Published: May 13, 2008 11:49 am            

Mine rescue contest returning to Rend Lake College

Staff Report

INA — Rend Lake College will welcome back the Robert Earl Jones Commemorative Mine Rescue Competition on Thursday at its track complex on campus.

Orchestrated by the Illinois Department of Mines and Minerals, the competition will feature 11 of the area’s best coal mine rescue teams as they compete in a mock mine disaster scenario to test their skills.

The event will start at 9 a.m. and run continuously until all teams have completed the course.

The Office of Mines and Minerals’ Mine Safety and Training Division is charged with the health and safety concerns of the state’s coal mines and their employees. In addition, the division now regulates the blasting, explosives and aggregate programs for Illinois, which were previously administered by the Blasting and Explosives Division that was consolidated with Mine Safety and Training on October 15, 2004.

One way the Mine Safety and Training completes this is to conduct health and safety training programs throughout the year for mining employees.

The division trains and certifies State Mine Inspectors to monitor safety conditions at the mine sites, and operates a state laboratory for analysis of mine gas and dust particles, coal composition, and water and soil. The Division also trains licensed and certified blasters, as well as others who handle, store or use explosive products in Illinois.

The Mine Safety and Training Division maintains four mine rescue stations throughout Illinois and has rescue teams made up of industry personnel trained to aid mining situations and problems which may occur. The division also has a mine rescue team completely comprised of State Mine Safety Inspectors and an emergency search team.

For additional information, contact Summer Braden in the RLC Applied Science and Technology Division at 437-5321, ext. 1261.

        

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