Mine rescuers have a tough job
|Published
An earial view of the drilling machine that Lily Mine is using to create an escape route for the trapped mine workers. An earial view of the drilling machine that Lily Mine is using to create an escape route for the trapped mine workers.
Johannesburg - The process of finding and rescuing trapped miners is a long and arduous one with many challenges along the way.
As rescue teams work feverishly to free three trapped miners at Lily Mine in Barberton, Dr Vernon Wessels, who has significant experience in dealing with mass casualty situations like mine collapses explained the tedious process of rescuing trapped miners and the difficulties that come with it.
“The first responders are usually the miners themselves who are trained in first aid. There are station depots inside the mines which have first aid kits, and those on site are trained to stop bleeding and do the basics. which in many instances saves lives,” he said.
Depending on how serious the collapse is, the first-aiders will then move the injured towards the cages, Wessels said.
“They do this so that rescue workers known as proto teams can get to them quickly and bring up them up to the surface to be treated.”
When asked about the role of proto teams, Wessels said they are the ones trained in underground rescue services. “They will be the ones to go under and work on freeing the trapped miners because they are specialised rescue workers.”
He said most large mines have their own proto teams but some of the smaller mines like Lily don’t for various reasons. “In a case like Lily Mine, the Mine Rescue Services will be the ones called to the scene to deal with the situation, together with regular emergency services.
“They will consult with mining experts on the safety and stability of the mineshaft, following which they will initiate the underground rescue operations.
There are several tools used to free miners.
“Many are similar to those used in serious motor vehicle accidents but the ones used in mine accidents are not petrol driven or electrical, because you cannot use anything flammable in these kind of a situations because the possibility of methane in the air.
“High-pressure elevation bags are used as well as hydraulic or hand-powered Jaws of Life and underground machinery such as bulldozers to get the guys out,” Wessels said.
He added that hand tools are also used to remove rocks, stressing once more that nothing that’s a fire risk can be used.
The survival rate and lifespan for trapped miners is dependent on several factors, including atmosphere and type of injury.
“If a methane (gas) pocket is released in the collapse, oxygen is needed.
“All miners have pocket rescuers which have around an hour’s worth of oxygen. It helps, but if it’s a bad collapse, it won’t sustain them,” Wessels said.
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