Abstract
This paper draws on research conducted in the past two decades examining issues related to the human element in mine disasters. While much of the emergency response community employs a systems approach that takes into account psychosocial issues as they impact all aspects of an emergency, the mining industry has lagged behind in integrating this critical element. It is only within the past few years that behavioral interventions have begun to be seen as a part of disaster readiness and resiliency in the industry. The authors discuss the potential applications of psychosocial studies and suggest ways to improve mine emergency planning, psychological support, and decision-making during a response, as well as actions in the aftermath of incidents. Topics covered, among others, include an economic rationale for including such studies in planning a mine emergency response, sociological issues as they impact such things as leadership and rescue team dynamics, and psychological issues that have an effect on individual capacity to function under stress such as during escape, in refuge alternatives, and in body recovery. This information is intended to influence the mine emergency escape curriculum and impact actions and decision-making during and after a mine emergency. The ultimate goal is to mitigate the trauma experienced by individuals, the organization, and the community.
Highlights
Framing the IssueResearch over the past twenty years has investigated a major over-arching theme in disasters: the role of human behavior and the psychological issues present during and after a disaster
Does stress narrow the focus of attention? Do emergency personnel, who are under time constraints and often have limited or unreliable information, become more focused on specific details or do they focus on the “big picture?” Do they become scattered in thought and behavior? They hugged each other and cried. (The) research related to these questions is inconclusive
Some situations call for increased analytical thinking, and others call for increased reliance on intuition. Both the environmental conditions and people’s reactions to them are keys as we look at judgment and decision-making under stress
Summary
Research over the past twenty years has investigated a major over-arching theme in disasters: the role of human behavior and the psychological issues present during and after a disaster. Louis Lake seemed to be in the worst condition; the miner operator When he started stirring around somewhat, I put a two-hour gas mask on him, and I didn’t know at the time, from lack of training, that anybody that’s down from carbon monoxide, you do not give him a full shot of pure oxygen all at once, cause it makes him sick. I said, “John, that’s a pretty good size bucket; we can get more than three people in it.” He said, “Well, we don’t know what the bucket’s gonna do. The lady that lived door, her son rode to work with me and he had just drawn his first paycheck; Jerry Yennarro She came over to the house, and she said, “Are they going to get my son out?” He was with a track crew and I didn’t know where the track crew was. When these excerpts are identified, the original document is referenced
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