MSHA names mine rescue contest winners
Thirty-five mine rescue teams from 16 states participated in a national mine rescue competition. Photo courtesy of MSHA.
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety & Health Administration (MSHA) and the Nevada Mining Association named the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant’s “Blue Team” from Carlsbad, New Mexico, as the winner of the 2016 National Metal and Nonmetal Mine Rescue Contest. The event took place July 25-28 in Reno, Nevada.
MSHA says the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant’s “Blue Team” beat 35 teams from 16 states in the competition. Vulcan Materials’ “Blue Team” from Bartlett, Illinois, came in second place and Newmont Mining’s “Carlin Team” from Carlin, Nevada, came in third place.
During the four-day event, mine rescue competitions gauged the readiness of the 35 teams and their individual team members. According to MSHA, the event helped to sharpen mine rescuers’ skills and tested their knowledge in a series of simulated emergency scenarios, such as a mine fire, explosion or roof collapse.
“We asked mine rescue teams to respond to some of our nation’s most difficult emergency situations,” says Joe Main, assistant secretary of labor for MSHA. “We owe them the best training, equipment and support to help them be successful and to stay safe.”
In addition, Newmont Mining Corp.’s “Carlin Team” also finished in first place in the event’s first-aid competition. A few other teams received top honors, including Doe Run Co.’s “Gray Team” from Viburnum, Missouri; Barrick Gold’s “Turquoise Ridge Regulators” from Golconda, Nevada; and Morton Salt’s “Team Texas” from Grand Saline, Texas.
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