More than two dozen mining operations across Ontario are busy preparing their mine rescue teams for the district and the provincial competitions to be held during the next seven weeks.
Seven district champions will be selected in five competitions across the province Thursday and Friday, May 7 and 8. These champions will compete in the 65th annual Ontario Mine Rescue Provincial Competition Thursday and Friday, June 10 and 11, at Thunder Bay’s Fort William Gardens.
Mine rescue team members, the backbone of the Ontario Mine Rescue program, are mine workers trained by Mine Rescue Officer/Consultants to respond to all mine emergencies including fires, explosions, entrapments and falls of ground.
Mine rescue competitions, which started in 1950, are as much intensive learning opportunities as a chance to test emergency response capabilities. The competitions ensure that mine rescue volunteers across the province are trained to the same high standards.
The competition presented as a simulated mine emergency includes firefighting, first aid, emergency equipment and underground mine ventilation components. In addition to the skills assessment are a theory exam and a competition for technicians who maintain and repair emergency response equipment.
Mine rescue volunteers from Vale Ltd.’s East Mines in Sudbury District took top honours and the coveted gold hard hats in the June 2014 provincial competition in Timmins. The Vale team went on to represent Ontario and Canada at the International Mines Rescue Competition in Poland in September 2014.
Ontario Mine Rescue is a part of Workplace Safety North which provides products and services to promote workplace health and safety in the mining, forestry, and paper, printing and converting industries, as well as workplaces across Ontario.
All competitions are open to the public.
District Competitions:
Provincial Mine Rescue Competition:
Contact: Ken Sitter
Workplace Safety North workplacesafetynorth.ca/minerescue
[email protected]
1-888-730-7821 ext. 234