Aug 24, 2003 By Steve Ostrosky 4 min read

CARMICHAELS – While the football field looked very similar to the coal mine rescue event held the day before, the metal and non-metal mine rescue contest brought miners from facilities in Ohio, New York and even Wyoming. For the first time in recent memory, the coal mine rescue event and the metal/non-metal mine rescue event were held in Carmichaels as part of the 50th anniversary of the Pennsylvania Bituminous Coal Show.

Though most people think of mining as an industry primarily centered on coal, some men and women spend their days underground mining salt, zinc, talc and other minerals.

Mine rescue training is just as important for metal and non-metal mines as it is for coal mines, according to Joe Denk, assistant manager of the small mines office for the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA).

“There could be fires or an explosion, and you still have to have mine rescue capabilities at any moment,” he said.

While most metal and non-metal mines are not dealing with dangerous methane gas that can build up in coal mines, Denk said the practice these teams get is still invaluable.

A total of eight teams made the trek to Carmichaels for the contest, which began before 8 a.m. Thursday morning with a briefing about the problem the teams were about to encounter.

“Six men went underground for their normal shift and about an hour later, a large thud was heard and dust and smoke exited from the mine opening,” Denk said. “When the mine superintendent went in, he was turned back by smoke.”

Denk said the teams have not seen the course prior to the competition and they must follow the proper procedures to ensure that those who are still alive inside the mine are rescued safely and the team is not in any danger.

As the team enters the mine, they encounter one person who is badly burned, then two others who are both dead. Later, they find three survivors who have barricaded themselves to keep a fresh airflow. It is the job of the mine rescue team to reventilate the area, open the barricade and take out the three survivors.

The teams are comprised of six members: five who will enter the mine and a sixth who will stay at the fresh air base. The captain leads the team into the mine, followed by the map man to keep track of where the team has been and what has been done at each point in the rescue. A ventilation member ensures that no harmful gases are in the area, while two stretcher-bearers come along to carry out any victims and provide first aid, if necessary.

As the sun continued to rise and the temperature rose to near 90 degrees, the eight teams each took their turn on the pre-staked course. Teams were told the problem they were to face was expected to take two hours to complete, and would be pulled from the course after 2 1/2 hours.

“They are going to do everything as quickly as possible without endangering themselves or anyone else,” Denk said.

Judges followed the team members and scored each member based on the rules that should be followed, and representatives from each mining company kept very close watch on what was happening to make sure that their team was doing everything correctly and also to keep an eye on the other two teams competing at the same time.

Teams came from American Rock Salt Co. of Mount Morris, N.Y., Cargill of Cleveland, Ohio, FMC of Green River, Wyo., Morton Salt of Grand River, Ohio, and other mines from the eastern United States.

Denk, who has worked for MSHA for almost a quarter-century, said mine rescue is similar regardless of the mine’s size, and when accidents happen, rescue crews from everywhere respond, no matter if they knew the miners involved or not.

“Mine rescue is mine rescue, and it is nice for these events to be separate but together this year,” he said. “They are meeting teams and getting to know each other, but they are all taking this very seriously.”