Bulga Coal’s mines rescue team has won the state finals for the second year in a row.
Competing at the Mt Owen mine in the Hunter Valley for the 2015 annual Open Cut Mines Rescue Competition, the Glencore/Bulga team was up against teams from Mt Arthur, Bulga, Ulan, Wilpinjong, Bengalla, Ravensworth, Mt Thorley Warkworth/Hunter Valley Operations, Liddell, Drayton and the host mine, Mt Owen.
Bulga Surface Operations team captain Lincoln Mudd said it was a “massive honour” to win the rescue competition.
“I would like to thank Dave Connell, Matt Enright, all the Mines Rescue trainers and assessors and the volunteers from the other stations and Coal Services for their involvement,” Mudd said.
“The casualties did an amazing job as usual. Thank you to Bulga for letting us compete and supporting us, especially Nick Slater and Jason Summerville.
“This is a team award and everyone did their very best on the day and that’s all a captain can ask for. See you all next year. Go team Bulga.”
Hunter Valley Mines Rescue regional manager David Connell acknowledged the commitment of rescue teams in the region that attended, and said such events were a critical part of the training for Mines Rescue.
These competitions offer our industry brigadesmen and surface emergency responders invaluable experience to hone their skills dealing with extremely realistic emergency response scenarios,” he said.
“Mines Rescue provides critical training to the industry and are instrumental in equipping surface emergency responders, such as those who competed in this year’s competition, with safety leadership skills that they can apply in the workplace long after their training is completed.”
Mt Owen operations manager Ashley McLeod expressed his pride at having the opportunity to host the competition.
“I was particularly impressed with the planning, coordination and execution of activities by Mt Owen and Mines Rescue staff,” he said.
“I think this contributed to a combination of challenging events for the participating rescue teams who all acted in a highly competent and professional manner throughout the competition.”
In New South Wales, five per cent of every coal mining workforce is required to be provided to participate in Mines Rescue, an organisation which was established in 21926 under the Mines rescue Act for emergency response to underground emergencies.