Aug. 18, 2010
 
Mine Rescue Contest Set for Aug. 18-19 in Morgantown
 
By Huntingtonnews.net Staff
 
Charleston, WV (HNN) - When an accident occurs, mine rescue teams are the first on-scene responders and the last ones to leave. Training and practice keep team members sharp and ready to face challenges at a moment’s notice.
 
To help those teams remain prepared and ready to respond when needed, several agencies, including the West Virginia Office of Miners’ Health, Safety and Training, are sponsoring the 2010 National Mine Rescue Association Post 5 and West Virginia State Mine Rescue Contest at Mylan Park in Morgantown.
 
The competition, which kicks off at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 18, and runs through Thursday evening, features timed contests in mine rescue, benching, pre-shift and first aid. A bench contest challenges participants to identify and correct deficiencies in self-contained breathing apparatus; pre-shift competitions pit teams against each other in a “pre-shift” safety examination of a coal mine.
 
Forty-two regional mine rescue teams are scheduled to participate. These teams comprise employees of coal companies in West Virginia, Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Alabama. Members of state and federal mine rescue teams act as judges for the competition. This is the first time the competition is being held in Morgantown.
 
“After 30 years of holding the competition in Beckley, I felt it was time for a change,” said state Mine Rescue Coordinator Danny Spratt. “Holding the contest in Morgantown brings this unique experience to a whole new audience.”
 
Ron Wooten, director of the West Virginia Office of Miners’ Health, Safety and Training, said that many of the teams competing this week worked during the Upper Big Branch tragedy in April.
 
“The job that mine rescue team members do is extraordinarily difficult, both physically and emotionally. This competition allows the teams to sharpen their rescue skills, strengthen bonds with other team members and enjoy a bit of friendly competition.”