Refuge Chamber Expectations

CATHERINE Y. KINGSLEY WESTERMAN

UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE

XVII International Seminar on Safety in Mining Operations

Preview
Refuge chambers
Inoculating for emergencies
Expectations training program
Findings
Discussion
Questions

What Is A Refuge Chamber?

Movable chamber either made of steel or with a tent

that inflates from a steel skid

Whats In A Refuge Chamber?

Light
Food
Water
Breathable Air
Phone
Toilet
First Aid Kit

Importance of Refuge
From 1970-2006,
Of miners who survived the initial incident,

67 of 99 died while escaping

Refuge alternative may have saved 85% of those attempting to

escape

17 of 99 died while barricaded

Refuge alternative may have saved 100% of those barricaded

Emergency Mgt. Research

Boer-- Tunnel Studies
Ockerby-- Ship Evacuation
Recognition-primed decision (RPD) model of

decision-making

Experienced vs. Inexperienced Decision-Maker

Inoculating For Emergencies

Medical analogy

Inject a weakened form of disease to develop immunity

Persuasion

Expose people to a weakened form of counterargument

Enables resistance when an attack is mounted

Two Major Elements:

Threat
Refutational Preemption

Application
Applied in an emergency setting

Expose miners to threat of emergencies

Psychological and physical effects

Provide some ways of dealing with emergencies

Engage in discussion/thinking about potential responses

Inoculation Framework
Elements needed for
inoculation
Threat
Refutation/ Tool
Practice at generating
tools

Refuge Chamber
Expectations Training
Example
Content on disturbing physical
and psychological symptoms
Content on normal responses

Sample of Content
People may behave aggressively.

It is to be expected that some people

will react in this way during a stressful
situation.
Post-viewing discussion questions Did you know how people may respond
on how trainees might handle
emotionally? For example, some may
different reactions
get quiet? What might you do to handle
this?

Introduce Threat via Realistic Preview

Physiological Responses

Psychological Responses

Cramped quarters
Hot & humid
Difficulty sleeping
May have to stay in one position for a long

time

Anxiety
Withdrawal
Apathy
Aggression
Hostility
Depression
Irrational, impulsive behaviors

Provide Refutation/Tools
Physiological Responses

Psychological Responses

Reactions are normal

Difficulty breathing
Rapid heart rate
Sweating
Nausea/vomiting
Dizziness
Thirst
Body Aches

Different people react differently

Remember you are with others
People want to help each other

Physiological Information In Training

Additional Refutation
Training presents logical refutation information
Also incorporates testimony from miners who had to

barricade in a chamber

They provide stories and comments to support the realistic

preview of the threat and refutation
For example: A refuge stations isnt a comfortable place to be
but its a safe place to be

Practice Generating Tools

Trainer is provided with a discussion guide
Discussion held with miners about refuge chambers

What will it be like?

How might they respond?

Field Testing: Demographics

336 underground coal miners participated
Ages 19-66 (Median = 49)
Mining experience

Range: 1 year 46 years

Median = 22 years

Experience at current mine

Range: 0 years 42 years

Median = 6 years

Experience at current job

Range: 0 years 35 years

Median = 3 years

Field Testing: Procedure

Groups of 15-25 shown training via projector on a

large screen
5 female trainers (no differences based on trainer)
Two discussion questions

What type of items might you want in the refuge chamber if

you were to spend up to 4 days in one?
How do you think your crew would react if they were to spend
up to 4 days inside of a refuge chamber?

Field Testing: Measurement

Attitudes

5 items coded from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree)

Higher numbers indicate more positive attitudes

Overall this training was

Excellent
Interesting
Easy
Informative
Important

Field Testing: Measurement

Increased awareness

3 items coded from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree)

Higher numbers indicate higher awareness

I feel better prepared if I ever find myself in a refuge

chamber.
I am more aware of what it would be like in a refuge
chamber.
I have a better idea of how someone might respond in a
stressful situation like when using a refuge chamber.

Field Testing: Knowledge Check Items

ITEM

Will every miner react in the same way to being inside a refuge chamber?
Can it be expected that when in a refuge chamber, a miner could
experience a variety of physical symptoms, such as dizziness or body
aches?
Can paying attention to your breathing help to reduce any anxiety you
may feel while in a refuge chamber?
Is it normal for miners to experience negative side effects due to the loss
of sleep, such as confusion, while in a refuge chamber?
Can it be expected that miners will panic in the event of an emergency?
Is it normal for miners to experience symptoms, such as nightmares and
flashbacks, even after surviving an emergency?

Results: Attitudes
Attitudes toward the training

Results: Attitudes
Correlation of attitude items with age of participant

Age

Excellent

Interesting Easy

Informative

Important

r = .02

r = .03

r = -.18

r = -.03

r = -.03

p = .77

p = .65

p = .00*

p = .66

p = .63

n = 320

n = 320

n = 320

n = 320

n = 320

* Correlation is significant at the .01 level

Results: Awareness
Awareness of what it would be like to spend time
in a refuge chamber

Results: Knowledge Check

ITEM

%
Correct

%
Incorrect

Will every miner react in the same way to being inside a

refuge chamber?

97.1

2.9

Can it be expected that when in a refuge chamber, a

miner could experience a variety of physical symptoms,
such as dizziness or body aches?

96.5

3.5

Can paying attention to your breathing help to reduce

any anxiety you may feel while in a refuge chamber?

97.4

2.6

Is it normal for miners to experience negative side

effects due to the loss of sleep, such as confusion, while
in a refuge chamber?

99.4

.6

Can it be expected that miners will panic in the event of

an emergency?

6.8

93.2

Is it normal for miners to experience symptoms, such as

nightmares and flashbacks, even after surviving an
emergency?

98.1

1.9

Results: Like the Format

Distribution of responses to the statement,
I like the format of this training.

Results: Training is Relevant

Distribution of responses to the statement,
This training was relevant to my job.

Discussion
Generally positive evaluations from miners
Unique features well-received

Multimedia format
Content about psychological and physiological well-being

Miners retained information from presentation

Except that people do not panic in emergencies

Inoculation Strategy
Use of this strategy seems effective

Provides miners with tools to deal with psychological and

physiological responses
Prompts miners to develop their own plans
Provides content-expert trainers a simple format for training

Refuge Chamber Training

Miners need to know how to operate refuge

chambers as well
Suite of refuge chamber training programs available
from Office of Mine Safety and Health Research
Website:
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/content/refugechambers.html

Questions?
THANK YOU