Planned cutthroughs from one mine section to another are underway over a period of several days and three shifts as a retreating long wall panel is being set up. The mine liberates large quantities of methane. As the work progresses there are many points at which serious errors in communication, ventilation, and work procedures could develop. You must analyze the situation, identify and correct problems, and make sure the ventilation remains adequate throughout the procedure. (The exercise is based on an actual mine disaster in which seven miners died.) Practice is provided in the critical, planning, problem recognition, judgment and decision making skills needed to cope with a complex cutthrough procedure and the major ventilation changes that may result. This paper and pencil exercise requires short, written answers and modifications to mine maps.

The "Cutthrough Ventilation Arrangement" exercise is an easier and somewhat different version of this problem.