Self-Contained Mine Rescue Apparatus

Abstract

MOST people are now more or less familiar with the development of the Army respirator from its crude form of a cloth pad to the scientific and efficient “box respirator” used to-day. This is just one example of the many applications and developments of science during the past few years. In mining work the need for the construction of apparatus on scientific lines is being more and more realised, and this is especially so in the case of mine rescue apparatus. When these are employed, whether for actual saving of life, for recovery work after some serious explosion, in dealing with mine fires, or for any other use in an irrespirable atmosphere, it is imperative that the apparatus should be so constructed that the wearer may absolutely rely upon it to last for the period and work required. In the past, unfortunately, too many different types of apparatus have been put on the market without undergoing a thorough and scientific testing, and as a consequence in several cases their use has been attended with fatal results.