Alabama Mining Association holds inaugural Surface Mine First Responder Competition

The Alabama Mining Association (AMA) recently announced the results of its inaugural Alabama Surface Mine First Responder Competition.

The competition was held in early July at the Alabama Fire College in Tuscaloosa.

Hosted by the Alabama Mine Safety & Training Foundation, a nonprofit organization founded by AMA, the event consisted of six teams participating in two days of training followed by two days of competition.

The event, which consisted of realistic scenarios, was developed alongside the Florida Mine Safety Program and was modeled after the Florida Mine Safety Program’s Surface Mining Emergency Response Training and Competition.

Demonstrating its commitment to the safety of Alabama’s mining industry, AMA plans to make the emergency response training and mine rescue competition an annual event.

According to a release, AMA’s intentions are for the event to serve as an opportunity to learn life-saving skills and principles of safety leadership.

Winners of the inaugural Alabama Surface Mine First Responder Competition were as follows:

Best Overall Team

• Argos

Field Competition

1st: Argos
2nd: Carmeuse — Grey Team
3rd: Carmeuse — Blue Team

First Aid Competition

1st: Carmeuse — Grey Team
2nd: Carmeuse — Blue Team
3rd: Argos

In a statement, AMA president Patrick Cagle outlined the event’s success and detailed the association’s efforts to provide safety training to its member companies.

“The Alabama Mining Association is excited by the incredible success of the inaugural Alabama Surface Mine First Responder Competition,” said Cagle. “This is a fun and challenging way to prepare for an emergency situation and reinforce the critical importance of practicing safety each and every day at the work site. Alabama’s 21st century mining industry is built on safety and sustainability, and our member companies take tremendous pride in continually staying at the forefront of best practices that keep mining employees, contractors, and communities safe.”

“Moving forward, we believe that this annual event will help develop even more safety leaders throughout Alabama’s mining industry,” added Cagle. “Thank you to everyone who made this event possible and to all of the hardworking men and women across Alabama who display their commitment to mine safety 24/7.”