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BATHURST -

The NB-NS Mine Rescue Competition will take place May 23-24 in Bathurst, with a team from the Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan (New Brunswick Division) competing.

The competition challenges the firefighting and first aid skills of mine rescuers in simulated emergencies, while a mock mine disaster tests their ability to assess an emergency and rescue trapped miners. The event travels from mine community to mine community, and has been held in Sussex many times.

"These competitions highlight the need for stringent standards in mine safety," said Richard Blais, chief compliance officer with the NB Workplace Health & Safety Compensation Commission.

"And although our primary goal is prevention, emergency preparation is also key. We hope these skills will never have to be called upon, but training and competitions such as these ensure miners will be ready to respond appropriately if the need ever does arise."

Rescue teams from the host mine Xstrata Zinc – Brunswick Mining Division, Blue Note in Bathurst, the Canadian Salt Mine in Pugwash, Nova Scotia, and the Sussex mine will be represented.

The mine rescue competition is a joint effort among the New Brunswick and Nova Scotia mining industries and provincial agencies, including the WHSCC and the NS Department of Environment and Labour.

Mine rescue began in New Brunswick in 1966, when the Department of Natural Resources established the first rescue station in Bathurst.

The first mine rescue competition in New Brunswick was held there, at Brunswick Mine, six years later.

The public can watch the competition at the KC Irving Regional Centre in Bathurst on May 24 starting at 8 a.m. and running until 3 p.m. (The competition is closed to the public on May 23.)