24 March 2006
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
[Federal Register: March 24, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 57)]
[Notices]
[Page 14898]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr24mr06-77]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Mine Safety and Health Administration
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Workshop on Mine Escape Planning and Emergency Shelters
AGENCY: Mine Safety and Health Administration and the National
Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
ACTION: Notice of workshop.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) and the
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) are
hosting a workshop to identify the major issues and concerns related to
mine escape planning and emergency shelters in the mining industry, and
share information with the mining community. The workshop will provide
for an exchange of information among all segments of the mining
community involved with mine emergency preparedness and will generate
an agenda for research to improve technology for mine safety in these
areas.
DATES: The workshop will be held on Tuesday, April 18, beginning at 8
a.m. and conclude by 5:30 p.m.
ADDRESSES: The workshop will be held at the National Academy of
Sciences Auditorium, 2101 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Jeffery H. Kravitz, MSHA, at 412-
386-6923 or Dr. Gerald L. Finfinger, NIOSH, at 412-386-6550.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
MSHA and NIOSH will moderate a day-long workshop on mine escape
planning and emergency shelters.
Location and Transportation
Participants should plan to arrive by Metro or taxi and enter the
building at 2100 ``C'' Street, NW. A shuttle leaves the Foggy Bottom
Metro station at 7:15 a.m. and runs directly to the National Academy
building. The National Academy has a cafeteria in the building.
Attendance and Registration
The workshop is open to all interested parties. In addition to
state and federal government representatives, we expect that mine
operators, labor representatives, and manufacturers will be interested
in this workshop. We encourage manufacturers and distributors of
emergency shelters, self-rescue devices, mine rescue apparatus, and
other equipment that can aid in mine escape, evacuation, rescue, and
recovery operations to attend this workshop.
You can register at the workshop or you can pre-register by
contacting one of the following persons:
Donna Opfer (NIOSH) at 412-386-6564, Dopfer@cdc.com;
John Sporrer (NIOSH) at 412-386-6435, JSporrer@cdc.com; or
Yvonne Quinn (MSHA) at 202-693-9440, quinn.yvonne@dol.gov.
We will include all participants on the registration list and make it
available at the workshop.
Scheduled Presentations
Representatives from MSHA and NIOSH will be discussing issues
involving mine escape planning, with an emphasis on evacuation as a
first priority, and emergency shelters. Invited international speakers
include representatives from Canada, Germany, South Africa, and
Australia. MSHA and NIOSH will provide participants an opportunity to
ask questions and submit written comments and information.
Tentative Agenda
You can find workshop information, including a tentative agenda, on
the NIOSH and MSHA Internet sites, http://www.cdc.gov/niosh and http://www.msha.gov.
Topics addressing mine escape planning will include the
philosophy of escape planning, a recent history of mine escapes,
warning systems, and the use of self-rescue devices and lifelines.
Tentative topics addressing emergency shelters include the history of
the use of emergency shelters, how mine design has changed since the
1980s, shelter placement in the mine, configuration and construction,
life support and instrumentation, communication issues, equipment and
supplies, and psychological and training issues.
Workshop Proceedings
MSHA and NIOSH will compile the workshop presentations, which are
in PowerPoint'' format, audiotape the workshop, and make a transcript
of the proceedings. The PowerPoint[reg] presentations and workshop
transcript will be made available on the NIOSH and MSHA Internet sites,
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh and http://www.msha.gov. At a later date, MSHA
and NIOSH will summarize the information presented by participants and
prepare a joint report.
Dated: March 20, 2006.
David G. Dye,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Mine Safety and Health.
Dated: March 21, 2006.
Dr. John Howard,
Director, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
[FR Doc. 06-2905 Filed 3-23-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P