Mine safety event hones rescue skills

Pictured: First Place in the 11th Annual Mine Rescue Competition, Southern Pocahontas Team.

By CART, Inc.

BLUEFIELD, W. Va. – Ten of the region’s mine rescue teams gathered today at Bluefield State College for its eleventh annual mine rescue competition.

Southern Pocahontas took first place in the contest, Wellmore Energy took second place, and Alpha Natural Resources Southern WV Team #1 took third place. Other teams competing included Buchanan Red, Pocahontas Mine Rescue, Greenbrier Minerals Central Appalachian, Tri-State A, Buchanan Black, Tri-State B, and Alpha Natural Resources Southern WV Team #2.

The contest took place on the June O. Shott Field at BSC, with representatives of the Mine Safety and Health Administration providing a mobile command center that responded to the scenario as if it were a real incident. Team members in the command center maintained constant communication with their counterparts 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 Smoke Eaters, the competition challenges teams to use skills and technology to solve a rescue scenario within a 90-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).

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