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MINE RESCUE COMPETITION IS BACK!
SATURDAY, JUNE 11 IN YELLOWKNIFe
Have you ever wanted to witness skilled mine rescue teams showcase their techniques and face simulations of real challenges miners face every day? If you are in Yellowknife on Saturday, June 11th, be sure to join us at the 59th Annual Mine Rescue Competition, taking place at the Multiplex/Fieldhouse parking lot from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
This family-friendly event gives spectators a chance to watch teams from across the Northwest Territories and Nunavut demonstrate their mine safety techniques in various skill-testing competitions. This year, six teams from five mines will compete for the Overall Surface and Overall Underground Trophies:
Surface teams
- Ekati Diamond Mine - Dominion Diamond Corporation
- Gahcho Kué Diamond Mine - De Beers Canada Inc.
- Meadowbank Gold Mine - Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd.
Underground teams
- Diavik Diamond Mine - Rio Tinto
- Ekati Diamond Mine - Dominion Diamond Corporation
- Hope Bay Gold Mine - TMAC Resources Inc.
The NWT & Nunavut Chamber of Mines will also host their annual Miner's Picnic, with a free BBQ and refreshments for all.
WHY ARE MINE RESCUE COMPETITIONS IMPORTANT?
In addition to fostering friendly competition, mine rescue competitions are critical as mines can come together to evaluate and compare the effectiveness and quality of their mine rescue training programs. Mine rescue competitions allow teams to learn from one another, share best practices and new industry equipment, and over time help keep workers safe. If disaster strikes, a skilled mine rescue team is everyone's best chance for safety and survival.
A BRIEF HISTORY ON MINE RESCUE
Organized mine rescue has been around for almost as long as 20th century mines have been operational. In the History of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut Mine Rescue Program, Yellowknife historian Ryan Silke shared that the first mine rescue training station was opened in England by W.E. Garforth in 1904, and in Canada by Dominion Coal Company in 1907 or 1908 - in Sydney, Nova Scotia.
In the North, despite several mining accidents and reported deaths in the early years, a formal mine rescue program was not started until after World War II, when the NWT Safety Council was created in 1947. It was this Safety Council that purchased the first mine rescue gear and drafted the first NWT Mine Safety Act in 1947-48, standardizing all operations for northern mines.
WHEN DID MINE RESCUE COMPETITIONS START?
The NWT Safety Council did not waste any time. By 1950, they had succeeded in completing the first mine rescue station in Yellowknife. By 1951, classes for mine rescue and first aid training were up and running, and open to all mine employees. However, it was not until 1955 that the mines began to organize teams for first aid competitions. These first aid competitions eventually merged with mine rescue competitions, leading to the first official mine rescue competition in 1957.
Since Giant Gold Mine's victory at the first mine rescue competition in 1957, mines from all over the North have sent teams to compete at each year's mine rescue competition. Join us for the 59th year on Saturday, June 11th from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM to discover who will take home the trophies for 2016!
For more information on the upcoming event, visit our Mine Rescue Competition page. We hope to see you there.
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OHS RegulationS in NunavuT
The new Occupational Health and Safety Regulations are now law in Nunavut.
Remember that knowing and understanding these new Regulations are to your benefit, whether your business is large or small. These Regulations apply to all businesses operating in Nunavut, with the exception of those that are federally regulated, so it's not just your responsibility - it's the law. We are always here to help you understand what these changes mean for you. If you require any additional information, contact us at OHSRegs@wscc.nu.ca. |
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NAOSH: THANK YOU
Thank you to everyone who participated in and supported our North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week events across the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. We're happy to announce it was a huge success!
In Yellowknife, over 15 different employers signed up for WSCC Safety Coffee Breaks. Armed with coffee and treats, WSCC Safety Officers gave presentations on Fall Arrest; the Internal Responsibility System; Slips, Trips, and Falls; Return to Work; and Ergonomics. Overall, we were able to directly speak to over 400 employees in one week. Thank you for allowing us to bring safety to your workplace! Workers and employers in Inuvik were treated to a special safety-focused breakfast. The event featured informative safety discussions and information about the new Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Regulations. Our Iqaluit office hosted a BBQ event at the Francophone Centre to celebrate NAOSH! Prizes were awarded, safety information was shared, and lots of fun was had by all who attended and learned about the new OHS Regulations. Thank you to the Northern Territories Federation of Labour (NTFL) who supported us all week with food and drinks at every one of these events.
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NEW INUKTITUT WEBSITE
The WSCC believes in the official language requirements in our territories, and strives to support Inuit culture and language wherever we can. To better serve your needs, an Inuktitut version of our website was launched earlier this year. The Inuktitut version of our website is accessible via wscc.nu.ca or wscc.nt.ca. Click on the Inuktitut language toggle located in the upper right-hand corner; you'll find it next to the English and French toggles. Otherwise, simply type www.wscc.nu.ca/iu into your browser.
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NOTICE: CHANGE OF ADDRESS
OUR INUVIK OFFICE HAS MOVED!
To provide better services to stakeholders, the WSCC Inuvik office has a new location. Please take note of our new Inuvik address:
The Blackstone Building, Unit 87
85 Kingmingya Road
Inuvik, NT X0E 0T0 Our contact numbers have not changed; we are here to answer any questions you have. Please call us at 867-678-2301 or 867-678-2311. To report a serious workplace injury or incident, please continue to call our toll-free number at 1-800-661-0792.
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QUESTIONS?
This information will soon be available in Inuktitut and Inuinnaqtun on our website.
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wscc.nt.ca / 1.800.661.0792 * wscc.nu.ca / 1.877.404.4407
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