The recent rescue of nine trapped coal miners from the Quecreek Mine in Somerset, Pa., illustrates just how important it is for miners to be ready for any emergency.

Twelve regional mine rescue teams will test their emergency preparedness Aug. 14-15 during the Post 5 mine rescue contest at West Virginia Universitys Rugby Field and Shell Building on the Evansdale Campus.

Competing rescue teams demonstrate their problem-solving skills during a simulated mine emergency. Six of the top teams return the second day to work through another mine rescue problem, and the winner of the contest will be the team with the lowest score on the second day.

WVU ’s College of Engineering and Mineral ResourcesMining Extension Service Post 5, the U.S. Department of Labors Mine Safety and Health Administration District 3 and the West Virginia Office of MinersHealth, Safety and Training are sponsors.

Three eventsthe mine rescue contest, bench contest and first aid contestare scheduled.

Registration for the mine rescue contest will be from 6-7 a.m. in the Shell Building Wednesday, Aug. 14, with the contest starting at 8 a.m. at Rugby Field. The bench contest starts at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 15, in the Shell Building, and the final six mine rescue team contest will begin at 7 a.m. on Rugby Field. The first-aid contest starts at noon Thursday in the Shell Building

The mine rescue event tests the rescue teamsability to evaluate an emergency situation and rescue any surviving miners in an underground coal mine. In the bench contest, the benchman, usually a rescue team member, tests and repairs a self-contained breathing apparatus worn by rescue team members when they go underground.

Rescue teams are assigned the same emergency problem to solve and judged on their procedures and speed. Teams are sequestered until it is their turn to compete.

MINE RESCUE PARTICIPANTS :

Mine Rescue Contest (12 teams): Consol, Blacksville No. 2 Team, Wana, W.Va.; Consol Pa. Coal Co., Bailey, Graysville, Pa.; Consol Energy, Enlow Fork Mine, West Finley, Pa.; Jim Walter Resources, JWR Mine No. 5, Brookwood, Ala.; Eastern Associated Coal Corp., Federal No. 2 Team, Fairview, W.Va.; Eastern Associated Coal Corp., Southern Appalachia, Wharton, W.Va.; Eighty Four Mining Company, Mine 84, Eighty Four, Pa.; Massey Energy (Elk Run Coal Co.), Elk Run Team, Sylvester, W.Va.; MINGO Logan Coal Co., Mountaineer, Wharncliffe, W.Va.; RAG Cumberland Resources LP, Cumberland Resources Mine Rescue, Waynesburg, Pa.; RAG Emerald Resources LP, Emerald Mine No. 1, Waynesburg, Pa.; U.S. Steel Mining Co., LLC , Pinnacle, Pineville, W.Va.

Bench Contest (15 entrants): Dave Blankenship, Eastern Associated Coal Corp., Southern Appalachia, Wharton, W.Va.; Randy Bombach, Consol Energy, Enlow Fork Mine, West Finley, Pa.; Bob Calhoun, Consol Pa. Coal Co., Bailey, Graysville, Pa.; John Click, Massey Energy (Elk Run Coal Co.), Elk Run Team, Sylvester, W.Va.; Emmitt Cox, RAG Emerald Resources LP, RAG Emerald Mine No. 1 Mine Rescue, Waynesburg, Pa.; George Gibson, Mingo Logan Coal Co., Mountaineer Mine Rescue, Wharncliffe, W.Va.; Larry Hedrick, U.S. Steel Mining Co., LLC , Pinnacle, Pineville, W.Va.; Rob Hutchison, RAG Cumberland Resources LP, Cumberland Resources Mine Rescue, Waynesburg, Pa.; Bill McLaughlin, RAG Cumberland Resources LP, Cumberland Resources Mine Rescue, Waynesburg, Pa.; Harry McGinnis, Eastern Associated Coal Corp., Federal No. 2 Team, Fairview, W.Va.; Gene Menozzi, Consol Pa. Coal Co., Bailey, Graysville, Pa.; Donnie Pennington, Jim Walter Resources, JWR Mine No. 5, Brookwood, Ala.; Harry Powell, RAG Cumberland Resources LP, Cumberland Resources Mine Rescue, Waynesburg, Pa.; Danny Rush, Consol, Blacksville No. 2 Mine, Wana, W.Va.; Bob Volpe, Eighty Four Mining Company, Mine 84, Eighty Four, Pa.

First Aid (6 entrants): Kevin Kucish, Eastern Associated Coal Corp., Federal No. 2 Team, Fairview, W.Va.; Jackie Repass, Eastern Associated Coal Corp., Southern Appalachia, Wharton, W.Va.; Mike Corbin, Jim Walter Resources, JWR Mine No. 5, Brookwood, Ala.; Darren Blankenship, U.S. Steel Mining Co., LLC , Pinnacle, Pineville, W.Va.; Harvey Ferrell, Eastern Associated Coal Corp., Southern Appalachia, Wharton, W.Va.; Rick Matheney, Eastern Associated Coal Corp., Federal No. 2 Team, Fairview, W.Va.