In an underground emergency such as a fire or an atmosphere event, the plan is to reach a safe area. When that is not possible in the time available, workers need somewhere to survive until they can be rescued.
This guide summarises what Ghana's Minerals and Mining (Health, Safety and Technical) Regulations, 2012 (L.I. 2182) say about self-rescuers and refuge, and sets out the questions to ask when planning underground refuge.
Self-rescuers come first
Regulation 526 requires a person who enters an underground mine to be trained to use, and to be equipped with, an approved self-contained self-rescuer. A self-rescuer provides breathable air for a limited time while the wearer escapes.
When a refuge is required
Regulation 527 says the ventilation circuit and the emergency evacuation plan must allow an underground worker to reach a safe area within the operating time of their self-rescuer. If the evacuation time is longer than that, a permanent refuge bay or a manufactured refuge chamber must be provided.
What a permanent refuge bay must include
Regulation 527(4) sets out detailed requirements for permanent refuge bays. In summary, a bay must:
- be located within a 30-minute walk of a working place and be clearly shown on plans;
- be separated by a wall with a sealable access door;
- have a fresh air supply through a compressed air pipe, with a minimum 50 mm column and a control valve, able to create positive air pressure;
- be adequately illuminated and have sanitary facilities and a telephone;
- provide seating and drinking water for five days for the maximum number of workers; and
- have a stretcher and first aid kit.
This is a plain-language summary for general information, not legal advice. Regulation numbers refer to L.I. 2182. Always check the current regulation text and Minerals Commission guidance for your operation.
Rescue arrangements around the refuge
Regulations 548 and 549 require rescue brigades of at least five trained persons, including a captain, organised according to the number of underground employees. Members must attend regular practices, and the mine must hold a sufficient number of approved rescue breathing apparatus. A refuge only works as part of a rehearsed emergency response.
Where manufactured refuge chambers fit
A manufactured refuge chamber is a self-contained unit that can be placed where an evacuation route is long. Modern designs add communication and monitoring so that people inside are not isolated. Strata's ERCX chamber, for example, integrates real-time IP video, Wi-Fi voice calling and in-chamber gas detection, so rescue teams on the surface can see conditions and talk to people inside.
Together with Strata Worldwide, our team carried out an in-depth training session on the Strata ERCX in Obuasi, covering chamber operation, inspection and maintenance, emergency deployment protocols and life-support management.
Questions to ask when planning refuge
- How long does evacuation take from each working area, and how does that compare with the self-rescuer operating time?
- Where are the gaps that need a refuge bay or chamber?
- How many people must each refuge accommodate, and for how long?
- How will each refuge get air, power and communications, and how will that be tested?
- Who inspects and maintains the refuge, and how often is the emergency response rehearsed?
Frequently asked questions
When does Ghana require a refuge chamber or refuge bay underground?
L.I. 2182 regulation 527 requires one where the time to reach a safe area is longer than the operating time of workers' self-rescuers. Check the current regulation text and your mine's emergency plan.
What is the difference between a refuge bay and a refuge chamber?
A permanent refuge bay is built into the mine to the requirements of regulation 527(4). A manufactured refuge chamber is a self-contained unit that can be placed where needed. The regulations allow either where evacuation time exceeds self-rescuer time.