Life sustainability of underground refuge bays of South African collieries
An industry database of South African refuge bay designs set beside practice in Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom, prompted by recent underground emergencies.
Coaltech | July 2023
No single global standard governs refuge bay design, and the collieries surveyed differ widely in construction, location, equipment and operating practice, which made ranking them impractical. Areas needing attention were identified in design, construction and maintenance of the facilities that keep people alive until rescue, drawn against local law and overseas practice.
Description
Coaltech was requested by the South African Colliery Managers Association (SACMA) to investigate and assess Refuge Bay designs, construction, and equipment by referencing legal and other requirements as well as international practices in the use of Refuge Bays as places of safety for life-sustainability during emergencies.
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