In the wake of a disastrous Utah mine collapse and rescue attempt in August in which six miners were trapped and three rescuers were killed, the Mine Safety and Health Administration published proposed rule changes to its mine rescue standards and announced a series of public hearings on the topic.

The proposals, published in the Sept. 6 Federal Register, would include the following changes to the Mine Rescue Teams standards:

• Criteria for certifying the qualifications of mine rescue teams
• Increased training for coal mine rescue members from 40 to 64 hours annually
• Requiring mine rescue teams to participate annually in two local mine rescue contests

For the Mine Rescue Team Equipment standard, the proposed rule change would require gas detectors during rescue operations and an additional two hours of breathable air for self-contained breathing apparatus.

source:  www.nsc.org