately by the are not provided adequately by the mine units and for the rescuing mine units and for the rescuing operations purposes. operations purposes.

The personnel employed by mine The personnel employed by mine rescue stations shall have to be rescue stations shall have to be trained and certified to this purpose. trained and certified to this purpose. Both the training and the certification Both the training and the certification and the re-training and the re-and the re-training and the re-certification are carried out at certification are carried out at INSEMEX Petrosani.INSEMEX Petrosani.

The rescue station shall have:The rescue station shall have:- active and managing personnel;- active and managing personnel;- personnel employed for control, - personnel employed for control,

monitoring and coordinating operations monitoring and coordinating operations (engineers, college engineers) and (engineers, college engineers) and coming from the mining unit served or coming from the mining unit served or from outside; from outside;

- medical personnel;- medical personnel;- auxiliary personnel – certified mecanics - auxiliary personnel – certified mecanics

employed by the rescue station.employed by the rescue station.

The active rescuers come The active rescuers come voluntary from the working staff of the voluntary from the working staff of the mine unit they may have different jobs mine unit they may have different jobs (miners, deputy miners, drilling workers, (miners, deputy miners, drilling workers, electricians, locksmiths, firemen, electricians, locksmiths, firemen, foremen, technicians, college engineers, foremen, technicians, college engineers, engineers) after they sign an engineers) after they sign an agreement. agreement.

For those mine units where is For those mine units where is necessary that mechanics for handling the necessary that mechanics for handling the extraction machines, the pumps or the extraction machines, the pumps or the locomotives work with the breathing locomotives work with the breathing apparatus donned, the working force of the apparatus donned, the working force of the rescue station shall be at so supplemented rescue station shall be at so supplemented with these jobs. Whether the rescue station with these jobs. Whether the rescue station serves several units, others than of those serves several units, others than of those in the mining field, there can be employed in the mining field, there can be employed active rescuers with jobs others than the active rescuers with jobs others than the ones stated above. ones stated above.

The central rescue stations shall The central rescue stations shall employ only professional rescuers.employ only professional rescuers.

a) General conditions:a) General conditions:

- age between 22-45 (for the active - age between 22-45 (for the active personnel);personnel);

- to have worked previously for at least 3 - to have worked previously for at least 3 years in underground in a properly years in underground in a properly qualified job (for the active personnel);qualified job (for the active personnel);

- to possess a certificate of mine rescuer - to possess a certificate of mine rescuer delivered by the unit which performed delivered by the unit which performed the training classes.the training classes.

b) Health conditions and abilities:b) Health conditions and abilities:- the concerned person shall have to be certified - the concerned person shall have to be certified

as able-bodied from a medical and psychological as able-bodied from a medical and psychological point of view. To this end, when being recruited point of view. To this end, when being recruited the future rescuers shall be medically checked. the future rescuers shall be medically checked. This examination shall be repeated during the This examination shall be repeated during the admittance at the training or re-training classes. admittance at the training or re-training classes. The newly recruited rescuers shall have to pass The newly recruited rescuers shall have to pass a psychologic examination carried out according a psychologic examination carried out according to the methodology developed at INSEMEX by to the methodology developed at INSEMEX by certified persons. These examinations shall certified persons. These examinations shall repeat every one year.repeat every one year.

- the rescue team, made of 3-5 active rescuers, - the rescue team, made of 3-5 active rescuers, their number shall be settled by the head of their number shall be settled by the head of the rescue station, in relation to the nature the rescue station, in relation to the nature and size of rescuing operations.and size of rescuing operations.

One member of the rescue team shall be One member of the rescue team shall be the head of the team. When determining the the head of the team. When determining the component members of the team the nature component members of the team the nature and the size of the damage shall be and the size of the damage shall be considered.considered.

- the rescue group is made of two active rescue - the rescue group is made of two active rescue teams at least;teams at least;

- the rescue station includes the whole rescuing - the rescue station includes the whole rescuing personnel of mine unit.personnel of mine unit.

- 1ststage covers the initiation and the training.- 1ststage covers the initiation and the training. - it lasts 24 working days and includes two parts- it lasts 24 working days and includes two parts - the first part is a 8 day initiation. The students - the first part is a 8 day initiation. The students

behavior during applications is monitored by the behavior during applications is monitored by the trainers and the medical supervisors. After this trainers and the medical supervisors. After this part ends there follows an examination and the part ends there follows an examination and the Commission shall decide whether the student can Commission shall decide whether the student can proceed with the training.proceed with the training.

-a 16 working day training part. The student -a 16 working day training part. The student finishes his/her applied and theoretical finishes his/her applied and theoretical knowledge.knowledge.

-general theoretical training – 5 days;-general theoretical training – 5 days;

-expert theoretical training – 11 days;-expert theoretical training – 11 days;

-applied training – 8 days. -applied training – 8 days.

