March 8, 1918.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

487

EQUIPMENT AND ORGANISATION OF
MINE RESCUE STATIONS.*

By A. J. Moorshead.

No other single branch of coal mining is so impor-
tant as a thorough organisation and equipment for
mine rescue work; and there is nothing will bring
greater economic benefits to mining companies than
well-equipped rescue stations and well-equipped rescue
organisations, because it means that the companies that
contrive to secure thoroughly well-organised mine
rescue bodies will seek to do everything in a safe
manner, and in so doing will lower accidents to a
minimum, lessen suffering, and, in a large measure,
stop the great expense attached to accidents to
employees and damage to property, which, it can
safely be said, is a consummation devoutly to be
wished.

All employers who desire to do all they can to lessen
injuries and loss of life, will be spurred to greater
activity when they realise that every serious injury, or
numbers of small injuries, as well as loss of life, will
make a perpetual and expensive record in the books
of the company. Too many people will not think of
the welfare of others, and sometimes not of themselves,
until they pay the bills; and that is why the author
advocates companies carrying their own insurance, as
it makes for safety in all that the word implies.

Equipment for Rescue Work.

For practical and active rescue work, including the
fighting of mine fires, the following equipment should
be provided: —

Six sets of two-hour-type breathing apparatus complete,
one set to be kept for reserve purposes, or repairs to the
other five sets.

Six extra oxygen cylinders for the breathing apparatus.

Two single 6 cu. ft. capacity oxygen cylinders. These
are to be carried as emergency cylinders by the rescue
team; that is, if the oxygen cylinder of any of the men
should give out through leakage, the emergency cylinder
could be applied, and in this manner the wearer would get
back to the fresh air.

One “ Salvator ” half-hour apparatus, to be carried by
the team especially when exploring districts where men are
thought to be alive. If the roadway between the pit bottom
and the men who survive the explosion is found to contain
an atmosphere dangerous to life, the apparatus is put on
the men, and the breathing bag is kept full by one member
of the squad. In this manner the victim can be brought
safely through the foul atmosphere; if the victim -is unable
to walk, he is carried on the stretcher with the oxygen
cylinder by his side. The oxygen cylinder of the
“ Salvator ” apparatus can also be used as an emergency
cylinder in any case where a rescue man’s oxygen is not
sufficient to carry him back to the fresh air base.

One oxygen pump for the re-charging of the small
cylinders from the large storage cylinders.

Six oxygen storage cylinders, at least 100 cu. ft. capacity.

One complete set of wrenches, also extra set of piston
leathers, gaskets, glycerine for the lubrication of pump, and
distilled water for the charging of the pump cylinder.

Four hundred cubic feet of oxygen should be kept on
hand, at least.

One hundred and sixty pounds of 99 per cent, pure
caustic soda, to be used for actual rescue work or fire
fighting.

Two hundred pounds of crude caustic soda, for training
purposes.

One oxygen reviving apparatus, with three extra oxygen
cylinders for same. For this purpose, the automatic pres-
sure and suction part of the Pulmotor is not recommended,
but the inhalation device of the Pulmotor in conjunction
with the performing of artificial respiration is sufficient.

Three pairs of flexible rubber gloves for handling caustic
soda.

Six reliable electric hand lamps of the accumulator type,
capable of giving at least four hours’ light per charge.

Six extra accumulators for same.

Six “ Eveready ” flashlight lamps of from four- to six-
volt batteries, with at least two extra batteries for each,
and one lamp bulb for each.

Six pairs of rubber smoke goggles.

Six oil-burning safety lamps complete; at least 1 gal.
of oil should be kept on hand for same, also a supply of
lamp wicks.

Six extra lamp glasses for the safety lamps, and a good
supply of asbestos gaskets should also be kept on hand.

Two small birds should be kept by some member of the
rescue team for the testing of the atmosphere in affected
areas.

Four glass-stoppered bottles, about 3 oz. capacity, should
be provided for securing samples of mine atmosphere for
analysis.

One meter for testing the volume of oxygen passing
through the reducing valves on the breathing apparatus.

One box of crayon chalk.

Ten pounds of lump sulphur for making fumes in the
smoke chamber.

Six 50 ft. lengths of cotton rope about 5/16in. in diameter,
with snaps at each end, so that all may be fastened together
if necessary. These are to be used when rescue men are
working in smoke. As the men travel along, the rope is
paid out, and acts as a guide line when the men return,
cutting out the chance of getting lost in the smoke and
exhausting their oxygen before the return to fresh air.

Care of Rescue Equipment.

All rubber parts should be kept in a cool, well-
ventilated room, lighted by a north window only; this
does away with any possible chance of the hot sun
playing on the rubber parts and drying them up. In
the winter it is preferred that no steam heat be kept
in the apparatus room; cold will do them no harm.

By attention to the heat of the room in which the
apparatus is kept, the rubber breathing bags have
been kept serviceable for five or six years, although
the average life of rubber breathing bags is said by the
United States Bureau of Mines to be less than 12
months. All rubber parts not in actual use should be
washed in soap and water at about 150 degs. Fahr, at
least once every month; this will prevent hardening
and cracking.

