THUNDER BAY -- More than 20 rescue teams from across the district are testing their emergency response knowledge this week.
Every year the Ontario Mine Rescue holds district safety competitions to select a team to represent the rescue in the 10th International Mines Rescue Competition held in August in Sudbury.
Chief mine rescue officer Shawn Rideout said the competition is a way for Workplace Safety North to measure consistency ensuring that everyone is receiving the same training throughout the province.
“What we do essentially is take a snapshot by pulling a small group together and run them through a competition,” Rideout said.
“We evaluate their skills and adjust our training to what we find.”
Over the course of two days, eight mining companies from Thunder Bay and Red Lake are competing at Delaney Arena for a spot in the provincial competition taking place in June.
Each team participates in different mock scenarios including firefighting, first aid and special equipment.
At the end of the day, the teams are given a score based on how similar the procedures were compared to the training received by the Ontario Mine Rescue.
Representing the Thunder Bay district are Lac Des Illes Mine, Barrick Hemlo, Wesdome Gold Mines and Richmont Mines.
“The training that these guys go through prepares them so that when they get to a real emergency they are safe,” Rideout said.
The district competition continues in Thunder Bay Thursday.