INA, Ill. (July 22, 2015) - Four Mine Rescue teams from Southern Illinois competed this morning at the Rend Lake College Mine Rescue Contest, but only one came out on top. Foresight Energy South Team out performed their competition and co-workers on the field.
Coming in second was Foresight Energy Blue Team, followed by Foresight Energy White Team and White Oak Resources Mine Rescue Team in third and fourth respectively.
Miners competing on the Foresight Energy Blue, South, and White teams include Jim Beechler, Wes Campbell, Erik Casad, Scott Earnest, Kevin German, Rob Givan, Girolamo Intravaia, Tim Kirkpatrick, Scott Lefler, Mark Lloyd, Andrew Mason, Justin McElroy, David Myers, Tim Norman, Matt Ozee, Paul J. Perrine, Jesse Presley, Kyle Ridlen, Pat Riley, Michael Short, Ben Spangler, Matt Szabo, and Brandon Tackett.
Miners competing with White Oak Resources Mine Rescue Team include Matt Androvandi, Benji Bowlin, Andy Ditch, Mike Fraulini, Michael Phelps, Phillip Powell, and Lisa Witzel.
More photos can be found on RLC's Flickr page at www.flickr.com/photos/rendlakecollege.
Foresight Energy South Team poses with their first place trophy Wednesday afternoon. The team had the best overall score during the competition, which included decision-making and time, among other factors. Also pictured is Chris Nielsen, LEFT, RLC Dean of Applied Science and Technology. Click on the image for a larger view.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)
Foresight Energy Miners work together to help an injured person during the mock mine disaster. The scenario was just one of several the team had to complete during the contest. All teams started in lock-up and had only minutes to survey the situation before the contest began. Click on the image for a larger view.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)
Foresight Energy miners rope off a section of the mock mine during the contest. RLC hosted the first Mine Rescue Contest this year as part of the compliance requirements for the Brookwood-Sago Mine Safety Grant received in 2014. The grant is the third of its kind RLC's Coal Mine Training Center has received in recent years. Click on the image for a larger view.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)
Comparing notes and maps, Foresight Energy miners decide how to proceed after coming to a problem in the mock mine. The scenario was developed as part of the "Mine Emergency, Prevention, and Preparedness Project" with the help of a $92,247 Brookwood-Sago grant, supported by the U.S. Department of Labor, Mine Safety and Health Administration. Click on the image for a larger view.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)
After performing a safety check on all team members, Foresight Energy miners proceed through the mock mine. The contest is just one aspect of the Brookwood-Sago grant RLC received, and is geared toward challenging miners and rescue teams to do their best in a number of areas, including victim extraction, firefighting skills, rope rescue, smoke exploration, and confined space training. Click on the image for a larger view.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)
During the mock disaster, the teams also utilized a new mapping system, one that many had not yet seen or used in an underground mine. Here, White Oak Resources Mine Rescue Team uses pencil and paper to relay information about the mock mine to the new mapping system. Click on the image for a larger view.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)
Team White Oak confer with one another about the next step in the mock mine scenario. Together, they utilized the new mapping system to include mine features such as ventilation and equipment to make sure the mine is safe, evacuate victims, and a number of other scenarios. Click on the image for a larger view.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)
Mine rescue teams, such as this one from White Oak Resources, are required to compete in contests every year to be considered an active team. They compete throughout the year at different contests to refine their skills. Click on the image for a larger view.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)