The provincial Emergency Response/Mine Rescue Skills Competition has long been a highlight of the Saskatchewan Mining Association’s Mining Week.
Now in its 48th year, the competition brings together surface and underground mine employees from across the province, allowing them to showcase their skills and proficiency in various categories.
This year’s event will happen on June 4 at Prairieland Park in Saskatoon, and Westmoreland Coal’s Estevan Mine will be among the entrants, competing in the surface mine division.
Seven mine employees will be competing in Saskatoon: Cory Gibson, Brandon Scholpp, Lee Mantei, Craig Alexander, Jessica Klarholm, Derek Mitchell and Kevin Ducey. Other mine employees have been helping out with the practices.
Jeff Kuchinka is the team’s co-ordinator, and while he won’t be competing on June 4, he is responsible for lining up the squad’s training, and making sure they have the necessary equipment.
Their first practice was on May 16.
“We’ll practise every weekday from now until June 3, when we will take off to go to Saskatoon,” said Kuchinka, who has been part of the team for four-and-a-half years.
They have been working on all components of the competition, including first aid, high-angle rope rescues, firefighting and the practical skills challenge, which incorporates a variety of tests.
“This year what they’re doing (for practical skills) is a fireman’s challenge, kind of like what you see on TV, where you do a hammer sled and then they’ll drag a ‘victim’ for a little while,” said Kuchinka.
“They’ll roll and unroll some fire hose. They’ll hoist up some hose on top of some scaffolding and carry it down some flights of stairs, and some different things like that.”
The team is thriving in all areas, he said. Kuchinka has been impressed with their skills. Now they’re focused on fine-tuning their abilities.
Most members don’t have a background in emergency response when they join the team. The mine rescue team has often served as an opportunity to get their foot in the door for emergency services. Some team members have gone on to join fire departments or become paramedics.
“This is what gets their appetite for it, and gets them moving in that direction,” said Kuchinka.
Cory Gibson, who is in his eighth year with the mine rescue team, is among those who parlayed his experience with the mine rescue team into a spot with the Estevan Fire Rescue Service.
He echoed Kuchinka’s statement that the team members have done very well in practices. They have dedicated a lot of time to training, and they have been exhausted at the end of most of those days.
“They’re all pretty proficient at everything,” said Gibson.
They will have to be very good, too, if they are to finish in top spot. There will be five other surface mine teams, and they’re all very good each year, Gibson said.
Twelve teams are part of the underground competition.
Kuchinka stressed the competition is a great experience, and the experience they receive prior to the competition is vital for the team. They practice once a month throughout the year, but when May rolls around and they start to practice every day, it brings the team together.
“They get to spend a bunch of time together, working out their differences and improving their skill set,” said Kuchinka.
“Not only is it good for the competition, but it’s even better for the team to be able to spend that much time working together, so that in the event they’re needed to respond to any kind of emergency on the mine site, they’re fully prepared, and know what each other will do when they get there.”
