Lesson 4 – Underground Emergency Procedure

GENERAL:

All persons to make themselves familiar with escape routes to the refuge bays and direction signs to Refuge Bay shall be placed in all the workings.

In an emergency, when all persons have been withdrawn to a place of safety, report to any underground Official or Banksman/Onsetter by telephone.

If on surface or not on duty, all underground Officials to report to Control Centre.

Emergency procedure in the refuge bay:

• Remain calm.
• The most senior person is to assume overall charge within the chamber.
• Open compressed air valve inside chamber.
• Place guard at entrance inside chamber.
• No persons are to leave chamber.
• Take roll call.
• Record any person missing and place where last seen.
• Keep only 10% of cap lamps burning at any one time.
• Reassure all persons and isolate any agitators.
• Monitor regularly for Air Quality.
• Contact the Banksman/Onsetter by telephone. Report on points 1 to 10 and await further instructions. All persons are to remain in the chamber until a rescue team arrives.
• Supervisors will remain in charge of their individual teams.

FIRE AND EMERGENCY:

• Withdraw all workmen to a refuge bay, or flat development end recognised as a temporary refuge bay, i.e. any flat development end which is supplied by means of a separate compressed air feed.
• Close fire door where strategic fire doors are installed.
• If a fire is small and there is no danger to life, then try to put it out, but take no risks.
• Advise Shiftboss, Mine Overseer, or the Banksman/Onsetter by phone.
• Banksman/Onsetter, Shiftboss or Mine Overseer to advise Manager Mining, or in his absence the most senior official in charge.
• Do the same as above if you notice smoke.
• No official to leave the mine without permission of the Manager in Charge.

FIRE INCIDENTS:

The Manager or appointed Representative will notify the following immediately:

• The Mine Overseer of New Consort Section
• Sheba Section Fairview Section
• Proto Manager/or in his absence the Proto Captain

The Proto Manager or Proto Captain will notify the following immediately:

• Proto Coordinator
• The Mines Rescue Station at Barberton Mine.

Mine Overseer

• Ensure that Shift bosses are familiar with these instructions.
• See that gas-testing equipment is always available.
• See that Fire fighting equipment is kept in good order.
• Ensure that refuge bays are available and properly equipped.
• Advise Manager – Underground Operations.
• Take charge underground and establish a base.
• Check rescue and withdrawal of all persons affected – ensure that no foolhardy rescue attempts are made.
• Maintain discipline.

Ventilation Superintendent

• Keep on hand a supply of the following gas detecting tubes:

‒CARBON MONOXIDE

‒CARBON DIOXIDE

‒NITROUS FUMES

• Check refuge bays and fire fighting equipment.
• Ensure that the position of refuge bays are indicated on mine rescue plan.
• Ensure the plotting of explosive boxes on mine rescue plan.
• Have ventilation plan available.
• Assist Manager.

Engineer

• Ensure that all Foremen and workmen are familiar with these instructions.
• Make regular checks on fire fighting equipment on surface and underground.
• Ensure that telephone communications are kept in order, especially to surface, stations and refuge bays.
• Have a fitter, electrician and boilermaker on continuous standby in the workshops.
• Keep surface reservoirs full and pumps operating.
• Be available to assist the Manager in charge

Storekeeper

• Keep 150m of 50mm (lightweight) piping with quick fitting connections and 3 rolls of blasting curtains in stock.
• Arrange that store keys are available at all times.
• Keep about 50 grain bags on hand at all times.
• Arrange for issuing clerks to be on continuous duty at the Mine Store.

Shift bosses and Foremen

• Each Shiftboss and Foreman is responsible that his men have access to a copy of and understand these instructions.
• Each Shiftboss and Foreman is responsible for all fire fighting equipment and refuge bays in their sections.
• Foremen to see that pumps for fire fighting and all pipe lines are in order.
• Shift bosses are to arrange periodical fire drills..
• Advise Mine Overseer or Manager Mining by phone.
• Proceed with withdrawal and checking of all persons to refuge bays.
• No rescue operations are to be attempted in smoke or gas.
• Place competent person with messengers at nearest telephone in fresh air base to maintain contact with person in charge of operations.
• In any fatal accident, do not remove lamp from the body.
• Maintain discipline and ensure that panic does not occur.

Survey

• Keep plan canisters on hand.
• “Mines Rescue” plan is to be kept up to date.
• Prepare at least 10 prints of the emergency area on a 1:500 plan.
• Be available to assist Manager.

Proto Team

• All proto equipment to be kept in good order.
• Telephone numbers and addresses are to be supplied to the HR Practitioner.
• Medical reports and training are to be kept up to date.

HR Practitioner

• Notify Professional Nurse on standby.
• Arrange for regular supply of messenger- and transport teams at shaft or adit.
• Keep adequate supply of fresh drinking water in suitable containers at shaft to supply to underground teams when required.