Page 75 prehensive underground mining health safety and prevention re view and identifed the need for implementing a ftness standard for mine rescue volunteers Canada at the present time does not require a ftness standard Dr Dorman s study supports the Min istry of Labour s recommendations for setting a ftness standard how ever setting a ftness training poli cy should also be a priority for gov ernment regulators and industry ofcials so that the industry does not lose their most experienced rescuers The immediate benefts of im proved ftness will be seen in mine rescue workers but because these workers come from mining companies across the province a coordinated ftness program could trickle throughout the workplace so that in the long run the compa nies will have healthier workers as well Dorman says Based on the study carried out by the Centre for Research in Occu pational Safety and Health OMR has modifed its training curricu lum The results have enabled OMR to modify our training curriculum to include a focus on the topic as well as spin of a project through our industrydriven T echnical Advi sory Committee T AC to establish pre post mine rescue operations physical assessments of volun teers at underground mine sites says T ed Hanley V P o f O n t a r i o Mine Rescue Dr Dorman also believes that to protect the health of the vol unteers they should be outftted with wearable technology and be monitored through out a rescue or training simulation to safe guard their health The volunteers should be monitored and treated for heat strain after every rescue and training simulation A recov ery program should be designed for all the members of the rescue team Beyond the mine rescue applications wearable technology also will beneft workers in high heat and stress industries Fitness training should be instituted for volunteer mine rescuers Page 73