Company conducts live test of mine shelter

Company conducts live test of mine shelter

September 14, 2007 11:38 AM
UNDATED

A small West Virginia company that sells emergency life support equipment for underground coal mines is conducting a live Internet demonstration of its gear.Chapmanville-based Mine Lifeline co-founder Rick Abraham says he wants to show that the company can provide 96 hours of breathable air to trapped miners. That's the amount required by the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration.
Abraham says he also wants to demonstrate the value of sealing an area instead of a self-contained shelter. Mine Lifeline is relying on airtight barricades, oxygen bottles and chemical curtains that remove carbon dioxide.
Abraham says 11 volunteers are participating in the four-day test that started Tuesday in an undisclosed Logan County mine. Live video and pictures of the test are being shown on Mine Lifeline's web site: www.minelifeline.com.
The gear hasn't been approved by state regulators.
West Virginia mines can choose from a dozen portable designs approved by the state Office of Miners' Health, Safety and Training.
Information from: The Dominion Post, http://www.dominionpost.com