Field trials at three New South Wales and one Queensland coal mines were carried out to gather data on oxygen .'run out" times of Self-Contained Self Rescuers (SCSRs), time taken to escape from the mine, distances travelled and the average heart rate of subjects wearing SCSRs. The study has led to a method of predicting the duration of oxygen supply from a SCSR as a function of the wearer's body weight. physical fitness and the prevailing environmental conditions. Escapeway design, planning for emergencies, familiarity with SCSRs and experiential escape training are critical to control panic and maxirnise the likelihood of survival of a person attempting to escape in an emergency involving fIre or explosion.