Metal/Nonmetal Mine Rescue Contest Begins
Held in Reno and sponsored by MSHA, the national contest features 38 teams from 16 states. Awards will be presented Thursday.
The 2010 Metal/Nonmetal National Mine Rescue Contest began Tuesday at theReno-Sparks Convention Center in Reno, Nev., giving 38 teams from 16 states the chance to showcase their speed and skill in simulated mine emergencies such as a fire or roof collapse. Well-trained rescue teams are required by MSHA regulations, but the competitions are for bragging rights and to showcase excellence to the industry.
The event takes place through tomorrow and is sponsored by the Mine Safety and Health Administration. Eight of the participating teams are from Nevada.
"Mine rescue teams are essential to the safety and health of our nation's miners," said Joe Main, assistant secretary of labor for MSHA. "They spend countless hours preparing for an emergency they hope never happens and they hold themselves to the highest standards, even in competition."
The contest includes a field competition and a first aid contest in which emergency medical technicians must check equipment to ensure it works properly, including multi-gas monitors, self-contained breathing apparatus, and portable communication systems.
Visit this page for a list of the competitors and this page for photographs and the announcement of contest winners.