The 2015 National Coal Mine Rescue, First Aid, Bench and Preshift Competition, held in Lexington, KY, from September 14-17, 2015, included team competitions for Mine Rescue and First Aid and individual competitions for Bench (a check of mine rescue equipment to ensure proper functionality) and Preshift (an assessment of the overall safety condition of a mine). View the gallery below for images from the competition including the Award Banquet.
During the First Aid portion of the competition, a team triages a patient to prepare the miner for transport out of the mine.
A team works to stabilize an injured miner before transport from the mine.
Judges tabulating a mine rescue team’s scores.
Map reviewers scoring a mine rescue team’s map.
Preshift examiner noting conditions.
Preshift examiner checking air quality.
A team in a state of readiness as they prepare to rescue a miner.
A team in the process of saving an injured miner.
A Fresh Air Base: a communication relay point located inside of a mine that serves as a staging area for mine rescue teams and communicates the findings of the team to the Command Center.
A team, tethered together, ready to work a problem.
A mock-up of a refuge alternative, an area where a distressed miner can go during an emergency to await help.
A team documenting and recording findings.
A mine rescue team working a problem during the mine rescue portion of the competition.
Judges observing a Buchanan Mine Rescue team member during the bench competition.
A rescue team member checking a breathing apparatus.
Day 2 Mine Rescue: Alpha Natural Resources’ “Southern West Virginia Team” (Whitesville). Mark Bolen, Team Captain.
Winner of the Mine Rescue Competition: Alpha Natural Resources “Southern West Virginia Team” from Whitesville, West Virginia.
Winner of the First Aid Competition: Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. – Oak Grove Resources LLC’s “Oak Grove Blue Team” (Hueytown, Alabama).
Winner of the Combination (Mine Rescue/First Aid) Competition: Mine Rescue Services LLC’s “Southeast Kentucky Team” (Corbin, Kentucky).
Winner of Day 1 Mine Rescue: Drummond Company Inc.’s “Shoal Creek Red Team” (Jasper, Alabama).
