Mines Compete To Be Best Mine Rescue Group
WDTV
August 15, 2013
More than 30 mine rescue teams, from all over the east coast, have called Morgantown home for the last few days while competing in a competition to put their skills to the test.
Although there was no coal at Mylan Park on Wednesday afternoon there was an obstacle course and papers letting the first responders of the mining industry know what they would be in for.
"They focus on safety everyday in the jobs that they do," Larry Moore, the assistant director for the mine rescue contest, said. "It really takes a special effort on their part to take their time and do the training that's required to be on a mine rescue team."
The scenario the competitors faced on Wednesday was that something had gone horribly wrong and two people are stuck inside the mine.
"This is as realistic as we can make it without having an event," Marty Conrad, a member of Arch Coal's mine rescue team, said.
The participants were timed and their every movement was closely monitored by a few sets of judging eyes.
"This is just getting six members used to working together," Mark Shaver, another member of Arch Coal's mine rescue team, said. "That way if something came up we won't be second guessing each other. That could costs lives underground."
Ideally the competitors would never have to use the skills they displayed on Wednesday, but Shaver said he knows that's not a reality.
"The scenarios they lay out, if we can prevent it from happening that's what you do," he said. "You be proactive rather than reactive."
33 teams from all over the east coast competed, but that number is actually lower than past years. Organizers said that's due to some struggles as of late for the coal industry.
The competition wraps up Thursday night where the winners are announced during a banquet.
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