Page 24 Contd from pg 20 might be on the use and care of the Drager BG4 breathing appara tus While session two might be a review of fre fghting techniques The courses are rotated so all vol unteers from three or four mines in the district can become familiar with each others mine site Along with the mine rescue tech niques the teams are trained in the use of rescue equipment at each mine rescue substation lo cated at the mine T echnici ans are trained in the care and repair of the equipment The District Rescue Ofcer also provides training for the briefng ofcer and management courses so the management group has a general understanding of Ontario mine rescue equipment and pro cedures In addi tion to training the District Mine Rescue Ofce also provides support during an emergency For the most part in an emer gency we respond with additional equipment and are there for tech nical assistance explaine d T aile ferrer On rare occasions the District Mine Rescue Ofcer gets involve d in the rescue operation W e have on rare occasions re sponded underground during an emergency an example would be a large ground failure that lead to 2 fatalities states T aileferrer An ofcer assisted in the recovery be cause the hazards were extreme and needed to be mitigated Another situation involved two Dis trict Mine Rescue ofcers respond ing to reports of a worker pinned under unsupported ground they were able to safely remove the pinned worker without further in jury It s very rare and extreme for a district mine rescue ofcer to re spond directly to the emergency T aileferrer says But if our addi tional training will keep everyone safe and help to return the mine to normal operation then were able to do that at the end of the day were there to help in any way possible but the emergency still belongs the mine operator Within each district mines have signed mutual aid agreements committing their mine rescuers to help out in emergencies at the neighbouring sites should the need arise Staying sharp and being ready is an important part of bein g on a mine rescue team Unlike some jobs that are 9 to 5 mine rescue is a 247 job and we have to be prepared says Shawn Rideout The Chief Ontario Mine Rescue Ofcer Mines are mandated by the On tario Mine Rescue Manual and Occupational Health and Safety requirements to have drills and mock emergency exercises so that mine rescue teams can practice their rescue skills and procedures Photo T immins T ahoe Canada T eam practicing emergency scenereo Staying sharp and being ready Important to a mine rescue team Page 22