COMPETITIONS SHOW WHY MINING ONE OF SAFEST INDUSTRIES

SMITHERS, B.C. – Mining is one of the safest heavy industries in the province, even safer than the food and beverage sector, and the teams taking part in the 53^rd annual Mine Rescue Competitions here clearly demonstrated why, says Minister of State for Mining Kevin Krueger.

“Mine safety is paramount, and British Columbia has long been a world leader in mine health and safety because of the ongoing cooperative effort between mine employees, mine management, unions and ministry regulators.”

The first mine rescue competition was held in Fernie in 1915, and annual reports of the Department of Mines mention first aid competitions held at various locations between 1910 and 1920.

NVI Mining at Myra Falls near Campbell River walked away with four trophies including the Overall Underground Mine Rescue Trophy while Teck Cominco Highland Valley Copper returned to Kamloops with three trophies including Overall Surface Mine Rescue Trophy.

The Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources supports mine rescue to ensure a very high level of mine rescue competence and to maintain consistent standards of training and procedures so that mines can provide mutual aid to each other in the event of an emergency.

“This training was certainly put to good use last September when the Highland Valley and Graymont rescue teams successfully rescued an excavator operator at the Graymont mine site on the Pavillion First Nations Reserve,” Krueger said.

The annual competition brings together mine rescue teams from across the province to compete in several tasks designed to test their skills in first aid, extrication, fire fighting, rope work and general mine rescue knowledge. Teams compete in either surface or underground competitions designed to simulate real life situations.

All mines are required to provide emergency response capability under the Health, Safety and Reclamation Code for Mines in B.C. This requirement made the B.C. mining industry a world-wide model for the implementation of health and safety practices.

Winners of the 53rd Annual Mine Rescue Competition held June 7, 2008 include:

Sullivan Cup (best first aid by underground team) NVI Mining, Myra Falls; Three-person Miners' First Aid Trophy (surface team), Elk Valley Coal Corporation, Fording River Operations; Kathy Lofstrom Memorial Trophy (best coach for three-person first aid) -Joel Letourneau, Elk Valley Coal Corporation, Fording River Operations.

Maurice Boisse Memorial Trophy (best bench for surface team), Teck Cominco, Highland Valley Copper; HVC Highest Non-Aggregate Points Trophy (surface team), Teck Cominco, Highland Valley Copper; and Overall Surface Mine Rescue Trophy, Teck Cominco, Highland Valley Copper.

Barry Abbott Memorial Trophy (best bench for underground team) - Quinsam Coal Corporation; USWA Mine-Mill Trophy (best underground coordinator), Pat Langlois, NVI Mining, Myra Falls; Overall Underground Mine Rescue Trophy, NVI Mining, Myra Falls; Keith Bracewell Award (best obstacle and recovery), NVI Mining, Myra Falls; and The John T. Ryan Award (lowest accident frequency), Eskay Creek.

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Media contact:	Jake Jacobs Public Affairs Officer Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources 250 952-0628 250 213-6934 (cell)

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