ESTEVAN — The Mine Rescue Team at Westmoreland Mining LLC's Estevan locations plays an important role throughout the year.
But team members have been particularly busy since May 20, as they have been practising for the upcoming annual Mine Rescue Skills Competition at Prairieland Park in Saskatoon on June 7. They will compete in the surface division.
Travis Olver, who is a training co-ordinator and coach, has been employed at the mines since 2018 and a member of the mine rescue team since 2019. He said the team has 16 members who are involved throughout the year. Nine of them and Olver have been training since May 20 and will continue to do so until June 5. Six members and an alternate will go to provincials.
Jessica Klarholm is the captain and Brandon Schopp is the vice-captain. Other members are Derek Choma, Tyler Ursu, Tanner Weger-Brandow and Matt Mutz. Dale Feser, who was a member of the team previously, is the alternate. It is a fairly experienced team this year, Olver said, as there is just one change from the team that finished second in the province last year.
"We're trying to build off of that and just hone our skills and put them through some more advanced evolutions this year, focusing on confined space, rope rescue, first aid, a mix of them all, and then a surface problem as well that they partake in," said Olver.
Olver joined the mine rescue team because it was an opportunity to make use of some skills that he had.
"I had 20-plus years in the past in emergency service in various roles, and just wanted to upkeep some basic skills and provide support to the people I work with, if the time arose," said Olver, who has worked with fire departments and emergency services in southeast Saskatchewan.
In his role with the team, Olver guides them through scenarios and evolutions to keep up their skills. Olver said the camaraderie and team atmosphere are great.
The team provides an initial response and support in any incident at the mine site. Olver said there is a mixture of personnel in different roles, responsibilities and shifts. At any given time, he said there might be one, two or even six members available that they would need for medical support or response. They try to be able to respond to any situation.
"In turn, we support local emergency services in access on our sites due to some of the conditions that we face on the mine site," said Olver.
The Mine Rescue Skills Competition is an annual wrap-up for Saskatchewan Mining Week, which runs from June 1-7.
