SIC Hosts Eighth Annual Mine Rescue & Skills Competition June 11
HARRISBURG, Ill. (May 28, 2019) – SIC and partner Illinois Eastern Community Colleges (IECC) will host the eighth annual Mine Rescue & Skills Competition June 11.
Nearly 80 coal miners from Illinois and Indiana will assemble to compete and train in a variety of skills they hope to never have to use, readying themselves for fires, cave-ins and various other potential underground disasters. This event is a chance to put those skills to use, get additional practice and learn from mistakes in a safer, yet competitive environment.
“This is my first year being part of the competition and I am excited to be a part of it,” said Ricky Sauls, CTE and special projects coordinator. “I have always thought this competition is a great opportunity for the coal miners to show off their skills and get recognized for the work they do outside of their daily job.”
A total of eight teams will be competing this year. Teams competing are Foresight Energy from Viking-Mach Mine in Marion, Foresight Energy MaRyan Mine in Carlinville, Hamilton County Coal Mine in Dahlgren, Gateway North Mine in Coulterville, Prairie State Lively Grove Mine in Marissa, Knight Hawk Coal in Percy and Indiana Bureau of Mines in Vincennes, Indiana.
The event features competitions in smoke training in the simulated mine training facility, hose management, field search and rescue, fire suppression in the burn tunnel facility, first aid scenarios and equipment use.
Trophies will be awarded at the end of the competition. The overall winner of the past three years of competition was Foresight Energy.
Officials from Illinois Eastern Community Colleges – which administers all coal mining classes offered at SIC – as well as the Illinois Department of Natural Resources’ Office of Mines and Minerals, the Mine Safety and Health Administration, and a large number of volunteers from SIC will all serve together as judges, guides and more to make this a successful event. Visitors who would like to watch the competition are welcome, but advised to please stay back from the active competition areas.
The competition runs from approximately 7:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Competition rules, registration information and past winners can be found at www.sic.edu/minecompetition
