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Mining & ExplosivesUnderground Communications and Tracking
Twenty flashcards on the wireless radios and electronic tracking that U.S. underground mines use since the MINER Act of 2006.
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20 cards
- When did the MINER Act become law?
- June 15, 2006, as Public Law 109-236, the Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act.
- Which accidents led MSHA to investigate new communications and tracking technology?
- The Sago, Aracoma and Darby accidents, followed by the MINER Act of 2006.
- Where did MSHA test the new systems underground?
- At the CONSOL Energy McElroy Mine, after a public meeting in Washington, DC in March 2006.
- How soon did each underground coal mine need a written accident response plan?
- Not later than 60 days after the MINER Act was enacted.
- How often must the government review each accident response plan?
- Periodically, but at least every 6 months.
- What communication and tracking does the plan have to cover?
- A redundant way to talk with the surface, and a way for surface staff to know the current or pre-accident location of everyone underground.
- What did the MINER Act require within 3 years?
- Post-accident wireless two-way communication with the surface and an electronic tracking system to locate anyone trapped underground.
- What if a mine could not adopt wireless communication and tracking?
- The plan had to explain why and give an alternative that comes as close as possible to the same safety protection.
- How fast must an operator report a death, or an injury or entrapment that could cause death?
- Within 15 minutes of realizing it has happened.
- What extra breathing supplies did the MINER Act require in escapeways?
- Caches of self-rescuers giving at least 2 hours per miner, spaced no farther than an average miner can walk in 30 minutes.
- Under MSHA policy P14-V-01, why is electronic tracking required while fully wireless radio is not?
- MSHA-approved tracking systems are available industry-wide; fully wireless radio is not yet, so plans use approved alternatives.
- Which technologies can best approximate a fully wireless mine radio?
- Leaky feeder, wireless or wired node-based, through-the-earth and medium frequency systems, among others.
- Who must carry an untethered device such as a hand-held radio?
- Each group of miners working or traveling together, and any miner working or traveling alone.
- How much radio coverage is normally expected around strategic areas?
- A zone of 200 feet inby and 200 feet outby places like refuge alternatives, SCSR caches and belt drives.
- How long should the underground radio network run on standby power?
- In many mines at least 24 hours, based on a 5% transmit, 5% receive and 90% idle duty cycle.
- How long should a hand-held radio or tracking tag last?
- At least 4 hours beyond the normal shift, for a 12-hour minimum total.
- How precisely should electronic tracking locate miners?
- Within 200 feet on a working section and near strategic areas, and at intervals not exceeding 2000 feet in escapeways.
- How often should the tracking system refresh each miner's location?
- At least every 60 seconds, with each miner uniquely identified and every location time-stamped.
- How long is location data kept, and what if a tag stops reporting?
- At least two weeks; the screen shows the miner's last known location.
- How often are the communication system and the handsets checked?
- The infrastructure weekly, and the hand-held devices daily for battery charge and condition.
Official sources
U.S. Congress, via GovInfo (GPO)
Public Law 109-236: Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act of 2006 (MINER Act)
Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA)
Communications and Tracking for Underground Mines
Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA)
Program Policy Letter P14-V-01: Post-Accident Two-Way Communication and Electronic Tracking (MINER Act)
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