"This year we had 24 teams compete in mine rescue, 21 people compete in the pre-shift contest, eight in first aid and 22 competing in the Benchman contest,” said the US Mine Safety and Health Administration’s Polly Wilson, who aided in the coordination of the event.
Teams from Illinois, Indiana, West Virginia, Alabama, and east and West Kentucky participated.
Taking first place in the mine rescue contest was James River Coal’s Blue Team from Kentucky. Second and third spots were earned by Warrior Coal’s Cardinal operation and Massey Energy’s Southern West Virginia crew.
In pre-shift, KenAmerican Resources’ Paradise No. 9 was tops, followed by Advent Mining’s Onton No. 9; and rounding out the top three was Excel Mining from Kentucky. An Alabama crew came first in first aid, and Jim Walter Resources’ No. 4 Warrior Coal’s Cardinal Team from Kentucky placed second.
Judges gave marks for combination mine rescue/first aid, and the JWR No. 4 team again took the top score. Second and third, respectively, were Warrior Coal’s Cardinal and Highland Mining’s Highland No. 9.
Highland may have been third in the combo event, but its members took both first and second place in Biopak 240S: Scott Milligan and Brad Carlisle. Bench Biopak 240R went to two Kentucky members, Chris Dexter of Webster County Coal’s Dotiki mine and Todd Watson of Hopkins County Coal’s Elk Creek operation.
Alabama also was the magic word for the Benchman BG4 contest. First place went to Joey Hammrick of JWR’s No. 4 mine and second was Tim Stockman of Drummond’s Shoal Creek complex.
Wilson said the event, always held the same time each year, would not be possible without mining company and supplier assistance as well as the coal operator donations in the form of the time of mine rescue team members.
This year those included Highland Mining, Hopkins County Coal, Advent Mining, Warrior Coal, KenAmerican Resources, Webster County Coal, Armstrong Coal and Ohio County Coal.
Officials from the state’s Office of Mine Safety & Licensing and MSHA design the challenges for the teams and individuals annually and staff from each also serve as judges, according to organisers.
