Highland Valley a winner in BC safety competition

Highland Valley Copper has won the surface championship in British Columbia’s mine rescue and first-aid competition, held recently in Campbell River.

The company also took home the Maurice Boise trophy for surface-bench proficiency, as well as the award for highest non-aggregate points.

Competing teams had to extinguish fires, save people from smoke-filled buildings, lower and raise accident victims to safety using ropes, and administer first-aid.

“Mining in B.C. is the safest heavy industry in the province and consistently maintains an excellent safety record,” says Mines Minister Richard Neufeld.

Boliden Westmin’s Myra Falls operation was crowned provincial underground champ, and that company’s Joe Fic won the United Steelworkers Mine-Mill Trophy for the best underground mine-rescue co-ordinator

Cominco’s Sullivan mine captured the 3-member first-aid championship, while and the company’s Ronald Schofer was named best underground bench technician. Schofer also won the Kathy Lofstrom trophy for best coach in first-aid.

The Barry Abbott trophy for the best underground team “at the bench” (equipment assembly and testing skills) went to Quinsam Coal Corp. The same company received a special certificate for its outstanding safety record over the past two years.

The Sullivan Cup for the best first-aid administered by an underground mine rescue team was awarded to Homestake’s Eskay Creek mine.

The championships were judged by industry personnel and by government mines inspectors. The 3-person first aid competition was designed and judged by the St. John Ambulance Association.

The top teams from this competition will compete at the twice-yearly Western Regional Mine Rescue Competition, scheduled for September in Fernie, B.C.