ANNUAL AWARDS RECOGNIZE EXCELLENCE IN MINE SAFETY

Mine Rescue and First Aid Competition:

Every year, the Province of British Columbia organizes a competition for mine safety and first aid teams from around the province to compete in realistic tasks designed to test their emergency response and rescue abilities.

The 54th Provincial Mine Rescue and First Aid competition took place June 6 at Britannia Mine near Squamish, B.C.

This year’s competition included six surface teams, four underground teams and six three-person miners’ first aid teams from across the province. Trophies were presented in the following categories:

Three-Person Miners’ First Aid Competition:

Highland Valley Copper, Teck – Three-Person Miners’ First Aid

Highland Valley Copper, Teck – Kathy Lofstrom Memorial (Best Coach for Three-Person First Aid)

Surface Mine Rescue:

Highland Valley Copper, Teck – Maurice Boisse Memorial (Best Bench for Surface Team)

Greenhills Operations, Teck Coal – HVC Highest Non-Aggregate Points

Greenhills Operations, Teck Coal – Overall Surface Mine Rescue Trophy

Underground Mine Rescue:

Chris Crawford, Quinsam Coal Corporation – USWA Mine-Mill Award (Best Underground Coordinator)

Quinsam Coal Corporation – Sullivan Cup (Best First Aid by Underground Team)

Quinsam Coal Corporation – Barry Abbott Memorial (Best Bench for Underground Team)

New Afton, Newgold Inc. – Keith Bracewell Memorial Award (Best Obstacle and Recovery)

Quinsam Coal Corporation – Overall Underground Mine Rescue Trophy

Mine Safety Awards:

The 47th Annual Mine Safety Awards were handed out to 14 mines and quarries that have accumulated 15,000 or more worker or contractor hours, and have had no fatalities between the period of Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2008. Awards were presented in five categories:

Certificate of Achievement – presented to participants with a minimum of 15,000 worker hours and an injury frequency rate of zero. This year’s recipients are:

· Butler Brothers Supplies Ltd. – Butler Brothers Duncan

· Butler Brothers Supplies Ltd. – Keating

· Lehigh Hanson – Steelhead-Skway

· Plateau Construction Ltd. – Harper Ranch Quarry

Stewart/O’Brian Safety Award – presented to operations that worked a minimum of 35,000, but less than 200,000 worker hours, in the competition period and having the lowest injury-frequency rate. This year’s recipients are:

· Allard Contractors Ltd. – Pit D

· CertainTeed Gypsum Canada Inc. – Windermere Mining Operation

· Jack Cewe Ltd. – