Independent Review of MSHA's Actions at Crandall Canyon Mine

EXPLORATIONS
During the underground rescue operation, four attempts, including three involving MSHA
personnel, were made by small groups of rescue workers to crawl over the rubble in an effort
to reach the trapped miners. One other attempt was made by a mine rescue team to breach the
Main West No. 1 seal to evaluate the possibility of reaching the trapped miners through these
entries.
When the accident occurred on August 6 th , the South Barrier entries were filled with material
from the bounce, cutting off access and communication to the working section. Five company
employees who were outby the extent of the damage caused by the bounce tried to find a way
to reach the trapped miners. The following information was obtained from interviews
conducted by the accident investigation team. The miners who were interviewed stated that
the entries were restricted, oxygen levels were below 19.5%, and dust in the air was very thick.
The first two employees at the mouth of the panel donned SCSRs when the dust in the air
became so thick it made breathing difficult. They were soon joined by the other three
employees. Two of these had breathing apparatus with full face-pieces. They donned these
devices, and four of them tried to advance. The fifth person stayed at an outby mine phone to
talk with surface personnel. The four miners stated they made their way to where their paths
were blocked. They tried crawling until the space became too low to continue. The area was
still bouncing, and the oxygen level dropped to 16%. They decided to retreat and reestablish
ventilation to try to provide fresh air to the trapped miners.
After MSHA officials arrived at the mine site, the company requested to send a mine rescue
team in to attempt to advance up any of the four entries of the South Barrier section. The mine
rescue team entered the mine and established a fresh air base at crosscut 120. From there, they
tried to advance up each entry. The rescue team did not wear their breathing apparatus as
they advanced because there was only 18 inches of crawl space over the rubble in some areas.
Two MSHA inspectors were assigned to accompany the mine rescue team on the excursion.
This team advanced over the rubble to approximately crosscut 126 by traversing from one
entry to another. They went through low areas created by the rubble material and the metal
roof screen that had been torn loose. One of the inspectors stated that the atmosphere was not
very dusty and the oxygen level initially encountered was 19.5%. As they advanced, the
oxygen level continued to decrease to approximately 15% to 16%, and the group decided to
retreat.
The inspectors stated that the rubble material was higher in the entries and lower in the
intersections. One of them stated that he believed they could get further by pushing the
material aside. Although breathing apparatus would have to be worn due to low oxygen, both
stated they thought the trapped miners could be reached by going over the rubble. Other than
a short conversation with the supervisor in the command center, they were not formally
debriefed by MSHA when they exited the mine. There was no indication that this information
was passed on to the persons-in-charge.
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