Bluefield State College Hosts Second Annual Mine Rescue Competition

Representing Cleveland Cliff, Inc., members of the Oak Grove Blue Team from Adger, Ala., compete in the Welch Post 1 National Mine Rescue Association’s Mine Rescue Contest at June O. Shott Field at the Higginbotham Sports Complex at Bluefield State College Saturday. Eleven teams took part in the contest. Eric DiNovo / Bluefield Daily Telegraph. From CART in the News

(Bluefield, WV)—Although the disaster isn’t real, the response will be. This Saturday, 11 outstanding mine rescue teams from throughout the region will gather at Bluefield State College to compete in the 2nd annual Mine Rescue Competition. The event was created and is coordinated by the National Mine Rescue Association Welch Post 1-Smokeeaters and is hosted by the Center for Applied Research & Technology (CART) at Bluefield State College.

Mine rescue contests are designed to sharpen skills and test the knowledge of miners who may one day be called upon to respond to a real mine emergency, according to the event’s director, Mike Plumley. The meet includes a written test, and also requires teams to address a simulated problem resulting in trapped miners that must be located and rescued.

Each team will be told of the scenario, then must address the challenge by working through a course designed to simulate conditions they could face in an actual mine rescue situation. Mining experts will evaluate each team as they work through their rescue problems in the simulated mine environment. The field portion of the meet will take place at the June Oblinger Shott Sportsplex, adjacent to Dickason Hall on the BSC campus.

“Competition of this kind calls attention to the need for the highest standards in mine safety,” Plumley said. “Participants can hone their mine rescue skills, improve communication with other team members, and develop working relationships with other teams.”

Vendors whose businesses are related to the mining industry will be on site, as well. “CART is pleased to have the opportunity to support this event,” noted Bruce Mutter, CART Director. Our involvement in assisting the Mine Rescue Competition is particularly appropriate because of our commitment to Bluefield State’s Mining Engineering Technology program, participation in robotics-related initiatives & our collaboration with Fenner Dunlop Conveyor Belting in the Bluestone Regional Business and Technology Center.

The event’s sponsors to date include the Cleveland-Cliffs Foundation, BrickStreet, CONSOL, UMWA Local 1713, Lee Supply Company, A.T. Massey, Strada Products, and CART, Inc.