| Mine safety, rescue contest crowns winners Bristol Herald Courier June 3, 2016 Comments 
WISE, Va. – Alpha Maxxim Shared Services blue team took top honors in the 31st annual Governor’s Cup Mine Rescue and Safety Contest.
The event was held Thursday at the University of Virginia’s College at Wise. The rescue and safety contests were co-hosted by the Virginia Coal & Energy Alliance, Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy and the Mine Safety and Health Administration, according to a written statement. Teams competed to conduct rescue and recovery operations in a staged mine disaster scenario laid out in the university’s convocation center. Team members donned full mine rescue gear, including oxygen breathing apparatus, to determine underground mine conditions, construct ventilation controls and locate and extract accident “victims”. The teams were judged on their thoroughness in recording mine conditions on a map as they advanced into the “mine” and their ability to identify and respond to hazards that could endanger the team or trapped miners. “There are still thousands of people working underground in the Commonwealth,” noted Virginia Mine Chief Randy Moore, “Having qualified rescuers to respond to emergencies in order to help those miners is a top priority at DMME. We hope this competition only improves on the very skilled teams in our state.” “This competition does more than test the skills of our teams and provide required training,” said VCEA Director Harry Childress. “This is networking unlike any other for these miners. If an emergency happens they’ll all find themselves at the same mine site so it’s good to get familiar with each other.” Governor’s Cup/ 1st Place Team: Alpha Maxxim Shared Services Maxxim Blue Team 2nd Place Team: Buchanan Minerals, LLC. Buchanan Red Team 3rd Place Team: Wellmore Coal Company Red Team Bench 1st Place: BG4- Josh Richardson, Buchanan Red Team Bench 1st Place: 240R- Shannon Moore, Wellmore Coal Company Pre-Shift: Billy Sluss, Alpha Maxxim Shared Services Governor’s Cup Teams: Alpha Maxxim Shared Services, Arch Lone Mountain Processing, Inc. Lone Mountain Team, Virginia Small Operators Mine Rescue A Team, Buchanan Minerals, LLC. Buchanan Black Team, Buchanan Minerals, LLC. Buchanan Red Team, Revelation Energy LLC. Blue Team and Wellmore Coal Company Red Team. |