Mine contests featured
The 42nd annual Pennsylvania state mine rescue, pre-shift and bench contests will include this year the Northern Mine Rescue Association metal/non-metal rescue teams. The contests are part of the 52nd Pennsylvania Bituminous Coal Show in Carmichaels. Admission is free for all events.
Wednesday, Aug. 24, at 8 a.m., the Pennsylvania Bituminous Safety Association state mine rescue contest will take place at the Carmichaels Area High School stadium. The competitors include Federal #2; Fairport; Bailey; Shoemaker; Cleveland team; Mine 84; McElroy; Cumberland; Blacksville 2; Emerald Mine 1; Southern Appalachia; Enlow Fork mine; and Powatan 6.
The Northern Association metal/non-metal mine rescue contests are scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 25, at 8 a.m. at the same location, featuring the following teams: Cargill Deicing Technology, Cleveland Team; Morton Salt, Fairport; Cargill Deicing Technology, Cuyahoga River Team; Cargill Deicing Technology, Whiskey River Team; American Rock Salt Co. LLC, Team 1 and Team 2; Cargill Inc., Cayuga Lakers; and Cargill Inc., Salt Rockers.
On Thursday, Aug. 25, at 8 a.m., also in the stadium, the pre-shift contests, sponsored by the Pennsylvania Bituminous Safety Association, are scheduled. Participating in the pre-shift examiner contests are Bob Haines, Kelvin Jolly, Adrian Gordon, Robert Brown, Jerry High, Joe Desko, Tom Bodna, Dale Tiberie, Dave Thearle, Preston Toney, Mark Gouzda, Joe White, Larry Cuddy, and James Duthie.
The bench, first-aid and gas contests are scheduled for Friday, Aug. 26, at 8 a.m. in the Carmichaels Area Elementary School gymnasium. Competing in bench, BG 174A are Tom Bodna, Bob Volpe, Gene Menozzi, Harry McGinnis, Rob Hutchinson, Bob Calhoun, Steve Gravley, Harry Powell, Randy Bombach and Emmitt Cox. In Bench BG 4 are Scott Maresh, Bob Rohde, Dan Bickal, Howie Dunn, Steve Bricker, Eric Baker, Ken Clark, Bert Matheney, Greg Sims and Harry McGinnis.
The mine rescue event tests the team’s ability to evaluate an emergency and rescue surviving miners in an underground coal mine. In the bench contest, the benchman is usually a rescue team member who corrects problems with the self-contained breathing apparatus worn by miners underground. The pre-shift examiners contest tests the proficiency in surveying a mine’s condition before workers enter.
The Pennsylvania Bituminous Safety Association is composed of the Central-North Association and the Southwestern Safety Association.