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1 PREPARED SINCE 1929

2 ONTARIO MINE RESCUE Over more than eight decades, Ontario Mine Rescue has established an international reputation for high standards in mine emergency response, safe and effective mine rescue practices, and mine rescue training, and has served as a role model to mine rescue organizations across Canada and the world. Thousands of volunteers have been trained and equipped to fight mine fires, rescue injured and endangered personnel, and respond professionally to a wide array of emergencies in the province s mines. Under the authority of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and headquartered in Sudbury, Ontario Mine Rescue staffs, equips and maintains a network of mine rescue stations across the province that ensure mines within specified geographic areas have adequate emergency response capability. Its role includes delivering training to support personnel, providing advice on emergency preparedness, conducting periodic audits, ensuring Workplace Safety North-owned equipment is maintained to the manufacturers recommended standards, equipping mine rescue substations where required, and providing advice during a mine emergency. Ontario Mine Rescue believes that emergency preparedness and response is a part of achieving the mining industry s Zero Harm vision, and remains committed to continual improvement, ensuring the industry s needs are met.

3 HISTORY Ontario Mine Rescue was born out of the tragedy of the Hollinger Consolidated Gold Mine fire that claimed the lives of more than three dozen miners in Timmins in February An estimated 900 carloads of flammable waste paraffin wrapping paper, carbide, powder boxes, sawdust, fuse ends and some detonators was stuffed into a stope on the 550 level. The area, 12 feet by 100 feet, was filled with refuse to a depth of approximately 45 feet. Known to many, the waste was seemingly of concern to no one. No one seemed to think a damp, hard rock mine could experience a fire, so no precautions were taken no alarm system, no fire doors, no evacuation plan, no emergency plan, nothing. When the waste did break into fire the morning of Feb. 10, 1928 dense smoke and deadly carbon monoxide quickly moved through North America s largest gold mine, endangering the lives of hundreds of miners and killing 39. Neither the mine, nor the town, or even the province, had the expertise or the resources to respond to save miners lives or adequately fight the fire. Mine rescue teams from the United States Bureau of Mines in Pittsburgh travelled for almost 40 hours, some 1,600 kilometres by railway car equipped with special equipment and breathing apparatus to extinguish the fire. A Royal Commission by Justice T.E. Godson into the tragedy made 15 recommendations including equipping mines with a stench gas system to alert miners of emergencies and removing all flammable waste to the surface. The most significant recommendation, however, was the creation of a provincial mine rescue service. I recommend that rescue stations be located at a place selected by the Chief Inspector of Mines in the Timmins, Kirkland Lake and Sudbury mining areas, and be in charge of one man, to be appointed by and under the control and direction of the Department of Mines. It should be the duty of such employee to take care of the apparatus, train men in the mines in his area in rescue work and inspect and report upon the apparatus, if any, maintained at any such mine. Ontario Mine Rescue established its first station in Timmins in Since then Ontario Mine Rescue has grown and developed into a world leader, as lessons learned from practice and experience provided valuable insight.

4 In 1947, the East Malartic Mine Fire marked a major turning point as teams from Timmins, Kirkland Lake and Sudbury responded to a call to a mine fire in Malartic, Que. It was the only time Ontario Mine Rescue teams have responded to an out-of-province emergency. While working together, it became evident each district had different training and maintenance standards. As a result, the position of Senior Mine Rescue Officer was created to ensure province-wide standards in mine rescue training and equipment maintenance were established and maintained. In 1965 another mine fire in Timmins, this one at the McIntyre Mine, forced the organization to make another change. The underground distance teams had to travel to reach the fire was so great that the two-hour McCaa apparatus was not sufficient to allow them time to fight the fire. In 1966, after investigating and testing different apparatus, the BG174 was purchased to allow for a four-hour capability. The BG174 proved a workhorse for almost 40 years before it was replaced by the BG4. Ontario Mine Rescue took on added responsibility in 1984 after four miners were trapped and killed in a rockburst at Falconbridge No. 5 Shaft near Sudbury. The Stevenson Commission recommended that the organization's mandate be expanded to conduct training in and respond to non-fire emergencies. Training on non-fire rescue equipment began shortly after. Responsibility for Ontario Mine Rescue was transferred from the Ministry of Labour to the Mines and Aggregates Safety and Health Association (MASHA) in January The program was modernized with state-of-the-art equipment including the Drager BG4 self-contained breathing apparatus. Standardized competency based training programs were developed to ensure consistent delivery of information to mine rescue teams across the province. Nine years later MASHA and Ontario Mine Rescue became a part of Workplace Safety North (WSN). These and other developments have made Ontario Mine Rescue and its mine rescue training and safety programs a role model to mine rescue organizations in other provinces and countries.