After use, the caustic soda should be emptied out of
the bag at once, and the bag washed out and hung up

* From a paper read at the National Safety Congress

to drain, but in the event of the men having to travel
a long distance from the place where the actual work
was done, and the caustic soda should dry and cake in
the bag, no attempt should be made to break the soda
while in the bag, because if this is done a torn bag
will surely result.

The bag should be filled with water at about 150 degs.
Fahr., and allowed to stand until all the caustic has
dissolved, and then washed in the usual way.

Mouthpieces should be washed with soap and hot
water, and then disinfected with diluted carbolic acid
or some other disinfectant; the inhaling and exhaling
valves should be cleaned with water, and allowed to
drain to prevent the sticking of the valves through the
collection of saliva.

The bags should be fully charged with caustic soda
and oxygen at all times. For experiment at the
Madison Coal Corporation Mine No. 8 Station, one
machine has been kept fully charged with soda and
oxygen for six months; at the end of this period, two
hours’ work was performed with the same apparatus in
sulphur fumes in the smoke chamber of the rescue
station.

When the apparatus is kept fully charged, mor© time
is left for the thorough testing of same, and parts are
not liable to be mislaid.

All safety lamps should be carefully assembled,
making sure that all gauzes are in, and that the
asbestos gaskets are in good condition.

All electric lamps should be kept fully charged. The
extra batteries for the flashlights should be renewed
immediately the maker’s guarantee date is reached,
and which is usually about six months.

All the equipment should be in charge of one com-
petent and responsible person, who should have
authority over same at all times.

The first-aid supplies should consist of at least two
large first-aid boxes, three stretchers, three blankets,
three air pillows, two dozen jars of moist picric acid
gauze for the treatment of burns, three full sets of
splints for the treatment of fractures, one gallon of
tincture of arnica for the treatment of bruises, a good
supply of bandages, and one set of charts for instruc-
tion purposes.

Organising Rescue Teams.

For a mine employing from 300 to 400 men, at least
three full teams of five men each should be organised.
These teams should be composed of all the underground
officials and men of sober habits who are studying
mining, and who are likely to stay with the company.

A fourth team should be made up of topmen and
mine examiners, and would include the carpenter,
electrician, blacksmith, and two mine examiners. Three
or four good labourers should also be trained as reserve
men to fill vacancies in any of the teams from any
cause. The training of these men should extend over
about 12 weeks, one lesson being given each week.
This should consist of work with the breathing appar-
atus in the smoke chamber filled with sulphur or
formaldehyde fumes, and the re-charging, cleaning,
assembling, and principles of the use and testing of
artificial breathing apparatus.

The first three lessons in the smoke room should not
be of more than one hour’s duration, but after that
the practice time in the smoke room should be increased
by half-hours until a two-hour period is reached.

For a full drill course, the men must test all joints,
unions, gauges, amount of soda in bag, all valves,
including inhaling and exhaling valves, relief valves,
reducing valves, emergency valves, and main valve.
The three valves last mentioned are best tested by
immersion in water, or they may be tested by putting
a lighted taper to the joint. If there is any leakage,
the light will burn much brighter.

After putting on the apparatus, the men should be
given a work-out in the sulphur fumes as follows: —
Pull 50 lb. weight 120 times; travel over overcast 14
times; go through tunnel 17 in. by 19 in. six times;
saw four props; carry 200 bricks from one end of the
smoke room to the other end, and build a stopping
with same; set four props and take out again; put up
brattice cloth once; apply emergency cylinder once.

The men should be taught to shut off the flexible
tube which delivers oxygen to the breathing bag, by
clamping with the finger and thumb the neck end of
the bag where the oxygen comes in. In this way any
leakage in or out of the bag will be prevented. The
apparatus men will, of course, replace the regular
supply by oxygen from the tube fitted to the emer-
gency cylinder. The oxygen out of that cylinder will
enable him to get out to fresh air. The purpose of
this training is to show the apparatus man what to do
and how to do it whenever in actual rescue work he
may find that the oxygen has leaked out, and that
there is not_ sufficient in the regular cylinders to
continue operations.

In the latter case, being unable to use the regulating
valve, he must work intermittently; that is, he must
fill his bag by opening the main valve and then closing
it again until more oxygen is needed.

Points to be Studied by Rescue Crew.

Every member of a rescue crew should be taught the
composition of mine gases and their effect upon human
life; th© symptoms of the different gas poisonings, and
how they should be treated; the proper way in which
to collect samples of gases for analysis; how to test
for different gases with the safety lamps, birds, etc.
The members should also know how to treat rescue
men who may become distressed from any cause, such
as the accidental cutting-off of their oxygen supply.

In addition should be taught the study of maps;
methods of exploring mines after explosions; tracing
the origin of the explosion; keeping notes on the con-
dition of the roadways, stoppings, doors; the direction
on which the timbers are blown out; the signs of force
on pit cars; signs of heat on timbers and burnt paper;
the position of the dead; whether death occurred from
burns, violence, or the inhalation of poisonous gases;
the tallying of dead bodies, and marking on the map
the positions in which they were found; how those
found after the explosion should be brought through

gaseous zones by the use of the “ Salvator ” half-hour
apparatus; the disinfecting of the dead bodies and the
places where found; the use of the “hygrometer” in
determining the amount of moisture in the air; the
charging and using of fire extinguishers; first-aid
treatment of burns, wounds, fractures, etc.; how to
perform artificial respiration.