At the end of this stage, the At the end of this stage, the student shall have to pass an exam student shall have to pass an exam during which his/her theoretical and during which his/her theoretical and applied knowledge is tested . Whether applied knowledge is tested . Whether the result is favourable, the student the result is favourable, the student gets a rescuer certificate which gets a rescuer certificate which supports his/her employment at the supports his/her employment at the rescue station. rescue station.

Every 3 years all active rescuers Every 3 years all active rescuers shall have to attend a 12 working day shall have to attend a 12 working day re-training program as it follows:re-training program as it follows:

- general theoretical training – 2 days;- general theoretical training – 2 days;

- expert theoretical training – 6 days;- expert theoretical training – 6 days;

- applied training – 4 days.- applied training – 4 days.

The re-training of the engineers and The re-training of the engineers and of the medical staff is organized only at of the medical staff is organized only at INSEMEX Petrosani and meets the re-INSEMEX Petrosani and meets the re-training program of the staff involved in training program of the staff involved in the control, coordination and monitoring the control, coordination and monitoring of the rescue operations. At the end of of the rescue operations. At the end of this re-training program, they shall have this re-training program, they shall have to pass an examination during which to pass an examination during which they theoretical and applied knowledge they theoretical and applied knowledge is tested. Whether the validity of the is tested. Whether the validity of the rescuer certificate is overdue with more rescuer certificate is overdue with more than 3 months and no re-training has than 3 months and no re-training has been made, the rescuer is removed from been made, the rescuer is removed from the rescue team of the rescue station.the rescue team of the rescue station.

The 2nd stage involves a The 2nd stage involves a refreshment of the theory and exercises refreshment of the theory and exercises to preserve the physical condition. The to preserve the physical condition. The exercises are done at the rescue station exercises are done at the rescue station wear the mine units in 4-5 hours each wear the mine units in 4-5 hours each week (with a maximum of 20 week (with a maximum of 20 hours/month), according to the hours/month), according to the following program: following program:

- general theoretical training – 4 hours;- general theoretical training – 4 hours;

- expert theoretical training – 4-8 hours;- expert theoretical training – 4-8 hours;

- applied training with the breathing - applied training with the breathing apparatus in operation – 8 hours (of apparatus in operation – 8 hours (of which 2 hours at least spent in the which 2 hours at least spent in the smoke chamber) smoke chamber)

- general theoretical training – 2 days;- general theoretical training – 2 days;

- expert theoretical training – 4 days;- expert theoretical training – 4 days;

- applied training – 4 days.- applied training – 4 days.

- general theoretical training – 1 days;- general theoretical training – 1 days;

- expert theoretical training – 2 days;- expert theoretical training – 2 days;

- applied training – 3 days.- applied training – 3 days.

The training and the re-training of The training and the re-training of the staff involved in the control and the staff involved in the control and monitoring operations ands with a monitoring operations ands with a theoretical and applied examination in theoretical and applied examination in front of commission made of experts front of commission made of experts from INSEMEX Petrosani.from INSEMEX Petrosani.

- carries out examinations of the area, do - carries out examinations of the area, do measurements, sketches, sampling of measurements, sketches, sampling of material or/and gases items necessary material or/and gases items necessary to determine the causes which have led to determine the causes which have led to the occurrence of the damage;to the occurrence of the damage;

- monitors and coordinates the manner in - monitors and coordinates the manner in which the operations in the damaged which the operations in the damaged area carried out;area carried out;

- provides technical assistance during - provides technical assistance during rescuing operations.rescuing operations.

- one ready-to-use breathing apparatus - one ready-to-use breathing apparatus for each rescuer and a spare breathing for each rescuer and a spare breathing apparatus for every five breathing apparatus for every five breathing apparatus.apparatus.

- the accessories for each apparatus:- the accessories for each apparatus:- one escape face mask for every three - one escape face mask for every three

breathing apparatus (for the evacuation breathing apparatus (for the evacuation of the injured people);of the injured people);

- a universal machine for the control of - a universal machine for the control of the dose and of the sealing at every ten the dose and of the sealing at every ten breathing apparatus, but two minimum;breathing apparatus, but two minimum;

- an apparatus to check the face masks;- an apparatus to check the face masks;- a pulmotor for artificial breathing at every - a pulmotor for artificial breathing at every

ten breathing apparatus, but two minimum;ten breathing apparatus, but two minimum;- an inhaler at every ten breathing machines;- an inhaler at every ten breathing machines;- two working pumps used to remove the - two working pumps used to remove the

oxygen from on recipient into another one;oxygen from on recipient into another one;- for each apparatus: two 2 liter oxygen spare - for each apparatus: two 2 liter oxygen spare

cylinders, fully loaded;cylinders, fully loaded;- at least three 40 liter oxygen cylinders, fully - at least three 40 liter oxygen cylinders, fully

loaded;loaded;

- an annual supply of 24 filtering cartridges minimum - an annual supply of 24 filtering cartridges minimum for each rescuer, necessary for training purpose for each rescuer, necessary for training purpose plus a reserve of 60 % of the amount of said plus a reserve of 60 % of the amount of said cartridges necessary in case of damages;cartridges necessary in case of damages;

