Drilling down safety

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 09/06/2018 (2835 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Staying safe underground comes down to one crucial ingredient.

“Mine safety is all about camaraderie,” said Bob Forsyth, captain of Hudbay Snow Lake’s mine rescue team.

His crew took first place at the recent Manitoba Provincial Mine Rescue Competition at Bernic Lake, where miners from across the province tested their emergency response skills, firefighting acumen and first aid knowledge at the Tanco Mine northeast of Lac du Bonnet.

“These competitions are so important,” said Andrea McLandress, executive director of the Mining Association of Manitoba. “We have a mutual aid agreement among our mines in Manitoba, so it’s really important that our mine rescue teams have a good relationship with each other.”

That said, McLandress adds mining mishaps in the province are extremely rare.

Held annually since 1961, this year’s rescue competition saw four teams spend two days competing in events both above and below ground. Participants proved they were effective communicators by successfully assembling a child’s bicycle with strangers, took written exams and used their skills and teamwork to rescue an injured party deep underground while battling simulated smoke.

— Text and photos by Shannon VanRaes