Seek Refuge – Your Third Line of Defence will be held at the Four Points by Sheraton in Greensburg on May 27 from 8am to 3.30pm.

“When imminent dangers arise as a result of mine emergencies, best practice dictates that miners don self-rescuers and evacuate or escape the mine; however, in those cases where leaving the mine is not possible, refuge alternatives can provide a safe haven of last resort,” organizers said.

Mine Safety and Health Administration assistant secretary Joseph Main has been invited to be on the event’s itinerary, as well as Pennsylvania Bureau of Mine Safety director Joseph Sbaffoni.

West Virginia Office of Miners’ Health, Safety and Training director Ron Wooten is scheduled to speak and provide an overview of refuge alternatives, as is NIOSH researcher Eric Bauer.

Mine operators are also on the schedule to present at the event to provide “notes from the field”, along with manufacturers of some of the latest in refuge shelter options to share cutting-edge developments. Organizers also anticipate a discussion by staff from MSHA’s Approval and Certification Center.

Penn State is providing a complimentary lunch to all guests, but organizers stress that pre-registration by May 19 is required.

The Penn State Miner Training Program is partly funded by the Brookwood-Sago grant, an initiative included in the MINER Act of 2006.