Decision Making During a Simulated Mine Fire Escape

摘要

Forty-eight workers who had escaped large underground coal-mine fires were interviewed using an open-ended protocol. This information and the actual experience of one eight-person mine-section crew who escaped from a fire, were used to construct an 18-frame (page) table-top simulation exercise, which was then field tested with 134 miners. The exercise is a research tool that measures miners' proficiency in the information gathering and decision making skills related to escaping from a mine fire. It also helps miners to learn and practice these cognitive skills. The exercise was found to be valid and reliable. All miners reported that the exercise was authentic and would help them to remember important information.