Metal and Nonmetal National Mine Rescue Contest Rules

mine. When the team has explored all accessible areas,accounted for all miners and completed all required work,they should return to the fresh air base and count off. Atthat time, the captain should present both maps to theperson in charge of the mine and stop the timing device.The marked maps must show: the condition of all faces,stoppings and doors; the location of all placards ormaterials; the location of fires and barricades; and thelocation of dead bodies and survivors (includingidentification). Temporary stoppings that are erected shallalso be shown as well as the location of any gas found orindicated by placards. The maps must show all locationsdated and initialed by the team captain. If a team fails toexplore the entire mine, the furthest point of advance shallbe indicated on the maps by a line drawn across the entrywith the appropriate mine map legend symbol.Mine FiresWhen a mine rescue team encounters a noncombatiblefire, indicated by “intense heat” or “fire out of control,” theteam shall, without undue delay, seal the fire or regulate thefire, so as to restrict the air flow to the fire and prevent itsfurther advance. Regulating airflow to control a fire is notconsidered a ventilation change. The team must then,without undue delay, find all other approaches to the fireand seal or regulate them. This does not precludesystematic exploration of the area. Whether to useregulators to control the fire or to entirely seal the fire mustbe decided by the team. The team must inform the officialin charge prior to making any ventilation changes. Thisdecision will take into consideration the safety of the teamand any survivor(s), the classification of the mine(gassy/nongassy), the presence of any explosive gases, thepossible effects of any ventilation change(s), and otherpertinent data. A regulated fire, left unsealed, has thepotential to emit contaminants into the mine atmosphere.21