Mine rescue events credited for increased safety
Harlan Daily Enterprise
By Jennifer McDaniels – Kentucky Coal Academy
July 26, 2013
Mine rescue teams throughout the nation have convened on the grounds of Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College to compete in the annual Harlan County Safety Days Mine Rescue Competition. Organized by The Cumberland Tourist Commission, Harlan County Safety Days is a rebirth of what once was the oldest mine rescue competition in the United States. The contest began in the 1930s by the Harlan County Mine Institute and lasted until 1996 when the Cumberland Women’s Club was the sponsor in the contest’s later years.
Harlan County Safety Days committee member Jeremy Williams said it was the goal of The Cumberland Tourist Commission to provide an event that would not only bring people and revenue to the Tri-City area, but to also support the mining industry.
“When this mine rescue contest began three years ago, there hadn’t been a mine rescue competition in Harlan County for the past 15 years,” Williams said. “We wanted to start something that would increase our tourism efforts in our area and to also assist the industry with a mine rescue contest that will help sharpen skills and give experience.”
Eighteen mine rescue teams from at least five different states are currently competing in this year’s Harlan County Safety Days. In its early years, the contest was held all over Harlan County, including Cumberland, Benham, Lynch and the city of Harlan. Now, it’s contained on the grounds of Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College in Cumberland, which is one of the contests’ main sponsors.
On Tuesday, pre-shift, first aid, and bench contests were held. Mine rescue contests took place on Wednesday and Thursday.
Southeast’s Kentucky Coal Academy Director Murrell Dixon said mine rescue contests like Harlan County Safety Days were “imperative” for increased safety within the industry. The Kentucky Coal Academy is a state-funded mine training program that operates under the direction of the Kentucky Community & Technical College System. Dixon has decades of mining experience under his belt, including serving on a mine rescue team for Arch and Benham International Harvester.
Dixon said the year 2012 saw the lowest number of mine fatalities in the history of the industry. He credits that to good education and events like mine rescue competitions.
“I’ve always said a safe miner is a productive miner,” Dixon said. “Education is the key, and that’s what we’re all about here at the Kentucky Coal Academy. We not only want our miners to be highly trained, we want them to be safe.”
An awards ceremony for the Harlan County Safety Days Mine Rescue Competition was scheduled for Thursday at The School House Inn. Winners will be listed in Saturday’s edition.
|