Challenges of gas monitoring and interpretation in underground coal mines following an emergency

While modern coal mines are commonly equipped with a range of gas monitoring resources during normal operations, they are often lacking in their contingency planning when a mine loses communication with these systems following a major incident. Recent occurrences in underground coal mines in both Australia and overseas has highlighted the challenges in relation to effective atmospheric analysis and interpretation. This paper looks at the issues that face those involved, when not only the communication with existing gas monitoring systems has been affected, but the systems themselves have been destroyed.