- suitable installations for the disinfection of the - suitable installations for the disinfection of the breathing apparatus;breathing apparatus;

- the same amount of mobile electric lamps as that - the same amount of mobile electric lamps as that of breathing apparatus; they shall be stored in the of breathing apparatus; they shall be stored in the lamp room (the same as methane testers);lamp room (the same as methane testers);

- a bag with the first aid kit for each team;- a bag with the first aid kit for each team;- a safety belt;- a safety belt;

- methane detectors (for firedamp mines) gas - methane detectors (for firedamp mines) gas detectors or colourimetric vidals plus detectors or colourimetric vidals plus anaspiration pump, thermometers, small anaspiration pump, thermometers, small cases with vidals for air sampling (one cases with vidals for air sampling (one piece for each team);piece for each team);

- personal protective and working equipment;- personal protective and working equipment;- woolen blankets (around 15-20 pcs) to help - woolen blankets (around 15-20 pcs) to help

the transportation of the injured people and the transportation of the injured people and for a quick sealing of the damaged area;for a quick sealing of the damaged area;

- a stretcher for every five breathing - a stretcher for every five breathing apparatus.apparatus.

The rescue station shall be located The rescue station shall be located in an accessible place both for in an accessible place both for personnel of the station and for personnel of the station and for vehicles; it should have a phone vehicles; it should have a phone connection with the mine unit and a connection with the mine unit and a system for a quick warning of rescuers system for a quick warning of rescuers (siren, telephone, bells, radio, pagers, (siren, telephone, bells, radio, pagers, mobile, etc.) mobile, etc.)

The maximum age for the active The maximum age for the active mine rescuers is 45 years old; according mine rescuers is 45 years old; according to the Romanian legislation this is the to the Romanian legislation this is the age when the miners working in age when the miners working in underground retire whether their underground retire whether their seniority is 20 years minimum.seniority is 20 years minimum.

- explosions and methane and coal dust- explosions and methane and coal dust- ignitions: 27 % ;ignitions: 27 % ;

- cavings: 32 % ;- cavings: 32 % ;

- underground fires: 14 %;- underground fires: 14 %;

- mine fires: 7 % ;- mine fires: 7 % ;

- gas flooding of mine workings: 5 % ;- gas flooding of mine workings: 5 % ;

- flooding with water, slime of mine workings: 9 - flooding with water, slime of mine workings: 9 % ;% ;

- electro-mechanic failures: 6 %- electro-mechanic failures: 6 %

Of the total amount of explosions Of the total amount of explosions and methane and coal dust ignitions:and methane and coal dust ignitions:

- 45 % were methane ignitions;- 45 % were methane ignitions;

- 38 % were methane explosions;- 38 % were methane explosions;

- 11 % were methane and coal dust - 11 % were methane and coal dust explosions;explosions;

- 3 % were coal dust ignitions.- 3 % were coal dust ignitions.

- 3 % were coal dust explosions- 3 % were coal dust explosions

Of the total of 131 mine accidents Of the total of 131 mine accidents subjected to analysis, 78 of them subjected to analysis, 78 of them occurred in the Jiu Valley mines 33 occurred in the Jiu Valley mines 33 occurred in lignite mines and 20 in ore occurred in lignite mines and 20 in ore mines.mines.

- accidents occurred in the Jiu Valley - accidents occurred in the Jiu Valley minesmines

- accidents occurred in the lignite mines;- accidents occurred in the lignite mines;

- accidents occurred in the ore mines- accidents occurred in the ore mines

- a substantial diminution of the funds - a substantial diminution of the funds necessary to buy new equipment necessary to buy new equipment (including equipment specific to rescue (including equipment specific to rescue operations).operations).

- the aging of the personnel; no new - the aging of the personnel; no new employments have been made in the employments have been made in the last few years because of the policy led last few years because of the policy led to limit the mining activity.to limit the mining activity.

But, considering the fact that But, considering the fact that mines closure is a complex and long-mines closure is a complex and long-lasting operation subject to inherent lasting operation subject to inherent risks, the mine rescue teams are risks, the mine rescue teams are deemed to involve in an active manner deemed to involve in an active manner in this process. in this process.

But to end optimistically, the But to end optimistically, the government previsions say that the government previsions say that the Romanian coal mining, here being Romanian coal mining, here being included the rescuing activity related to included the rescuing activity related to this sector shall, be subjected to a this sector shall, be subjected to a decreasing re-size and not to a total decreasing re-size and not to a total vanish.vanish.

ROMANIAN ASSOCIATION OF MINING AND SURFACE

RESCUERS

Petrosani, Code 332047, General V.Milea Street, no.32-34

Fax: 00(40)254546277, Tel: 00(40)254/541621,

00(40)541622e-mail: asmsr03@yahoo.com

ROMANIA