Refuge stations have been around since the 1930’s when they were introduced to the Ontario Mining Act. The refuge station’s primary function is to be a safe place to go during an emergency. However, most refuge stations serve a dual purpose and act as meeting/lunch room underground. Each level has a refuge, and anyone who enters the mine needs to know the location of the closest refuge in case of an emergency.


Refuge Stations Must:
  • Be built of materials with at least a one-hour fire resistance rating
  • Be big enough to fit all anticipated personnel
  • Be able to be sealed to prevent gases and smoke from entering
  • Have a supply of drinking water
  • Have a supply of compressed air
  • Have a way to communicate with the surface (i.e., phone or radio)
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Interior of a refuge station - Photo courtesy of Goldcorp
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Refuge station at Red Lake Gold Mines - Photo courtesy of Goldcorp
You Might Also Find...
  • First Aid equipment
  • Tables and chairs (or benches)
  • Sink
  • Microwave
  • Fridge
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Emergency tools (i.e., axes, ropes, shovels)
  • Heater
  • Drywall mud (or other caulking material for sealing the door)
  • Safety procedure posters and binders
What To Do In An Emergency?
While mines tailor emergency and refuge procedures to their site, the basics are the same. These include:
  • If you see a fire or hear a rock blast, immediately head to the closest refuge station and report it. People on the surface will notify other underground workers
  • Seal the door, if the air outside is contaminated
  • Assign someone to let others in
  • If you smell the stench gas (smells like rotten eggs), go to the closest refuge station
  • Seal the door when expected people have arrived
  • Report everyone who enters the refuge
  • Do not leave the refuge until it is deemed safe, or mine rescue arrives

If you cannot make it to the refuge station, head to a fresh air way, create a barricade in a dead-end drift or use your jacket to create a breathing tent at a compressed air point.