About Mine Rescue
Mine rescue teams are a special type of first responder trained to deal with emergencies at a mine site. Mine rescue also includes the upkeep of specialized equipment used to safely enter mines with hazardous gas, and test the gas levels.
To keep these teams in shape, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) devised a competition system where these teams compete in a variety of events.
These events are: The Bench, Medical, Team Tech, and the Underground Problem.
Benching Problem:
This event focuses on the technical aspects of maintaining and repairing mine rescue breathing apparatuses. This involves the disassembly, inspection, and reassembly of the equipment quickly and accurately. The main challenge in this revolves around the placement of ‘bugs’ in the system, or small errors/damage to parts. A good benchman can find all these bugs in the system in a timely manner.
Medical Problem:
The Mine Rescue Medical team is made up of several well-trained members and an alternate, whose purpose is to assess, treat, and transport injured miners. Triage (for multiple patients) and patient assessment (for single patients) competitions test the team’s ability to work under pressure, respond to trauma and medical emergencies, and stabilize patients for evacuation. Training includes skill practice, simulated emergencies, and study. During medical competitions, teams assess injuries, provide treatment (such as splinting, bleeding control, and airway management), and package patients for transport—all while managing the scene and navigating unexpected challenges. Club medical training is led by certified EMT-Bs.
Team Technical Problem:
Members are tested in their proficiency in assessing the MX6 air monitor and evaluating airflow conditions. The event is split into two sections. First, the technician is given an MX-6 Gas Monitor, which has ‘bugs’. Similar to the Bench, the technician must find and resolve all the bugs in the system, all while completing it in a time trial. Once the MX-6 is in working condition, it is used to identify an unknown mixture of gases.
The other section of the problem is a test on airflow competence. The technician is to know and be able to use a variety of tools to determine the air conditions, an Anemometer, a Magnehelix, and smoke tubes.
The Underground Problem:
The full team of Captain, Gas Man, Map Man, Medic, and Co-Captain navigates through a simulated underground mine disaster to locate and rescue trapped or injured miners with the support of a Fresh Air Base. The problem typically contains hazards like cave-ins, fire, gas, or bad ground conditions. Teams must map the area, put out fires, and safely extract victims.
