Safety breakthrough: Reduced exposure mining system (REMS). Special pub

The face area of a continuous mining section of an underground coal mine is the most dangerous area in the mine. Workers there are at nearly twice the risk of death or disabling injury than those in other parts of the mine. Despite extensive training of miners and improved equipment and mining methods, fatality and injury rates have remained constant during the past few years. Recognizing that only the removal of the worker from the hazard would ensure a reduction of risk, the U.S. Bureau of Mines research program is developed a Reduced-Exposure Mining System (REMS) that relocates personnel operating the mining machinery at the face away from the hazards to a nearby haven of relative safety.