Organizers the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Mineral Resources Management told ILN this week that 35 total teams were on hand for the two-day event held at the Ohio Mine Safety Training Center in Harrison County.

The coal-rich states of Ohio, Kentucky, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia were represented at the event.

ODNR assistant director Rich Milleson said the agency was happy to host the event at its facility in Cadiz for the first time.

“The center was designed to provide real-life mine rescue conditions and help prepare miners for the inherent risks associated with underground mines,” he said.

“These types of training experiences will help keep them safe on the job.”

Contests held at the June 10-11 competition included mine rescue, breathing apparatus troubleshooting and pre-shift.

Teams were judged by officials from the US Department of Labor, the West Virginia Office of Miners’ Health, Safety and Training, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and the ODNR.

The top three placers in each contest included:

Mine Rescue Competition

McElroy Coal Company – Blue Team – Moundsville, West Virginia

Patriot Coal Company – Magnum Team, Madison, West Virginia

Cumberland Coal Resources – Cumberland RD Team – Waynesburg, Pennsylvania

Pre-shift Competition

McElroy Coal Company – Blue Team – Moundsville, West Virginia

Eastern Associated Coal – Federal No. 2 Team – Fairview, West Virginia

Mingo Logan Coal Company – Mountain Laurel Gold Team – Sharples, West Virginia

Bench BG4 Competition

McElroy Coal Company – Blue Team – Moundsville, West Virginia

Consol of Pennsylvania – Enlow Fork Green Team – West Finley, Pennsylvania

Emerald Coal Resources – White Team – Waynesburg, Pennsylvania

Post 6 president Brad DeBusk noted that it has not previously been able to offer realistic simulations, such as smoke training, in the past, but the new facility now made those training activities feasible.

“ODNR’s facility allows us to better train teams for mine emergencies,” he said.

The Cadiz facility features two 158 by 200-foot simulated mines for hands-on training and four classrooms.

It is also the home base of one of the division’s four mine rescue station and houses all equipment needed for underground emergencies that could potentially occur in the region.

“Mine safety competitions, like Ohio’s first rate event, give our rescue teams a chance to learn from each other during real-time scenarios,” United Mine Workers of America legislative liaison for Ohio Babe Erdos said.

“We hope they never have to use the lessons they learn from their competition experiences but, if they do, they will be prepared for the future.”