Necessary Underground Equipment.

A good system of teaching the theoretical work would
be for the instructor to typewrite his lecture for each
lesson, and append questions, giving each member a
copy, and requiring him to answer the questions orally
at the succeeding lesson.

The oral system of training is not sufficient. Too
often the men remember very little of the lecture,
because they do not thoroughly understand what was
said at the time; but if it is given in writing, they
can study it when away from the rescue station.

Rescue cars should be provided and kept in a suit-
able place at the bottom of the shaft, and these should
be equipped with fire extinguishers, first-aid box com-
plete, all sizes of splints, sledge hammer, saw, wire
clippers, brattice cloth, nails, stretcher, rubber gloves,
and seats for six men.

The car should be designed for the transportation of
tools and injured men, the stretcher being arranged
so that it may be attached to the four corners of the
car by hooks and springs, making it very comfortable
for the person on the stretcher. It can also be used
for conveying rescue men to the base of operations.

It is, of course, understood that the car is only
used after the main roadway has been inspected by
the rescue men and found clear of afterdamp, and has
been cleared of any falls.

When an explosion has occurred, each member of
the rescue party will immediately proceed to the mine
rescue station, where they must be given written
instructions by the mine superintendent of the work
to be done and the route to be taken. A copy of these
instructions must be kept by some responsible party,
so that in the event of the exploring party not return-
ing within a reasonable time, a reference to the book
in which the intentions of the exploring party have
been recorded would enable the searching party to
follow without delay.

Each machine should be tested to see that it con-
tains the maximum amount of oxygen (120 atmo-
spheres) in the cylinders, and a full charge of caustic
soda (41b.); all joints, valves, etc., should be tested
as already explained, the pressure of each apparatus
being recorded by the captain, and a further reading
of the gauge made every 15 minutes and recorded in
his notebook. In this manner any leakage of oxygen
will be detected quickly.

Before leaving the rescue station, every member
should enter and work in the smoke room (which is
filled with sulphur fumes) for five minutes. All safety
lamps should be tested before entering the cage, and
the names of the rescue party should be taken by the
person in charge of the shaft gates, and recorded.

The exploring team should be equipped with one
“ Salvator ” apparatus, one spare emergency cylinder,
two safety lamps, at least four electric lamps, chalk, a
50 ft. length of rope each, a flask of brandy or some
other stimulant, and one bird in a cage.

The team should examine the stables immediately
for signs of fire, and rescue all who may be alive at
the shaft bottom; test the atmosphere with the bird
and safety lamp, and return to the surface and report.
They will then descend again, and, assuming the air
to be fit to breathe, travel along the main roadway,
carrying the bird cage on the level with the face to
test for carbon monoxide, and the safety lamp low
down to test for heavy gases such as carbon dioxide;
as soon as any signs of these gases are found, they
will immediately put on their mouthpieces, read their
gauges, travel a distance ahead, after which they will
come back and make their report. A fresh air base
will then be made, with a telephone fitted, so that
persons on the surface may know how the work is
proceeding.

First-aid squads will then collect at this base with
stretchers, and another squad of men will be put to
work repairing brattices and doors, while another
squad will carry material and supplies.

When a very considerable distance is to be travelled
by the rescue party, and work done such as putting up
a brattice, etc., at least 20 atmospheres of oxygen
should be kept in reserve; that is, supposing the dis-
tance travelled should require the using up of 30 atmo-
spheres of oxygen, we know that it will require the
same amount to come back, assuming the ground to be
level. The crew should only be allowed to work until
the lowest gauge shows 50 atmospheres of oxygen; this
will be a signal for the retreat of the party.

A Combined Fuel. — Engineers at some of the large
London factories recently made a large number of tests
with a combination of ordinary gas with a moderate grade
coal, in connection with the scheme for economising coal
owing to the recent shortage of fuel. The coal used was
second-class steam coal, and the gas was produced from
coke ovens. The boiler plant of one of the largest electric
works has been lent for the purpose of making the tests.
So far, the results obtained are not considered sufficiently
good to justify its general adoption, but further tests are
being made.

Miners’ Federation and Man-Power.—A special meeting
of the executive of the Miners’ Federation of Great Britain
was held in London on Wednesday, to arrange for the
ballot regarding the proposed recruiting of 50,000 men
from the mines. It was decided to instruct every colliery
in Great Britain to hold the ballot on one day next week,
so that the voting shall be completed by Saturday,
March 16. The return of the vote for each district is to
be sent to Mr. Thos. Ashton, secretary of the Federation,
not later than March 18. It was decided to resume the
conference on Man-Power in London on March 20. The
ironstone miners in the Cleveland district and the cokemen
will not take part in the ballot, as they are not included
in the recruiting scheme. The miners who will participate
in the ballot will number about 700,000.