SAFETY: Vale wins Ontario mine rescue competition

ONTARIO – The team from Vale Canada's East mines were crowned with gold hardhats as the overall winners of the 64^th annual Provincial Mine Rescue Competition. The contest was sponsored by Workplace Safety North and Ontario Mines Rescue on June 5 and 6 in Timmins. It was held in the Dome mine belonging to Goldcorp.

Seven team from across Ontario displayed their proficiency at firefighting, first aid, use of emergency equipment, and decision making. Each five-man team descended 15 metres down a raise using fall protection equipment, put out a fire, provide first aid to two "miners", and rescued one of them trapped beneath a large tire. The drill was conducted using self-contained rebreathing apparatus.

The Vale team consisted of Captain Lorne Plouffe, Will Davies, Justin Whitmore, Jonathan Hamilton, Fred Pelletier, Aime Gagne, Jean Yves Doiron, Perry Simon and briefing officer Mike Johnson. The team also earned the First Aid Award.

Find a mine rescue training course sponsored by Workplace Safety North at WorkplaceSafetyNorth.ca.