Lisbon Quarry
10425 Joliet Road
Newark, IL 60451
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Mine Safety takes home 5th
Local mine rescue team nationally ranked
Vulcan Materials Company's mine rescue team awarded at national contest
September 25, 2008 - Vulcan Materials Company Midwest Division's mine rescue team took fifth place at the 2008 Mine Rescue Contest in Reno, Nevada.
Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), the contest is a training activity for mine rescue teams to improve the required skills needed when responding to a mine emergency. The contest also serves as a tool to strengthen communications on mine rescue procedures between mining companies, equipment manufacturers and Federal and State agencies.
A total of 33 teams from across the country participated in four unique mock mining rescue events, including a three day field competition, an apparatus benchman contest, a multi-gas instrument benchman contest and a first-aid contest. Vulcan was one of 14 teams to advance to the final round of the field competition. A written examination was also taken by each participant prior to the competition.
Compared to other mine rescue teams that have worked together for many years, Vulcan Blue is a young team which recently formed in 2006. This was only the fifth contest they have competed in together and marks their highest achievement.
"Our team has worked long and hard to take on emergencies like a mine rescue," said team captain Zach Hershey. "Over the last year, we have spent countless hours preparing and practicing for an emergency. It's a great feeling to be one of the best teams in the country."
The Vulcan team has fortunately not encountered an underground mine emergency, but remains on constant alert should a situation develop.
Though many people associate underground mining with coal, there are numerous limestone mines across the country. Vulcan operates three underground facilities in the Chicagoland areas of Bolingbrook, Bartlett and Lemont. All three of Vulcan's underground operations in the Midwest Division are limestone quarries, which carry significantly less risk than deep coal and metal mines.
In the event of an underground mine emergency, MSHA is the first organization to report on site. MSHA will then quickly assess the situation and determine whether or not to call Vulcan, or any other mine rescue team. Depending on the severity of an emergency, anywhere from one to a dozen teams may be called up to work in a rotation. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources, local police, fire and paramedics would also assist the teams.
Upon entering an underground mine, team members are equipped with a self-contained breathing apparatus which protects rescue workers from smoke, toxic or oxygen-deficient atmospheres. Each member is delegated to a specific duty upon arriving at the scene. The team captain is the first to enter the mine and is immediately followed by a second member who takes gas readings and assists the captain in exploring the mine.
The third team member acts as a transmitter to the remaining team at the fresh air base by communicating back and forth vital information about equipment, hazards and other relevant matters to the rescue effort. The fourth and fifth members are responsible for first-aid and the remaining team members serve as the fresh air base attendants near the mine entrance. They are in charge of reporting information from the team to the joint command center.
"For a team that has only been around for two years, taking fifth place in a national event is a significant achievement," said Midwest Division President Rob Vogel. "We are tremendously proud of the team's hard work and dedication. Vulcan Blue truly represents Vulcan's commitment to keeping our employees, customers and our neighbors safe."
The seven members of the team work at various Vulcan locations in Chicagoland. They are: Nathan Albrecht, Lemont; Kevin Callister, Bolingbrook; Mike Emert, Bartlett; Nick Fetig, Lemont; Zach Hershey, McCook; Jason Hook, Bartlett; Steve Kearns, Bolingbrook.
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