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The competition takes place May 22-23, and will pit workers from both TANCO and the nearby Atomic Energy of Canada Underground Research Lab (URL) against mine rescue teams from Bissett’s San Gold, Hudson’s Bay Mining & Smelting, and Vale INCO.

“We try to do something interesting every year,” event organizer Barry Simoneau of the Manitoba Mining Association said.

The 2007 competition at the URL used a plane crash scenario for the firefighting portion of the competition. Simoneau has also used a simulated train wreck to test mine rescue teams as well.

The annual event, which began in 1961, is hosted by the Mines Accident Prevention Association of Manitoba, a partner with the Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba (WCB). The competition evaluates a Mine Rescue Team’s ability to respond to fire fighting, first aid and simulated underground emergency scenarios. It also provides the opportunity for teams to interact and learn from one another.

The team from the URL won last year’s mine rescue championship in Flin Flon.

The competition consists of five main components, a technician’s event, firefighting, a written exam, a first aid scenario, and an underground mine emergency.