Opportunity for re-entry into a coal mine immediately following an explosion

Following an explosion in a coal mine commentators within and outside the underground coal mining industry often make comment that the best time to enter the mine is immediately following the initial explosion. These comments often lead to the questioning of the action or lack of; if mines rescue services do not re-enter the mine. The concept that there is a “window of opportunity” to enter a mine immediately following an explosion is based largely on the assumption that the fuel (mainly methane seam gas) required for an explosion has been consumed by the initial explosion and will take time to build up again to an explosive level. This paper examines the merit of deploying personnel into an underground coal mine following an explosion.