This past summer, the Nevada Mining Association and Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) hosted the 2013 National Metal and Non-Metal Mine Rescue Competition in Reno, Nev. at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center July 31 – Aug. 1.

 

The mining industry works each day to send every worker home safe after each and every shift. While rescue situations are rare, it has been imperative throughout the industry that mine rescue teams constantly prepare themselves for all emergency rescue scenarios. The mine rescue competition provides safety teams an opportunity outside of an emergency to test each team’s skills. During the national competition, 31 mine safety teams from around the United States,

 including five teams from Nevada, participated in a series of four events testing the team’s mental and physical ability to properly follow safety procedures in emergency situations.The mining industry works each day to send every worker home safe aft

 

 

Throughout the two-day competition, mine safety teams were evaluated by more than 60 MSHA judges in areas including written tests, team trainer evaluations, technician teams and first aid. After the first day, the field was narrow to 10 remaining teams in the competition.

 

During the finals, the 10 remaining competitors demonstrated admirable skills and dedication to ensure safety is the team’s highest priority. At the close of the competition, the judges announced the following winners of the National Mine Rescue competition:

• Team Trainer – Barrick Gold Cortez Mine’s Tom Senecal
• Tech Team – Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold’s Climax Molybdenum Red Team
• First Aid – Kinross Gold’s Kettle River Buckthorn Team
• Field – Newmont Mining’s Carlin Mine
• Overall – Newmont Mining’s Carlin Mine

Since regional and national mine rescue competitions began in 1973, this was the first year for a mine rescue team from Nevada to receive the national title.