The 2019 NSW Mine Rescue Challenge, hosted by Evolution Mining, wrapped up this week after 3 days of exercises and events in and around West Wyalong.
Rescue teams came from mining operations around NSW and Queensland to participate in the challenge which saw crews undertaking drills in firefighting, first aid, road crash rescue and search and rescue, under the watchful eye of adjudicators from the mining industry and state emergency agencies.
The NSW State Emergency services, NSW Rural Fire Service and Fire & Rescue NSW also participated in the challenge, sharing their knowledge, skills and equipment. The local community, including businesses and school groups, got involved providing goods and services and volunteering their time to act as casualties.
The first exercise was a mock mass casualty where the teams had to manage 51 casualties along with multiple fires and a large spread out scene, in the pouring rain. Rescue teams had to dig casualties out of the rock, pick casualties off roofs and rescue people from a burning helicopter. The winners of the various events were:
- Road Crash Rescue: Peak Gold Mines
- Vertical Rescue: Glencore Ulan Mine
- Confined Space: Glencore Ulan Mine
- Theory: Evolution Mt Carlton
- Mass Casualty (First Aid): Evolution Mt Carlton
- Fire Fighting: Peak Gold Mines
- Overall Winner: Peabody Wilpinjong Mine
The overall winner of the NSW Mine Rescue Challenge is picked by the other teams, and are nominated for helping other teams improve their skills, doing an exercise better than others, lending their equipment and overall collaborating and working well together. These challenges are important to maintain and build the skills of Mine Rescue Teams should they ever be needed to respond to an emergency, not only at the mine but in the local community.
Evolution’s Cowal Gold Operations have supported local emergency services in the past, including during and after the devastating 2016 floods. They now have a partnership with the NSW State Emergency Service which enables teams from Evolution and the SES to train together and jointly support the community if needed.
This partnership saw team members from Cowal assist SES crews with flood rescue duties during recent floods in the Sydney metro area. The organising committee of the NSW Mine Rescue Challenge and all participants have extended their thanks to the West Wyalong community and every single sponsor for contributing to the success of the event which brought over 100 visitors to the Bland Shire and is estimated to have injected well over $50,000 into the local economy.
Special thanks to ISH24 for your generous support as a GOLD sponsor. The next NSW Mine Rescue Challenge will be held in Cobar on the 30th of July 2020.
Images: NSW Mines Rescue Challenge Facebook (View More Images of the Event Here)
Original Story: NSW Mines Rescue Challenge Facebook
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