Improving Self-Escape from Underground Coal Mines (2013) / Chapter Skim
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4 Decision Making
4 Decision Making
Pages 63-84
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From page 63... ...
To effectively respond to a mine emergency, miners must have the psychological tools to detect signs that an emergency exists and then use these tools to make effective decisions about how to act. In short, effective decision making is critical for ensuring that miners can extract themselves to a place of safety in an emergency.
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From page 64... ...
Decision science research can shed light on the types of information miners might miss and the common mistakes that may be made in emergency situations. To the extent typical emergency scenarios can be predicted, decision science research can also inform the development of emergency protocols and training procedures so that mine workers are able to make effective decisions and take an appropriate course of action to escape to a place of safety in the case of an emergency.
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From page 65... ...
How is such a distinction drawn? Sensitivity and Bias One model to conceptualize the detection of a mining emergency, drawn from a rich literature in psychology of attention, is called signal detection theory (Green and Swets, 1966)
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From page 66... ...
The factors outlined above are meant to provide an illustration of system and miner characteristics that can influence how miners respond to indicators of a potential mine emergency. Next, we consider two specific examples of an emergency situation where the signal detection theory framework can be used to better understand a miner's decision-making process.
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From page 67... ...
The CO monitor was actually triggered from several pieces of diesel equipment operating nearby and thus self-escape is not necessary. If the miner decides that there is no actual emergency situation because information is received from fellow crew members about the diesel equipment, then this would be a "correct rejection." Note, however, that even without knowledge of the diesel equipment the miner might be biased to assume that everything is fine.
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From page 68... ...
Being aware that both sensitivity and bias can influence decision making for self-escape is important for devising the best training methods to prepare miners for possible emergency situations. Expertise One way to train emergency detection is to help miners see their environment through the eyes of a seasoned miner or "expert miner." Identifying the specific characteristics that constitute an expert miner is a difficult task.
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From page 69... ...
In these situations, verbal protocol analysis may be advantageous in capturing this expert knowledge. Two classic studies on the psychology of expertise demonstrate that experts tend to classify situations (especially well-structured situations)
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From page 70... ...
. When working memory is compromised in stressful situations, decision making can be impacted.
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From page 71... ...
Dwelling on them further limits the working memory needed to be effective decision makers in stressful situations. In addition to the stress signals generated from the body, it is important to note that CO poisoning -- which is a danger in some underground coal mines -- can impact brain functioning.
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From page 72... ...
, that could be avoided with training that provides a more detailed knowledge base of common environmental signs of problems, their underlying causes, and sensible courses of action. We turn to the issue of knowledge acquisition in more detail below and to the development of optimal training practices in Chapter 6.
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From page 73... ...
Thus, procedural memory needs to be assessed by demonstration rather than by verbal report. Having adequate procedural memory for example on how to don an SCSR helps ensure that miners can put these devices on flawlessly even when their working memory is impaired.
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From page 74... ...
In Chapter 6, we talk in detail about what decision science research says about how to train procedural memory. One theme is the idea that repetition in itself does not ensure adequate proficiency.
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From page 75... ...
, as opposed to just following someone else out of the mine during training, can also be beneficial for learning spatial layouts. Requiring individual and groups of miners to walk escape routes and make decisions about possible paths to safety in training exercises will likely be beneficial for miners developing a thorough understanding of the mine layout.
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From page 76... ...
Making sure that all the available information is collected and used in the decision process is especially important for group leaders in emergency situations. Research
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From page 77... ...
. Anticipatory thinking allows miners to adapt to changing emergency situations by understanding the consequences of potential decisions and how they need to be altered in the event of changing factors in the environment.
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From page 78... ...
COMMUNICATION Communication is at the heart of behavioral elements that are fundamental to self-escape, such as organizing, gathering information, decision making, creating group cohesion, providing guidance, maintaining motivation, and informing and directing effort. This section discusses communication between escaping miners, and communication between miners underground and key support personnel on the surface.
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From page 79... ...
In situations where SCSRs are worn or verbal communications is otherwise prevented, communication between miners is reduced to rudimentary, nonverbal signals and/or writing notes. The mining community has developed a series of hand and headlamp signals (Kosmoski et al., 2012)
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From page 80... ...
Between Miners and Surface Personnel The surface communication center, the responsible person, and the immediate support team can be significant resources to miners, particularly when verbal communication is possible.2 As with the case of communication between miners underground, any constraints on communications with the surface limit important coordination and information exchange between the personnel on the surface and underground escape groups. The surface communication center can play an integral part in the exchange of critical information from first alert to any time that the escape groups are able make contact.
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From page 81... ...
IDENTIFYING SELF-ESCAPE COMPETENCIES Decision science research has provided insight on the types of information miners might miss and the common mistakes that may be made in emergency situations (see Box 4-1)
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From page 82... ...
This tendency may result in miners not considering escape routes that initially take them farther from a place of safety but are ultimately the best choice. Confirmation bias -- The tendency to only look for information that confirms what one believes (e.g., about the cause of an emergency situation)
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From page 83... ...
To effectively self-escape in the event of a mine emergency, miners need to have more than knowledge of their equipment and surroundings; they must also have the psychological tools to make effective decisions and communicate successfully. Decision science research helps identify common thinking and reasoning pitfalls that can occur in stressful situations (see Box 4-1)
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From page 84... ...
This will allow miners to devote adequate attention to unexpected events and enhance situational awareness.
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