MINE SAFETY EVENT AT BSC FOCUSES ON RESCUE

By CART, Inc.

​​BLUEFIELD, W. Va. – Eleven of our region’s mine rescue teams competed today at Bluefield State College (BSC) for its thirteenth annual mine rescue competition.
 
For the second year in a row, the Wellmore Energy Red team took first place in the contest, Contura Energy Southern WV finished in second place, and the Buchanan Minerals Black team finished in third place. Other teams competing included Greenbrier Minerals – Central Appalachian, Nicholas Contura, Southern Pocahontas Apache, Buchanan Minerals Red, Pocahontas Coal, the Virginia Department of Mines Minerals and Energy team, ICG Beckley Gold, and the Ferro-Globe Alden Resources team.  
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The competition was held on the June O. Shott Field at BSC, with representatives of the Mine Safety and Health Administration operating an on-site command center in Dickason Hall that responded to the scenario as if it were a real incident. Team members in the command center maintained constant communication with their team mates on the field, digitally mapping the course and recording real-time gas readings as those on the field advanced through the problem.

Developed by the Welch Post #1 known as the “Smoke Eaters” of the National Mine Rescue Association, the competition challenged teams to use skills and technology to solve a rescue scenario within an 80-minute time limit. The team finishing the course in the shortest time with the fewest mistakes wins the challenge.

The competition is hosted at BSC and sponsored by Brick Street Insurance, the Welch Post#1 Smoke Eaters, and the Center for Applied Research and Technology, Inc., (CART).