THE USE OF SCSRS DURING RECENT MINE ACCIDENTS IN THE U.S. AND SUBSEQUENT REGULATORY IMPROVEMENTS FOR SCSRS

Dr. Jeffery H. Kravitz

Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA)
U.S. Department of Labor

Several Mine Accidents have occurred in the United States since the beginning of 2006. Self-Contained Self-Rescuers (SCSRs) were used by escaping miners in all events involving explosions and fires. The MSHA-NIOSH investigations regarding the testing of the SCSRs involved in the
accidents were significant, due to the thoroughness of the procedures and the results of the investigations. The subsequent regulatory improvements are seminal, and are required by MSHA’s new Mine Evacuation Rule and the Miner Act of 2006.

This presentation will give a summary of each accident where SCSRs were used, reports on the results of the MSHA and NIOSH investigations, and describes the new SCSR regulations that were promulgated as a direct result of these accidents. Recommendations for improvements to SCSRs are also discussed.