Mine Rescue Competition Back for 27th Year

While many Nova Scotians were spending all their spare moments last February watching Olympic athletes go for gold, workers at two Cape Breton mines were preparing for a competition of their own.

The 27th Annual Provincial Mine Rescue Competition will be held on Friday, June 5, and Saturday, June 6, at the Bayplex in Glace Bay. The public is invited to attend.

The mine rescue competition is co-sponsored by the provincial Department of Labour and the Cape Breton Development Corp. (Devco).

"This competition may not grace the world stage as the Olympics do, but it is an important event in the lives of Nova Scotians, especially Cape Bretoners," said Labour Minister Russell MacKinnon. "This competition is held to maintain, promote and display excellence in mine rescue skills among draegermen in Nova Scotia."

The competition, set up to closely resemble a real-life situation, consists of the following tasks: gas testing, bench (during which competitors disassemble, check and reassemble equipment), first aid, obstacle, smoke and firefighting. There is also a written competition.

"I was part of the rescue operation at Westray for six days and I can tell you that this competition is pretty close to the real thing," said team captain George Muise. "And that's what it's all about -- being ready for the real thing."

Mr. Muise's team, one of three from Devco's Phalen colliery, was training for this competition long before Canadian athletes landed at Nagano -- and continues today. Although the training is year-round, it intensifies as the competition nears. Eight-hour days on the weekends are commonplace during final the preparation period. The Prince colliery also has a team entered in the event.

"It's a strenuous two days," Mr. Muise said of the competition. "Team members each wear a 30-pound apparatus (BG174) and at times during the event must carry a 200-pound stretcher. We really want to be in shape before we attempt that."

Saturday, Day 2 of the competition, will be the most interesting for spectators to watch. During the first event of the day, teams will be required to perform first aid. Then teams will enter a mock mine and perform a rescue-and-recovery operation through a series of obstacles. The next task will involve following a series of instructions in a smoke-filled atmosphere. The final task of the day is firefighting: teams will be required to use the proper techniques to extinguish a blaze outside the mock mine. All of these tasks are performed using respiratory protection.

"The Bayplex is an excellent site at which to view the competition," said Mr. Muise, who has been involved in the competition for 13 years. "Spectators can stand on the track area and get a bird's-eye view of the proceedings, especially the obstacle task.

"It's also important for us that the public are aware of our efforts to keep up to speed on mine rescue procedures," he added. "This competition prepares us for something we don't want to ever happen -- but we want to know we're ready if it does."

The teams have three priorities during the competition and in real mine disasters: the safety of the mine rescue team, the safety and rescue of survivors, and the restoration and rehabilitation of the mine.

Top finishers in the various tasks receive awards and an overall winner is announced following the competition. On the podium or off, these 28 men who devoted their spare time over the past several months to prepare for this competition will all be winners.