Luscar among winners in BC rescue competition

Luscar, Cominco and Homestake Canada were the big winners in British Columbia’s Mine Rescue and First-Aid Competition, recently held in Kimberley.

In simulated situations, mine rescue teams from these and other companies demonstrated how to: save people from buildings with toxic atmospheres; lower and raise accident victims to safety using rope techniques; and remove workers from staged motor vehicle accidents.

Each simulated competition was performed in both underground and open-pit mining conditions.

“These competitions show how we maintain our excellent safety record in B.C. mines,” says the province’s mines minister, Dan Miller. “I’d like to congratulate all the teams. Tremendous dedication and work are needed to achieve this level of expertise.”

Luscar’s Line Creek mine emerged as the surface mine champions, while Homestake Canada’s Eskay Creek mine took away the underground award. Cominco’s Sullivan mine won the 3-person first-aid competition.

Other award-winners are as follows:

– The Barry Abbot Memorial Trophy for best underground team “at the bench” (equipment assembly and testing skills) went to Boliden-Westmin’s Myra Falls operation.

– The United Steelworkers Mine-Mill trophy for the best underground mine-rescue co-ordinate was awarded to James Rogers of Homestake Canada.

– The best underground bench technician went to Ronald Schofer of Cominco’s Sullivan mine. Schofer was also awarded the Kathy Lofstrom Memorial Trophy for best coach in the first-aid event.

– The John T. Ryan trophy for the safest regional metal mine was awarded to Homestake’s Eskay Creek mine. Eskay Creek also won the Sullivan Cup for the best first-aid by an underground mine rescue team.

– Fording Coal won the Maurice Boise Memorial Trophy for surface bench proficiency.