Illinois mines use air pack that failed in Sago

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The air packs at the Sago mine, known as self-contained self-rescuers, were manufactured by CSE Corp, based in Monroeville, Pa. The packs contain an oxygen-producing chemical that is activated by a miner's exhalation of carbon monoxide. They are intended to provide a trapped miner with an hour's worth of oxygen, perhaps enough time to escape or find a pocket of clean air.

Art Rice, a state mine-safety trainer in Benton, Ill., says the CSE unit is the dominant model in Illinois. But he prefers a rescuer manufactured by Ocenco Inc., of Pleasant Prairie, Wis., which contains a bottle of oxygen that can provide 90 minutes of air under strenuous conditions.

Rice said his office lacked the staffing to inspect the devices.

"It's up to the mines to check them, which they are required to do," Rice said.

The Ocenco devices are used at the Viper Mine north of Springfield, Ill., a sister mine to the Sago. The Sago and Viper mines are owned by International Coal Group, based in Kentucky.
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