Mosaic’s Belle Plaine team won the Overall-Surface competition and First Aid-Surface event at the Saskatchewan Mining Association’s 53rd Annual Emergency Response/Mine Rescue Skills Competition (ERMRC) on June 3. The Mosaic Belle Plaine team also was the runner-up in the Firefighting-Surface, Practical Skills-Surface, Surface Rope Rescue Skills & Surface Problem events. 

“I am very proud of Mosaic’s Belle Plaine team for their outstanding performance in the Emergency Response/Mine Rescue Skills Competition,” says Kelly Strong, Vice President of Mining -- North America. “Thank you to all the Mosaic teams for your hard work, extensive training, determination, and commitment to ensure the safety of our people every day.”

The competition was held in Saskatoon and hosted teams from mining companies that operate in Saskatchewan. Eighteen teams, ten underground and eight surface teams competed in the ERMRC. The events tested teams’ skills in firefighting, first aid, proficiency skills, practical skills, bench technician, surface rope rescue, and simulated surface and underground mine problems. The ERMRC showcases the skills of employees who are continuously training and updating their skills to ensure they’re prepared for a real-life emergency. 

“It’s as close as we can possibly get to a real event occurring at one of our facilities, and that puts a little bit of pressure on the competitors,” says James Ferstl, Senior Manager of Health and Safety. “It really pushes them to get that training to kick in and be effective.”

The ERMRC was part of Saskatchewan Mining Week and was attended by Minister of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety, Don Morgan, who presented the awards for the Overall Winners.

Learn more about the ERMRC here.