Last data update: May 28, 2024. (Total: 46864 publications since 2009)
Records 1-4 (of 4 Records) |
Query Trace: Kowalski-Trakofler KM [original query] |
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Factors influencing mine rescue team behaviors
Jansky JH , Kowalski-Trakofler KM , Brnich MJ , Vaught C . J Emerg Manag 2016 14 (1) 43-54 A focus group study of the first moments in an underground mine emergency response was conducted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Office for Mine Safety and Health Research. Participants in the study included mine rescue team members, team trainers, mine officials, state mining personnel, and individual mine managers. A subset of the data consists of responses from participants with mine rescue backgrounds. These responses were noticeably different from those given by on-site emergency personnel who were at the mine and involved with decisions made during the first moments of an event. As a result, mine rescue team behavior data were separated in the analysis and are reported in this article. By considering the responses from mine rescue team members and trainers, it was possible to sort the data and identify seven key areas of importance to them. On the basis of the responses from the focus group participants with a mine rescue background, the authors concluded that accurate and complete information and a unity of purpose among all command center personnel are two of the key conditions needed for an effective mine rescue operation. |
Training for safety in emergencies: inoculating for underground coal mine emergencies
Kingsley Westerman CY , Margolis KA , Kowalski-Trakofler KM . Prof Saf 2011 56 (11) 42-46 The potential for emergencies is ever-present in coal mining. This is illustrated by statistics which show that employees in coal mining are more likely to be killed or to incur a nonfatal injury or illness, and their injuries are more likely to be severe, than workers in private industry as a whole. As a result of this constant exposure to harm, coal miners must be highly trained to deal with various emergency scenarios. Some existing underground coal mine training focuses on rote performance of prescribed actions. For example, coal miners are taught when and how to put on self-contained self rescuers, which are respirators that provide 60 minutes of breathable air. Preparation based on inoculation theory principles differs from more traditional training in that it involves teaching trainees to think for themselves rather than simply teaching them how to perform a task or use a safety device. The principles of inoculation theory can be used for emergency safety training for miners as well as for workers in other high-risk industries. |
Underground mine refuge chamber expectations training: program development and evaluation
Margolis KA , Westerman CYK , Kowalski-Trakofler KM . Saf Sci 2011 49 (3) 522-530 Refuge chambers are new devices for underground coal mines that provide approximately 96 h of breathable air, water, food, and supplies in the event of an emergency where miners are unable to escape. Researchers at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) developed a training program to prepare miners for what to expect psychologically and physiologically inside of a refuge chamber. The field tests of this training revealed that it was received very positively by miners and helped impart realistic views about the physical discomforts and psychological stresses of being inside a refuge chamber. |
A study of first moments in underground mine emergency response
Kowalski-Trakofler KM , Vaught C , Brnich MJ , Jansky JH . J Homel Secur Emerg Manag 2010 7 (1) Researchers at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) conducted seven focus groups and 10 individual interviews to gather data on what happens in the first crucial moments of a mine emergency. The goal of the project was to learn about responses on-site during the initial phases of a mine emergency to further improve response. The subjects represented underground coal and salt mines in the southern, western, mid-western, and eastern parts of the United States. They included on-site responders, mine rescue team members, and experts in mine emergency response with extensive experience in managing mine disasters. The types of disasters the subjects experienced were diverse, including explosions, fires, and inundations (sudden floods of water or inrushes of dangerous gases). This study was unique in its focus on the first moments in an emergency response, in studying underground coal mine emergencies and in utilizing a focus group methodology. Results indicated that there were common themes in initial response, which included the importance of mine emergency planning and training, quantity and quality of communication providing information for decision-making, leadership and trust, plus individual personal issues. Previous relevant studies are presented and the researchers discuss the data providing specific examples. The article concludes with recommendations to enhance initial response in the first critical moments of an emergency. |
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