5 LEGISLATION The authority for the organization and financing of the mine rescue stations and the assignment of responsibilities are contained in Regulation 854 Mines and Mining Plants, made under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. The Occupational Health and Safety Act R.R.O. 1990, Regulation 854 MINES AND MINING PLANTS Sect.17. (1) Mine rescue stations may be established, equipped, operated and maintained, as the Minister may direct, by an entity specified by the Minister that, in the opinion of the Minister, is qualified to perform those functions. (2) An entity specified under subsection (1) shall, (a) appoint mine rescue officers; and (b) establish mine rescue crews. (3) Mine rescue officers shall, (a) administer mine rescue stations; (b) train mine rescue crew members; and (c) ensure that each mine rescue crew member is competent to perform and physically capable of performing the functions of a mine rescue crew member. (4) The owner of a mine shall make available, at the owner s expense, (a) an adequate number of workers to be taught and trained in mine rescue work; and equipment. (5), (6) Revoked (b) training facilities and adequate storage for training materials and (7) A mine rescue operation at a mine shall be under the direction of the supervisor in charge of the mine and the costs of the rescue operation shall be at the expense of the owner of the mine. (8) Notice shall be given immediately to a mine rescue officer and to an inspector when the services of a mine rescue crew are required.

6 ORGANIZATION Ontario Mine Rescue, a part of Workplace Safety North (WSN), is responsible for the delivery of mine rescue training and the maintenance of mine rescue equipment owned by WSN. Ontario Mine Rescue staff will co-operate fully in an emergency, giving all possible assistance in obtaining men and equipment and in any other way possible. The Director of Mine Rescue has direct responsibility for overseeing the mine rescue program. The Mine Rescue Program Supervisor is responsible for technical aspects of the program including providing ongoing advice and assistance to the Mine Rescue Officer/Consultants (MRO), as well as to coordinate the organization, and set standards for training and equipment. WSN maintains a Mine Rescue Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) that provides advice and guidance to Ontario Mine Rescue, and promotes continual improvement of emergency preparedness at Ontario mines. TAC members make recommendations regarding: content of mine rescue programs, mine rescue equipment requirements, identify research projects and changes to the mine rescue handbook. Ontario Mine Rescue is structured into an interlocking network of eight mine rescue districts, each under the direction of an MRO, responsible primarily for their own district, but also to support a neighbouring district experiencing a mine rescue emergency. The MROs are accountable for the maintenance of the mine rescue equipment and the training of the teams in their district in accordance with standard practices and procedures outlined in the Ontario Handbook of Training in Mine Rescue and Recovery Operations. The MRO responds to emergencies and provides advice during an emergency. More than 700 volunteers must pass four basic criteria, including annual medical examinations, to become certified mine rescuers and must attend regular training to maintain certification. Funding for the mine rescue organization is borne by the Ontario mining industry and recovered by a special assessment levied by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board against the mining companies. Each mine is responsible for the cost of establishing, maintaining, and operating its mine rescue substation. The payment of mine rescue teams during training or rescue and recovery operations is the responsibility of each individual employer.

