Anglo American’s Grasstree mines rescue team is one of 26 teams from across the world competing in the International Mines Rescue Competition being held in the Ukraine from 9 to 14 September 2012.
Captain Jason Fairweather, vice captain Kristijan Rodier and rescue team members Michael Wilson, Peter Hall, Grant Girle, Nathan Bade and Shawn Smith will travel to Ukraine and put their emergency response and mines rescue skills to the test with the hope they will return to Australia victorious for Anglo American.
The Grasstree team will be up against entries from Poland, Russia, India, Romania, Kazakhstan, Vietnam, Turkey, Canada, Ukraine, Slovak republic, China and Mongolia.
Grasstree’s mines rescue team member Shawn Smith said he was excited about the opportunity to compete at an international level, which was the result of a lot of hard work and training.
"We were selected for the international competition based on our performance last year, where we won the E.K. Healy competition and came fourth in the Nationals," Shawn said.
"As a member of mines rescue, you develop a real passion for safety and protecting the mates you work with."
"By law, every mine must have a total of five per cent mines rescue capability for the total number of the workforce trained in mine-specific emergency response on hand to assist if there is ever an emergency situation."
"While we train regularly under the skillful eye of John Rowe, the competition is a great way for us to put ourselves to the test in a high pressure environment – much like one we might face if there was ever a crisis on site," Shawn said.
The eighth International Mine Rescue Competition will include four events; mine exploring, first aid contest, benchman's contest and engineering analysis.
Mine exploring is performed with the purpose of searching, locating and rescuing people as well as defining conditions in the emergency zone, its hazard factors and obtaining other information necessary to choose main directions and methods of emergency elimination.
"At Anglo American, we work hand in hand with our contractors to perform safely at all times," Shawn said.
"Undamine, Hasting Deering, Morley Electrical Motors, FRSA, SDV Longall, Draeger, Eickhoff, Advance chain technologies, Kennametal and NLT have all come on board to sponsor our trip to the Ukraine and we would like to thank them for their support."
To be eligible for the competition, each member of the team must have a corresponding mine rescue qualification and be professionally, physically and psychologically trained to perform strenuous work under breathing apparatus in underground mine conditions.
Teams must demonstrate competency in maintaining team safety, rescue and evacuation of all survivors and recovering the emergency area as well as the rest of the mine.
"Being selected for the international competition is testament to the amount of effort the team puts in to ensure we perform at world class levels at all times," Shawn said.
Contact: Metallurgical Coal Corporate Affairs:
Jacqui Strambi: 0439 774 526