Published in the August 2006 American Longwall Magazine

Sprawled on a small corner of the southwestern Pennsylvania landscape atop Chestnut Ridge in the Appalachian Mountains, the site of the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Lake Lynn Laboratory was chosen carefully, according to mining engineer Eric Weiss. “We came here because it would be more realistic to the current coal mine geometry, and also to be away from residential areas,” he said of the site, which was developed in the early 1980’s.

That decision has proved successful, with the 406-acre Lake Lynn complex hosting diverse types of research, from fire and explosion prevention and suppression to training exercises to evaluation and testing, such as its recent research on seal and communications technologies. No matter the task, both Weiss and physical scientist Charles Lazzara note that it is the realistic qualities of the facility that make it so ideal.

Weiss recalled one occurrence when a training team member realized, for the first time, a critical problem he had during the simulated but authentic experience within the Lake Lynn experimental mine. “When the rescue team member was in the smoke and in the dark, he tore the mask off his face because he got claustrophobic and panicked. Well, if you do that in a real mine rescue situation, you are endangering not only yourself but possibly the whole team as well.”

The Lake Lynn mine has 25,000 linear feet of original 30ft-high by 55ft-wide limestone workings and 7500ft of 6.5ft-high by 18-20ft-wide coal mine-size entries (within the limestone mine). The facility also has numerous surface sites.

This makes the location versatile for all types of full-scale underground as well as surface mining health and safety research. A unique data acquisition system is available at the outside control building that has the ability to manage input from instruments used underground, as well as process the incoming information and provide thorough output.

Also available for use within Lake Lynn, as well as at the surface laboratory sites, are full electrical, water, communication, natural gas, video and compressed air systems, allowing for virtually any kind of full-scale research or evaluation. In the past, these features have facilitated research in the areas of underground fire extinguishing, explosion prevention and suppression, underground stoppings and seals, diesel and hazardous material studies, product prototype evaluation, and mine roof technologies such as bolts, trusses and resin-based products.

To aid in the endeavors conducted within the mine and to increase the flexibility for multiple research efforts, there are two sets of large, explosion-resistant bulkhead doors that can be set in place to divide work areas and ventilation flows.

Weiss noted that there was one area of research that is getting a lot of attention from NIOSH scientists as well as the industry, especially recently, an undertaking made more efficient through its incoming training groups. “We are involved at Lake Lynn in underground communications. With the mine rescue teams, we’re trying to enhance their communication systems so team members can talk back and forth to each other and also to the fresh air base and to the outside,” adding that much of that work involves logistics and issues associated with the technology.

Seals have also been a significant area of focus for the Lake Lynn staff, Weiss said, including the ongoing seal evaluations in 2006 to assist the US Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) with a mine explosion investigation.

Training

NIOSH’s Lake Lynn Laboratory is about much more than its experimental mine, especially when the topic turns to training workers. In addition to surface research sites for the study of fires and fire suppression, explosives, and trolley line issues, the complex features an area heavily utilized by mine rescue teams and fire brigades from all over the country. Lazzara noted that Lake Lynn develops, conducts, and evaluates realistic training exercises for all stages – first, second and third responders – of mine emergencies.

Lazzara, the core of whose work is in the emergency response and rescue arena, touts the Mine Rescue and Response project team and the work it does to train response workers. “The purpose of that project is essentially to enhance the safety and effectiveness of mine emergency responders. First responders discover an event and take some kind of action, communicate what they found and decide whether they can handle it, need outside help, or must evacuate,” adding that miners may also have to evacuate because of an incident in another area of a mine.

Fire brigade training (second responders) is another intense hub of action at Lake Lynn, with scores of miners receiving instruction over the last several years. There are more mines that do not have these teams than those that do, he noted, and those that do are fortunate.

“These are specially-trained miners; they have advanced firefighting skills and work under breathing apparatuses similar to what firefighters wear on the surface.” Their goal, he said, is to extinguish the fire at the face and allow mine rescue teams to enter and search for any missing miners.

The third level of responders trained at Lake Lynn is rescue teams whose focus is exploration and rescue, but they may also have to combat fires. The Lake Lynn complex has the tools to give these groups complete exposure to the various scenarios often encountered in emergency situations.

Lazzara noted that while the complex’s ultimate priority is research, the layout and availability of necessary tools for this type of training make it an ideal locale – second only to an actual operating minesite – to ensure responders are given everything they need to do their job well. “We, in partnership with a lot of coal companies and other entities, develop and evaluate these training exercises, and a lot are done here.”

These circumstances also allow a “virtual opportunity” for safety products, such as escape aids, to be assessed by the perfect focus group – miners themselves – and get feedback right from the front line. Laser pointers, strobe lights, emergency lighting and lifelines are just a few of the technologies that have been evaluated.

The training, often done with non-toxic theatrical smoke, has also resulted in a high interest from mines to include the smoke machines in their onsite training for increased authenticity. “In fact, one major company has purchased more than...click here to read on.