Re: Mine Safety Subordinated to Mining Company Interests

John Kepler wrote:

We're not the ones with our underwear tied up, Mr. Kepler. I am very
skeptical that MSHA has the sort of technology I am referring to.


I suggest you look up Biomarine Engineering's "Biopak 240", and then Drager
Safety's "BG-4AP"....these are the two units that meet the MSHA spec
for SCBA Mine Self-Rescue Apparatus.

I did in their product literature on the Net. Both are rated to 4 hours, consistent with their cooling pack being operational.


While you're at it, you can also check
out MSA's W65 mine self-rescuer.

Actually, I've had one of these (or something nearly identical) draped on my body on a mine visit. According to its spec ***, the W65 is rated to 60 minutes at 1% CO, which is consistent with what I was told in my safety orientation. (I also use an MSA brand helmet for caving, believe it or not, and have for the last 20 years, despite some cave vendors wanting to sell me *their* $100+ helmets. )

My point still stands: if the modern SCUBA rebreathers can greatly exceed these specifications in extending breathing time (sane divers, being under the rule of 1/3s (even for rebreathers), rarely push rebreathers to their limits, but hey, an emergency is an emergency) why is that technology not being incorporated into SCBA safety equipment for miners?


BTW Ms. Shaper....would you like my MSHA Mine Safety Certification number?

Not really. I accept that you know about this topic. I'm glad that the mining industry is at least doing 'something' to safeguard their workers. I've been in lead mines, not coal mines, with the major difference being galena isn't combustible. But 'bad air' is a possibility everywhere underground.

My point is: I think the industry could do much more. I don't hold you responsible for the entire industry, so don't take the discussion personally. I've had 20 years of dealing with cave rescues. I know each case is unique in some aspect, and have done a fair amount of reading myself about underground 'bad air' chemistry (usually the same gases in cave or mine: CO, CO2, CH4) and mitigation for it. (I know a fellow who burned off his eyebrows when his carbide light hit a methane bubble, and several people in dry caves who have had close calls with CO and CO2. I've also known divers who've gotten pretty badly bent.) I am a geology advisor to local research divers--folks who dive mixed gas routinely over -200 ffw and occasionally to near -400 ffw. This whole 'bad air', diving mixed gases, rebreather discussion is not something I've just dipped into for this thread. (True--I don't dive myself. But you don't go to dive conferences, where 80% of the presentations are 'shop talk' and come away totally clueless of what's going on when you're not on the podium.)

But there is a big difference between your recreational caver or cave diver out for a weekend lark, and the fellow who is underground between 50 and 72 hours a week as a job--the latter knows the hazards increase just simply due the number of hours of exposure. Therefore, it stands to reason that person should have much better equipment than the part time cave diving enthusiast. Doesn't look like this is the case, though.


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