The 2016 Chamber of Minerals and Energy (CME) Surface Mine Emergency Response Competition provides an ideal training exercise and allows emergency response teams to use, compare and test their skills in a controlled environment.
CME chief executive Reg Howard-Smith said spectator participation was a key part of marking the 25th anniversary of surface mine competitions in the Goldfields.
“It is fantastic to see the competition return to a public venue to profile the important role of emergency preparedness in the community,” Mr Howard-Smith said.
Teams will compete in events including team skills, confined space rescue, fire-fighting, vehicle extrication, rope rescue, hazardous chemicals, first aid, incident management scenario and a theory assessment.
Mr Howard-Smith said an extra level of challenge would be associated with the 2016 competition.
“This year is all about recreating the urgency associated with an onsite crisis,” he said.
“Teams won’t receive a timetable and will be called upon at any stage over the weekend to assemble their equipment and head to an emergency scenario.”
Whilst improving skills is the goal, each team hopes to be the winner of an individual event and ultimately the ‘Best Team Overall’ challenged by the 2015 winner Norton Gold Fields Limited.
“Several companies are entering combined teams from their different operations this year,” Mr Howard-Smith said.
“It is a great opportunity to learn not only from competing teams but from other site peers as well.”
CME thanks KCGM for the use of the Hannans North facility, which it manages, as the site will be used as competition headquarters as well as hosting all the weekend’s competition.
Media Tour
Media are welcome to participate in a tour of the events on Saturday 14 May. The tour will depart the Hannans North Tourist Mine entrance at 9.30am.
Please wear sturdy closed-in footwear, trousers and a long sleeve shirt. Cameras and filming equipment are welcome.
Mine Rescue Committee Chairman, Kelly Bodman will be on hand to answer questions.
Please confirm your attendance to CME Eastern Region Manager Holly Phillips on 0417 189 258 or h.phillips@cmewa.com.
