Mining Week June 5-10, 2006

Click Here for 2006 Mining Week Poster

Photos of the winning teams from the 2006 Mine Rescue Competition in Yellowknife

BHP Billition was the overall winner of the Underground Competition

Tahera Diamond Corporation was the overall winner of the Surface Competition

David Clark, President and CEO of the Workers' Compensation Board standing beside the trophy presented to BHP Billition.

40 Years of Mine Rescue Competitions!
The Workers’ Compensation Board is proud to sponsor the 40th Annual Mine Rescue Competition occurring on Saturday, June 10th at Yellowknife City Hall.
Capping off five days of exciting Mining Week activities, the competition will test the mine rescue skills of three competing mines: BHP Ekati, Diavik Diamond Mine and Tahera’s Jerico Diamond Mine.

This year three Surface teams and two Underground teams will go head to head in up to eight of the following events: Written Exam, Smoke, FIRE, First Aid, Rope/Rescue, Practical Bench, Underground Bench, Underground Obstacle, Surface Obstacle/Extrication.

ABOUT THE COMPETITION
Each mine in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut is invited to enter a team in an effort to win the Surface or Underground Commissioner’s Trophy. The champions are then invited to compete in the Western Regional Mine Rescue Competition, which is held The Western Regional Competition is held every two years (on the odd year) in Fernie B.C.  This competition hosts winning teams from all provinces from Manitoba to British Columbia, the Territories, plus the North Western States (Idaho, Montana, and North Dakota).

This year there will be three mines and a total of five teams competing in the territorial play-downs: Diavik, Tahera Diamond Corp and BHP Ekati Diamond MineTM.  There are nine events.  They will compete head to head with the goal to be crowned the overall winner.

MINE RESCUE COMPETITIONS
The Competition provides a means to evaluate and compare the effectiveness and quality of the mine rescue training program; it is a check and balance for competency.  If a mine was to have a major incident, teams from other mines and other provinces/territories are called in and would have to work together to accomplish the rescue. Competitions allow these teams to get together, work together and develop and understand how the other teams work.
The competitive spirit of a mine rescue competition stimulates the participants to train intensively in the use of respiratory protective equipment, emergency tools and first aid equipment. This desire to be competitive also encourages each team member to practice teamwork so that each member is familiar with his/her role when they have to respond to an emergency.
Mine rescue is demanding and at times dangerous. Rescue team members are volunteer mine workers who have received extensive training. They must have an intimate knowledge of their equipment and have it ready at all times since their lives and the lives of others depend on it. They must know a great deal about the gases they might encounter when a fire is burning or after an explosion. They must know how to extinguish fires and master all the skills required to accomplish their rescue missions.

BREATHING APPARATUS
Underground teams use a four-hour oxygen re-breathing apparatus (commonly called a Draeger) that enables them to work in environments that are deficient in oxygen or contain toxic gases, and also allows for the extensive travel times that may be encountered underground. Surface teams usually use a compressed air breathing apparatus, similar to firefighters, which may last up to one hour.

OBJECTIVES
Each team is led by a Captain whose primary concern is THE SAFETY OF THE TEAM.
The main objectives of mine rescue work are:

• To find and rescue trapped or injured persons
• Protect the property from further damage
• Rehabilitation of the affected area to render it safe again

TASKS
Prior to the start of the competition the teams are placed in a ‘lock-up’ where they remain until their turn to compete arrives. This ensures that teams do not have access to information on the activities prior to their turn to compete. The teams are required to participate in a number of tasks to simulate the skills necessary to be a competent mine rescue team. This year we have three surface teams and two underground teams competing and the tasks will be as follows:

Written Test
The teams will write an exam while in lock-up. The exam pertains to mine rescue procedures, respiratory protective equipment, fire fighting procedures and first aid.

Practical Bench
This task will involve specific skills to challenge the individual team members. It may involve respiratory protective equipment, gases and gas testing, rope rigging, and oxygen therapy.

Underground Bench
In this task, the team members will carfully check out their apparatus and equipment for proper functioning and air tightness.  The team may also be asked questions pertaining to their equipment and/or mine rescue procedures.

First Aid
A 5 to 6-person team demonstrates its proficiency in first aid in an accident problem that may be found on a mining site. The problem is prepared and judged by C.E.R.T. NWT.

Fire
A 6-person team will be required to write an exam (in lock-up) and perform either a drill with fire hoses or extinguish various live fires.

Rope Rescue
A 6 man team will be required to perform a task that involves rope rescue apparatus such as lowering or lifting a person and/or or rappelling.

Smoke
A 5 to 6-person team will don respiratory protective equipment and search and/or rescue victims in a smoke-filled room or simulated conditions.

Obstacle/Extrication
A 6-person team will compete in this task. The teams will be required to use rescue devices common to mine rescue such as pulley systems, come-along, air bags, etc. to extricate a person(s).

Underground Obstacle
A “mock mine” is constructed to represent the tunnels and workings of an underground mine.  Judges set-up mine rescue problems that the team must solve.  The problem may involve finding and rescuing trapped men, locating and extiquishing fires and rehabilitating the mine.  A five person team wearing apparatus travels underground where they receive direction from a Coordinator/Director of Operations, who is a member of the team.

The event is open to the public and admission is free.  The competition starts at 9 am and continues to 4:30 pm, coinciding with the NWT Chamber of Mines’ family barbeque.
The Workers' Compensation Board of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut sponsors the Annual Mine Rescue Competition as part of its mandate to promote safe work practices in all Northern workplaces.