COLUMBUS, OH -- The next time an emergency situation arises at an Ohio mine, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) will be better prepared to help.
Thanks to a new state-of-the art mobile truck unit, the once laborious procedure of sanitizing and preparing self-contained breathing apparatus for mine rescue workers has become more efficient.
During mine rescue operations, self-contained breathing apparatus require sanitizing between each use. Sometimes a single breathing apparatus can be worn by as many as 10 individuals during a rescue operation. Previously, workers had to find nearby shower facilities to clean the equipment before its use by another worker. The unit, converted from a mobile air quality laboratory, is equipped with abundant counter space to disassemble and reassemble the apparatus, large utility sinks and self-contained water supply, and heavy-duty dryers. ODNR still maintains a mobile lab, which is located at its Cambridge rescue station, to test air quality in mines.
"This new unit will ensure there is no delay in having critical breathing equipment ready when needed," said Mike Sponsler, chief of the ODNR Division of Mineral Resources Management. "Whether it is a rescue operation or fire fighting situation, timing is very crucial." The new mobile unit is stationed at the division's New Philadelphia rescue station and is less than two hours from any mine site in the state. The unit will respond with the primary rescue units. Although emergency situations are very infrequent, the Division of Mineral Resources Management maintains a constant state of preparedness. ODNR is required by law to provide rescue equipment and services if an emergency arises at any of the state's mines or quarries. The Division of Mineral Resources Management maintains three stations in the state equipped with a rescue truck and self-contained breathing apparatus. "We are proud of what we are doing in mine rescue," Sponsler said. "We are continuously looking for ways to improve our services so we can be ready for anything."
Find more information about the ODNR Division of Mineral Resources Management and its mine safety program at the ODNR web site ohiodnr.com