SUDBURY, ON – Mine rescuers from
Kirkland Lake Gold were crowned world champions by Workplace Safety North and Ontario Mine Rescue as the overall winners of the 10th International Mines Rescue Competition (IMRC2016-Canada) at the closing ceremonies in Sudbury Friday evening.
During the competition Aug. 19 to 25, 27 mine rescue teams from 13 nations around the world were evaluated on their firefighting skills, first aid response, high angle rope rescue skills, use of emergency equipment, and decision making ability under stress in a simulated underground emergency.
The international competition, held for the first time in Canada, is organized every two years to provide an opportunity for mine rescue organizations to share and improve mine rescue knowledge and practices through global cooperation. Previous IMRCs have been held around the world including Europe, Asia and Australia.
The Kirkland Lake, Ontario, team of Terry McKnight, Jonathan Boutin, Hubert Gour, Alex Thompson, Norm Gannon Jr., Jason Dicaire, Ben Young, Lynne Thompson, and Scott Gillett, became the first Canadian team to win the event.
Ireland’s
Boliden Tara Mines finished second, while the
KGHM White Eagles, of Poland finished third in the overall competition.
Kirkland Lake also won the underground emergency simulation event, beating second place
Compass Minerals Goderich mine, this year’s Ontario Mine Rescue champion, and Boliden Tara Mines in third.
During the underground emergency scenario five-member teams had to build a wall in a smoke-filled, heated environment to change mine ventilation due to a fire, and find two missing miners. One of the miners was found impaled on a length of rebar, further challenging teams’ first aid skills.
Compass Minerals Goderich mine won the theory event in which team members are tested on their knowledge of mine gases, firefighting, and emergency response activities.
Two other Canadian teams also earned honours.
Cameco McArthur River from Saskatchewan placed second in the high angle rope rescue event, and third in the firefighting and first aid events. Hometown favourites,
Vale’s Sudbury West Mines placed third in high angle rope rescue and theory events.
IMRC2016-Canada was hosted by Workplace Safety North and Ontario Mine Rescue, and sponsored by including Vale, Goldcorp, Glencore, KGHM, Draeger, Equivital, the City of Greater Sudbury, and the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund.
To see a photo of the Kirkland Lake team and a complete list of scenario winners, please visit
http://IMRC2016.ca/.
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