Anglo American’s Trend mine rescue team has been dubbed the ‘team to watch’ following their impressive performance at British Columbia’s provincial mines rescue competition held in Smithers last month.
Trend mine Health and Safety Superintendent and rescue team leader, Jennifer Dobbie, said this follows the team’s hugely successful Northern Regionals competition where they won three out of the five disciplines and placed second in the remaining two exercises.
“In preparation for our past two competitions our mine rescue team members have shown an enormous level of dedication and commitment to developing their emergency response skills and knowledge,” Ms Dobbie said.
“Making it to the more gruelling 59th provincial competition was an achievement in itself, and while we did not quite come home with the result we had hoped for, taking part in this event was an invaluable experience for all our team members.
“After completing a number of emergency response scenarios and testing our mines rescue skills against eight other teams, at the end of the competition we received a number of honourable mentions from the judges, with many commenting Peace River was the ‘team to watch’ in future years,” she said.
The provincial competition was divided into three categories: Surface, Underground and Three Person First Aid and featured life-like simulations that tested skills in firefighting, first aid response, rope rescue, extrication and general mine rescue knowledge.
The Mutual Aid Scramble returned for its second year as a part of the competition, mixing teams in a trial designed to test teamwork and co-operation.
“Having the ability to quickly adapt to working with other people is a vital skill in emergency response and it was pleasing to see the winning team captained by Peace River’s own captain Delainy Barry, demonstrating his strong emergency leadership capability,” Jennifer said.
Minister of Energy and Mines and Minister Responsible for Core Review Bill Bennett said the annual British Columbian competition highlights the industry’s commitment to health and safety best practices.
“Congratulations to the hardworking participants in this year’s mine rescue competition,” Minister Bennett said.
“The skills and dedication shown by the competitors demonstrate the high safety standards of mining operations in B.C,” he said.
ENDS
Trend mine’s ever successful mine rescue team members (back from left) Justin Pouliot, Shane Muise, Delainy Barry, Hailey Nehring. (Front from left) Christopher Dokkie, Kristen Hough and Anthony Coulson.
Shane Muise (left) and Hailey Nehring attend to a patient during British Columbia’s provincial competition held in Smithers.
Mine Rescue team members from Trend mine in action during the Rope Task at the Regionals.