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Fabs, As a miner you are trained in evacuation procedures and the use of your respirator. Every miner carries one at all times. In the event of an explosion the obvious goal is to get outside after you have put on the respirator. It is kinda hard to explain but a mine section has several entries with crosscuts (at least three) with one being fresh air, one being the belt line and one being the return which has the mine fan at its entrance. Sorta like underground streets and avenues. The crosscuts tying the entries together have non combustable materials stored in them for emergency purposes. The respirators are only effective for a period of time so if on the way out your respirator is giving up the ghost or if you encounter fire, smoke, etc. you have to go in one of the crosscuts with breathable air and seal your self in where you wait for a rescue team. I would bet that is what happened to these guys. As for the explosion itself, electrical permissibility is of the utmost importance and all machinery is supposed to be constantly checked. Machines also have methane monitors on them which should not allow them to to start if methane levels are too high. Also, no, smoking, no open flames, no using torch or welding without constant monitoring. the mines in that area normally produce methane but at least when I was a miner we would get sufficient air to reduce the gas to an acceptable level.I have a problem believing lightning and some of the other things we are hearing. We may learn it was human error or mechanical error. the mine will be closed for as long as it takes for state and federal mine inspectors to determine the cause then most likely it will reopen and the miners will go back to their jobs.
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