Emergency response competition

Langley Park in Perth will host emergency response teams from a range of mining operations across Western Australia to showcase their skills at the third annual Mining Emergency Response Competition (MERC) on 21 and 22 September.

The competition aims to improve the scope of learning through basic skills training and exposure to realistic scenarios performed under pressure. Teams are made up of a combination of volunteer emergency response members and full-time emergency service officers. They are assessed on a range of emergency and rescue disciplines including first aid, hazchem, vehicle extrication, confined space, rope rescue, firefighting and emergency response team readiness.

“Mines rescue is particularly dangerous work with rescue crews usually made up of volunteers who risk their own lives to save their fellow workers,” said Sue Steele, Committee Member of MERC. “Due to the remote location of many mine sites, the site-based emergency response volunteers provide immediate assistance in the case of an incident.”

There are many mines sites that have mutual aid agreements with their local shire. Some of the incidents that they attend are outside the mine perimeter as they assist the local community in emergency situations such as road accidents, medical emergencies, fires, floods and much more.

MERC 2012 saw over 300 participants take part in the two-day event where teams can test their capabilities against some of the best in WA. This competition showcases the skills involved to ensure safe workplaces and communities around Australia in the case of an emergency.

“Now that we are in our third year, it’s great to see more people participating and attending the event, recognising the importance of emergency services in mining. These emergency response teams put their lives in danger to save others, they need to be acknowledged,” added Steele.

All money raised from the event will be donated to MERC’s charity of choice - Miners’ Promise, which is a charitable organisation established to assist families who have suffered the loss or disability of a family member involved in the resources sector. Last year over $50,000 was raised, bringing the total donation to date to over $95,000.

“We are truly grateful for the money donated from MERC. From these funds we are able to develop and improve support networks for families and partners who have suffered a loss or disability following a workplace fatality,” said Helen Fitzroy, committee member of Miners’ Promise.

“This event shows possible traumatic scenarios emergency response teams might face. It can be a confronting experience but it demonstrates the importance of a safe work environment and having a highly skilled rescue team nearby when accidents do occur,” added Fitzroy.

On Friday 13 September, the Perth CBD will get its chance to witness firsthand the skills of emergency response teams as a mock scenario will be taking place in Forrest Chase with Nathan Morris from Nova’s Breakfast Program taking up the role as the ‘casualty’.

MERC provides the opportunity for mining families and the general public to get an insight into how these teams work in real-life emergency situations.

What: Mining Emergency Response Competition (MERC)

Where: Langley Park, Perth

When: 21 and 22 September

There will be a range of free activities for children at the event, for further information visit www.themerc.com.au.