Mine rescue and first aid competition
Last updated on June 17, 2024Provincial mine rescue and first aid competitions are annual events since the 1900s. The competition brings together mine rescue teams to test their emergency response abilities.
The Health, Safety and Reclamation Code for Mines in British Columbia (the Code) requires all mines in B.C to have emergency response capabilities. The B.C. mining industry is a worldwide model for health and safety practices.
The ministry supports the competition to ensure mine rescue competence. Enabling mines to maintain training and procedures in the event of an emergency.
Competition categories
The mine rescue and first aid competition tests teams knowledge of the Western Canada Mine Rescue Manual in three main categories:
Three person first aid
- Demonstration of basic first aid in a simulated emergency
Surface mine rescue
- Extrication
- Rope
- Practical bench skills
- First aid
- Written exam
Underground mine rescue
- Obstacle and recovery
- Donning bench
- Fire fighting
- Practical bench skills
- First aid
- Written exam
Western Region Mine Rescue Competition, hosted biennially by the City of Fernie, B.C.
2024 competition results
Three person first aid competition
| Trophy | Category | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| Kathy Lofstrom Memorial Trophy | Best coach for three person team | Brent Roberts, Hudbay Mineral Inc. - Copper Mountain |
| Best written for three person team | Hudbay Mineral Inc. - Copper Mountain | |
| Three Person First Aid Trophy | Best three person team | Hudbay Mineral Inc. - Copper Mountain |
Surface mine rescue
| Trophy | Category | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| Ron Brow Memorial Trophy | Best extrication | Teck - Highland Valley Copper |
| Maurice Boisse Memorial Trophy | Best practical bench skills | Teck - Highland Valley Copper |
| East Kootenay Mines Industrial Safety Association Trophy | Best written score | Teck - Line Creek |
| East Kootenay Mines Industrial Safety Association Mine Rescue Memorial Trophy | Best rope team task | Teck - Greenhills |
| North South Central First Aid Trophy | Best first aid | Teck - Greenhills |
| Levitt-Safety Fire Trophy | Best fire | Teck - Greenhills |
| New - EKMISA Best Captain’s Award | Best captain | Dean Esch, Teck - Line Creek |
| HVC Highest Non-Aggregate Points Trophy | Highest points (non-aggregate) | Teck - Greenhills |
| Overall Surface Mine Rescue Winner | Highest aggregate (best overall) | Hudbay Mineral Inc. - Copper Mountain |
Underground mine rescue
| Trophy | Category | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| Best Bench Technician Trophy | Best bench technician | Evan Robson, Newmont -Brucejack |
| USWA Mine Mill Trophy | Best underground coordinator | Evan Robson, Newmont - Brucejack |
| Richard Booth Award | Best written score | Newmont - Brucejack |
| Sullivan Cup | Best first aid | Newmont - Brucejack |
| Barry Abbott Memorial Trophy | Best practical bench skills | Newmont - Red Chris |
| Best Performance in Underground Smoke | Best smoke | Newmont - Red Chris |
| Keith Bracewell Memorial Award | Best obstacle and recovery | Newmont- Brucejack |
| Levitt-Safety Fire Trophy | Best fire | Newmont - Red Chris |
| Overall Underground Mine Rescue Winner | Highest score (best overall team) | Newmont - Red Chris |
The 66th Provincial Mine Rescue and First Aid Competition took place in Squamish in June 2024.