Missouri S&T to host mine rescue competition

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On September 12, 2017

In 2016, Missouri S&T hosted the 34th Annual Mine Rescue Competition designed to simulate a mine emergency at the Experimental Mine in Rolla. Photo By Sam O’Keefe/Missouri S&T

The Missouri Mine Rescue Association, in conjunction with Missouri University of Science and Technology, will host its 35th Annual Mine Rescue Competition at Missouri S&T this month.

The competition, which is designed to simulate a mine emergency, will take place Monday, Sept. 18, through Thursday, Sept. 21, at Missouri S&T’s Experimental Mine. Two Missouri S&T teams will compete against one other university and multiple teams from the professional mining industry, such as Doe Run, Vulcan Materials Co. and Georgia-Pacific Gypsum. There are 24 teams competing this year.

“Five of the six placing teams from the 2016 national competition will participate in our competition which include Wipp, Vulcan Materials Co., Barrick Cortez, Barrick Goldstrike and Tronox,” says DeWayne Phelps, team trainer and an engineering technician at S&T. “The field consists of 24 teams, and the mix of industry and students will make for a great competition. Known in the industry as ‘little nationals,’ all the best teams come to compete.”

Missouri S&T’s two mine rescue teams competing against industry teams at the 34th Annual Mine Rescue Competition at S&T’s Experimental Mine. Sam O’Keefe/Missouri S&T.

The competition consists of a written skills test; two hands-on simulated mine disasters (both underground); a first-aid portion with a written test, hands-on CPR and a first-responder scenario; and a team technician portion with a written test and technical troubleshooting of breathing apparatuses and gas instruments.

“The Missouri Mine Rescue Association is one of the strongest in the nation consisting of ten teams,” says Phelps. “The association includes Central Plains Cement/Talon, Mississippi Lime Co., the Doe Run Co., Martin Marietta, Vulcan Materials, Gateway and Missouri S&T.”

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) and Missouri Department of Labor Cave and Mine Safety will judge the competition.

Teams competing are: Barrick Coretez Goldstrike and Barrick Turquoise Ridge; Carmeuse Lime and Stone; Central Plains Cement/Talon; Compass Minerals; Doe Run Gray and Doe Run Maroon; Eastwood Fire Dogs; Gateway; Hecla-Greens Creek Mine; Lafarge POWC; Lunding Mining; Martin Marietta; Mississippi Lime; Missouri S&T Black and Missouri S&T Gold; Morton Salt and Morton Salt Weeks Island; Mosaic White; Nyrstar Tennessee Mines; South Dakota School of Mines and Technology; Tronox; Vulcan Materials Blue; and Waste Isolation Pilot Project (Wipp) Blue.

The following S&T students are members of the Black Team:

Caroline Dziak, fresh air base assistant, a senior in mining engineering from Bridgewater, New Jersey

Zach Griffie, cable puller, a sophomore in mining engineering from St. Louis

Dan Heidrick, co-caption and first aid, a junior in mining engineering from Fenton, Missouri

Ethan Kerr, team captain and first aid, a junior in mining engineering from Union, Missouri

Botlhe Masedi, first aid, a senior in economics and mining engineering from Maun, Botswana

Jared Proctor, map and team technician, a senior in mining engineering from Collinsville, Illinois

Adam Reiter, gas, a senior in mining engineering from Fenton, Missouri

The following S&T students are members of the Gold Team:

Kevin Cahill, fresh air base, a senior in mining engineering from St. Louis

Tanner Eliuk, gas and first aid, a senior in mining engineering from Fulton, Missouri

Will Hoover, team captain and team technician, a senior in mining engineering from St. Charles, Missouri

Holden McComb, first aid, a senior in mining engineering from Littleton, Colorado

Creighton Miles, cable puller, a sophomore in mining engineering from Advance, Missouri

Josh Miller, co-captain and first aid, a senior in mining engineering from Smithville, Missouri

James Nash, map and team technician, a senior in mining engineering from Bunker, Missouri

Suzanne Taylor, fresh air base assistant and first aid, a senior in mining engineering from Maryland Heights, Missouri.

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