Seek Refuge: Your Third Line of Defense - A Miner's Town Hall Meeting
Watch their first Town Hall Meeting:
Escape and Survive
Seek Refuge: Your Third Line of Defense is a training initiative from The Penn State University Miner Training Program which includes the Seek Refuge webcast.
The webcast, approximately one hour long, features a panel of top mine safety experts including: Penn State's Dr. R. Larry Grayson, Jeffrey Stanchek of the PA Bureau of Mine Safety, Dr. Jeffrey Kravitz of MSHA, Jim Pablic of AMFIRE Mining, VR Training expert Don Quitter, and Mike Brnich and Dr. Kathleen Kowalski-Trakofler, both of of NIOSH.
The panel discusses the emergency circumstances that would demand that miners in danger make use of an underground shelter, such as a fresh air bay. The webcast depicts such an emergency, and provides detailed information on the proper use of shelters, as well as what miners can expect when they are awaiting rescue.
Other topics include new methods for mine safety training, emergency response principles, and how to deal with PTSD. Hosted by Jim Burton of Johnstown, Pennsylvania's WJAC-TV. |
 |
| The videos which make up chapter segments of the webcast below are delivered via YouTube. Downloads of these files in WMV format are listed below:
|
|
Seek Refuge: Chapter 1
Introduction
Overview of the program. Overview of recent incidents and legislation that have driven emergency preparedness. Introduction of the Miner Town Hall panel of experts. Comments from a miner rescued from a flooded mine. |
| |
Seek Refuge: Chapter 2
The challenge and necessity of miners to be prepared (e.g., good communication, use of refuge alternative, etc.).
A simulated emergency traps a crew of miners who eventually seek shelter in a refuge. Different types of refuge alternatives, challenges in training miners to use refuge alternatives, and components of quality training are also addressed. |
| |
Seek Refuge: Chapter 3
Making use of a fresh air bay
Video of a crew of miners crawling toward and activating an inflatable fresh air bay. Discussion of the refuge components, supplies, the importance of communication systems, emergency prevention. The role of the Responsible Person, mine rescue teams roles and protocols, and the ways in which mine emergencies affect people differently are also discussed. |
| |
Seek Refuge: Chapter 4
Dealing with stress-related aspects of emergencies and taking refuge
Dr. Kathleen Kowalski-Trakofler provides an overview of the normal reactions that miners may experience in a refuge shelter, and practical strategies for managing those reactions. Taking refuge will not be a pleasant experience, but may save your life. Also includes an update on how mine rescue teams are preparing themselves to deal with miners who may be waiting for rescue in a refuge alternative. |
| |
Seek Refuge: Chapter 5
Introduction to innovative methods for emergency preparedness training
Don Quitter of Commercial Training Solutions advocates supplementing traditional approaches (e.g., hands-on with a training unit) with desktop virtual reality (VR) training programs. Three such programs are showcased. Each VR module features opportunities for interactive decision making. Presentation of several important principles of effective training, such as realism and a good understanding of the needs of the adult learner. |
| |
Seek Refuge: Chapter 6
Knowledge of your mine and emergency procedures is a top priority, and watch out for stress-related problems up to a year after the emergency
Chapter 6 first stresses the critical need for miners to know and understand their mine. Escaping the mine is the first priority. Good information can save your life. NIOSH has developed training programs to enhance mine emergency preparedness. Miners must realize that the weeks and months following a mine emergency can be a critical time for those involved since post traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) could develop. Reach out for support, and seek professional counseling if needed. |
| |
Seek Refuge: Chapter 7
Q & A
The webcast concludes with a question and answer period. Subjects of questions posed to the panelists include:
- Team training of miners
- The effect of age on success with virtual reality training
- How MSHA will accommodate advances in refuge alternative technology
- Evaluation of training results
- Mine rescue protocols
- and how to obtain NIOSH training materials
|
View the webcast video at http://www.eme.psu.edu/minerstownhall_webcast/2010/index.html
Any comments or questions should be directed to Mark Radomsky at mcr4@psu.edu.
|
