When I first learned of the date of the planned exercise was to be September 11, 2003, or the now infamous 9-11, obviously concerns went up as to how it would be received, we hadn't planned the date specifically, it was a just one of these little oversights!!!

Within site of the chosen mine is a carved stone memorial to 3 miners, a father, son and third miner, who drowned in a tragic flooding at Union Colliery in 1902 - Union having the same surface location, a fitting tribute then to those who are carrying on the unenviable task of both working the coal, and rescue in these difficult conditions, but again, a message of "doom".

The latest in a long series of multi - agency exercises within the small mining area of the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire here in the U.K., this was chosen as a non B.A. related incident, to get all of the different agencies working together, to see what had been learnt and put into practice from previous exercises, and to try new equipment and techniques.

The mine chosen, "Monument" mine, is probably one of the smallest most restrictive mines in Great Britain, offering undoubtedly the most difficult conditions. Working height varies from 6' (1.82m) in the main entrance and roadways, to about 2.5' (0.75m) on the coal face, a lot of which is at gradients of up to 1 in 3, conditions vary also from dry floor to standing and flowing water. Roof supports are mainly traditional "timber", these can prove very restrictive to get stretchered casualties around, an ideal place to play then!

The scenario chosen by the organising committee, a three person team of the area's "Deputy Gaveller", the local HM Mines Inspector and myself, involved a set of runaway coal drams (mine cars) derailing and injuring 2 persons, one pinned and crushed by the drams themselves and having a partially amputated lower leg, the other suffering an impalement to the leg, loss of fluids and shock.

Almost guaranteed to be first on scene, the local Gloucester Fire & Rescue Service (from Coleford and Lydney retained stations) gather information and begin command and control operations, resisting diving in, as they are not miners. Following close behind are the areas other miners forming an initial "first response", to travel underground (only a sketch plan was given and brief details) to gather further information and check the integrity of the mine, using their skills and only basic equipment to begin. Overall incident command from the beginning is taken by the Fire & Rescue service, as they are first on scene, have a disciplined command structure, and normally have the most personnel on site. Starting with the Leading Firefighter, being passed onto maybe Station Officer, ADO etc. With this being a "regular" event, everyone now knows who to see to get what done. As the Fire & Rescue Commander is not a mining engineer, major decisions being made by the "rescue committee", formed from the relevant disciplines.

OK, a maximum of 750 meters doesn't sound a lot to get 2 casualties out, but in these conditions the whole operation took some 3 hours, and at one stage had some 37 rescue workers underground, believe me at the end of it all there were some very dirty and knackered people from the various organisations involved;

Personnel details:
Gloucester Fire & Rescue - 2 pumping appliances & 2 special rescue units - 18 personnel total
Gloucester Cave Rescue - 1 Land Rover, 12 personnel
First Response Team - 3 local miners
Paramedic Service - 2 paramedics, 1 instructor
Mines Rescue Service - 6 man team, 2 officers, 2 vehicles
Wessex Area Mines Rescue Team - 4 man team, no equipment involved

The "impalement" through one casualty's leg was cleverly measured that it was just too long to travel through the coal face, so had to be cut before extrication could take place, an easy task, well not when either bolt cutters or hacksaw has to be transported underground, as well as lifting bags and all the necessary medical equipment! Battery reciprocating saws are not normally allowed below ground because of the Intrinsic Safety implications, and although hand powered hydraulic tools are available, it went to an old fashioned bolt croppers, quickly and easily going through the 10mm steel bar. If it was a "dire straights" emergency, there is provision within the regulations, that provided the HM Inspector is happy, non IS equipment can be utilised, but only if constant gas monitoring and detailed risk assessment is in place etc. A small electro /hydraulic combi-tool would be ideal, but again, the IS implications impinge. Ordinary hydraulic combi's just wouldn't be of use, because of the distance to carry power packs, and the atmosphere pollution from the engine.

Cave Rescue implemented a new style check in system using a special board and "T" cards, it had been used on one cave exercise previously, it proved easy for the operators and did a good job too, but was backed up by the Fire & Rescue guys doing a secondary check also. Conventional BA tally boards just don't work here. The "T" card board is an accountability system for personnel and major equipment, giving an accurate account of who and what have been deployed, on reserve, etc, an important task in a protracted incident. Utilisation of Cave Rescue equipment is normally restricted to spinal protection, specialist stretchers and rope gear for rigging haulage gradients. Gloucester Fire & Rescue service also set up checks of equipment, to make sure no non IS (Intrinsically Safe) gear goes underground in a coal mine, and to see that the right gear goes to the right location. Here again, Fire & Rescue Service gear is limited to extrication and standard rope rescue, they are only permitted to use their single cylinder CABA in limited duration rescue within some iron mines, definitely not the coal mines. Even though such as Wolf ATEX fire torches are IS, they are not allowed, although interpretation of ATEX for this application is difficult. A huge advantage from their inventory is the use of surface generators for area lighting. Mines Rescue had their new additions the Reeves stretcher and spinal unit for SKED that they have recently started using, also now using the Sabre MARS resuscitator, backed up by older Seibe Gorman Maxaman, and BNOS Microvent units, entonox analgesic units were provided by the Paramedic service, although this is also carried by all mines rescue teams.

Once underground, rescue discipline is really a wide team effort, from location and assessing safety done by the first response team, accompanying and assuring the safety of paramedics and fire & rescue personnel by First Response or Mines rescue, then casualty care by Paramedics (Gloucester Cave Rescue also have a qualified paramedic on the team). Extrication from entrapment is carried out by Mines Rescue & Fire & Rescue, then the difficult carry / drag out is completed by Cave Rescue and Fire & Rescue. Sounds complicated, but works a treat.

Getting to the casualties was an easy 10 minute job, assessing and making safe another 20 minutes, and casualty care around 45 minutes, because of the bad conditions. The longest part was the carry out. So, from an initial briefing 2 miles from the mine at 1800, arrival of the first personnel at 18.20, the last person out of the mine was at 20.50.

New to the scene were 4 members from the Wessex area Stone Mines Rescue team, initially observing from the surface, but then willingly participated in the rescue. This independent Mines Rescue team has recently been set up by a group of 3 stone mines in the Bath / Corsham area, equipped with twin cylinder CABA as well as a wide range of other equipment. Along with two female paramedics that hadn't been underground before, to say they were "apprehensive" is a huge understatement, but they coped extremely admirably, maybe even enjoying the experience!

Had this been an atmospheric problem rescue, because of the dimensions of the mine, it really is very doubtful if an effective rescue could have been carried out. Even within the main drift of the mine, closed circuit oxygen BA sets would have taken a pounding, and on the coal face at less than 1m high by some 40m long, it would have been a tough call. If twin cylinder CABA was used, dimensions of the sets are similar, but with the extra fatigue on the personnel, duration would have been well down.

Lessons learned
Well overall it went extremely proficiently, there was some indecision on casualty handling during the face traverse, "too many cooks" maybe, as there was no senior person at this location. Another very basic mistake, the conscious casualty, being brought out in a SKED was left without eye protection, may sound minor enough, but ask the casualty! Any oxygen resuscitator bag or major first aid kit should have some basic safety goggles kept in it.

A lot of the action was filmed by a caver / camera person, the finished version giving a true idea of the difficulties of casualty extrication and the lengthy rescue of the two casualties.

OK, so that's what it's all about, putting pre-formed plans into action, learning new skills, enhancing old ones, and making sure the system will work if its required for real.