INVESTIGATING THE SCOPE FOR IMPROVEMENTS IN NAVIGATIONAL AIDS TO ASSIST EVACUATION FROM UNDERGROUND MINE WORKINGS UNDER POOR VISIBILITY CONDITIONS

摘要

This paper reports on a review of techniquesdesigned to reduce problems of disorientation typicallyexperienced by mine personnel following an incident such as anexplosion or a tire. It identifies methods both in current use andunder development, in the mining industry, and also draws uponliterature sourced from systems designed to assist evacuationfrom complex buildings, aircraft, road and rail tunnels.Available evidence suggests that mine personnel quicklybecome disorientated in poor visibility conditions, particularly ifthey are unable to locate, either visibly or by tactile means,recognisable features of the underground environment. Even ininstances where such features can be identified, the quality ofthe individual's mental map of the mine, combined with theirinterpretation of available environmental clues, is likely to havea significant influence upon their success in reaching a point ofrefuge. The most frequently encountered wayfinding systems,currently in use in mines, identified here, are 'passive systems'principally based on 'lifeline' technology. In addition two 'active'mine wayfinding systems which produce combinations ofauditory and visual signals have been reported. It would appearthat radio and related telecommunications systems currentlyunder development may also have potential to assist egress.Findings suggest that wayfinding lighting systems, such as thoseused in aircraft and buildings, may be inappropriate in the mineenvironment, principally because they are likely to be renderedineffective in dense smoke / dust conditions, and possess theadditional disadvantages of high installation and maintenance costs.