7 TRAINING AND PRODUCTS The primary focus of mine rescue training is on mine rescue team members, who require an on-going training regime to maintain and improve their skills and knowledge of mine rescue techniques and procedures. Training for support roles, as well as post-secondary students in mining-related programs, is also an important component of mine rescue. Courses available include: Introductory Mine Rescue Refresher Training Advanced Certification Technician Training Supervisory/Management Training Ontario Mine Rescue provides several specialized programs designed for surface operations at mines. These include: Surface Mine Rescue High Angle/Confined Space Rescue Hazardous Material Response Ontario Mine Rescue and Workplace Safety North have also produced a number of products to assist mining operations in their preparations for emergency response situations. The most well-known is the Ontario Handbook of Training in Mine Rescue and Recovery Operations, part pocket reference manual and part mine rescue encyclopedia for mine rescue volunteers. Other products include: Health & Safety Report: Mutual Aid Agreements Emergency Simulation Guidelines for Underground Mines Mine Rescue Refuge Station Guidelines Emergency Preparedness Report Emergency Response Planning for Surface Mines Emergency Response Planning for Shaft Sinking

8 EQUIPMENT Underground rescue operations require the use of specific and specialized equipment. All mine rescue volunteers received standardized training in the care, use, maintenance and operation of equipment used in responding to both fire and non-fire situations. This allows teams to aid and assist each other without the fear of not being able to adequately operate rescue equipment. The Drager BG4 IS the primary breathing apparatus used by all mine rescue teams. MSA SSR 90s and the CAREVent DRA Automatic Rescue Ventilator are used for casualties. The MX6 ibrid gas monitor is used to measure explosive gases, carbon monoxide and oxygen levels encountered underground during emergencies. Other fire and non-fire emergency equipment used by teams include: MSA Thermal Imaging Camera Chemguard High Expansion Foam Generator Akron Low Expansion Foam System Darda Hydraulic Splitter Hydraulic Equipment DeWalt Reciprocating Saw Maxiforce High-Pressure Lifting Bags Enerpac 1250 Self-contained Hydraulic Bolt Cutters Griptech SP2 Rope Rescue System The purchasing of equipment and supplies is done centrally to ensure standardization and interchangeability between districts and mines. Substantial inventories of consumables such as high and low expansion foam are maintained at stations and substations to ensure a sustained response to a major event is possible.

9 COMPETITIONS For more than 60 years, Ontario Mine Rescue has held annual competitions to increase the training level of volunteers, promote consistency among districts, evaluate the quality of training delivered by staff, and to test the extent of preparedness of teams. Each event consists of several components including a written test, a bench test, a field problem that exposes teams to at least two hours under oxygen, sanitizing and cleaning equipment, and preparation of various reports. Not only are competitions demanding but also realistic. When possible competitions are held in an underground environment and in all circumstances have a substantial first aid component. District competitions are held in May, followed by winners advancing to the provincial level competition hosted by one of four districts in June. Competitions are an essential component of the mine rescue program since the number of real-life emergencies responded to by mine rescue teams is limited. RESEARCH Research is a vital component of continuous improvement in mine rescue. The Mine Rescue Technical Advisory Committee identifies areas of research that will provide the greatest benefit to mine rescue teams and emergency preparedness at Ontario mines. Academic institutions are principle research investigators, while WSN ensures the relevance of projects by involving mine operators and ensures the transfer of knowledge back to the workplace. Ontario Mine Rescue and WSN have engaged with the Faculty of Health Services from the University of Ottawa in research into heat stress, and with the Global Mining Management Program at the Schulich School of Business at York University in research into team dynamics in non-routine situations.

10 ADDITIONAL RESOURCES The Handbook of Training in Mine Rescue and Recovery Operations The Link Line, The Ontario Mine Rescue Newsletter - Ontario Mine Rescue website - Under Oxygen, 75 Years of Mine Rescue History in Ontario The Link Line Summer 2013