Mining Publication: Using the Internet to Train Emergency Command Center Personnel
Original creation date: May 2000
Well-prepared personnel and an effective emergency response plan are essential components of any emergency command center. Unfortunately, evaluating emergency preparedness is often difficult until a disaster actually occurs. For example, unexpected events may develop during an emergency that were not considered during the planning phase. Also, the command center may need to cooperate with organizations that it has not worked with previously. Preparation can be especially difficult for smaller or remotely located command centers, or those with limited resources to conduct mock drills. This paper explores the potential of using the Internet to teach and evaluate command center skills. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is developing an Internet-based, computer simulation training package for the mining industry. Trainees will play the role of command center leaders at a mine, while the actions of other individuals and organizations are simulated. Trainees will be able to test their emergency response plans and learn valuable lessons from past mine emergencies. Nationally recognized experts will be able to create new training scenarios and make them available to mines throughout the U.S. This product should better prepare command center personnel for large-scale disasters such as fires and explosions.
Authors: AF Glowacki, RL Unger, EF Fries, AJ Kwitowski
Conference Paper - May 2000
NIOSHTIC2 Number: 20020937
Contingencies, emergency, crisis, and disaster management: emergency management in the third millennium--Proceedings of the Seventh Annual Conference of The International Emergency Management Society, Orlando, FL, May 16-19, 2000. Alachua County, FL: The International Emergency Management Society (TIEMS), 2000 May; :247-254
See Also
- The Emergency Communication Triangle
- Emergency Escape and Refuge Alternatives
- Emergency Management
- Emergency Response Planning for Small Mines: Who Needs It?
- Mine Emergency Response Command Center Training Using Computer Simulation
- Refuge Chamber Training Products and Guidance
- Technology News 507 - NIOSH Safety Talk: The Emergency Communication Triangle
- Technology News 537 - NIOSH Develops New Mine Refuge Chamber Training
- Training for Safety in Emergencies Inoculating for Underground Coal Mine Emergencies
- When Do You Take Refuge? Decisionmaking During Mine Emergency Escape
- Page last reviewed: 9/21/2012
- Page last updated: 9/21/2012
- Content source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Mining Program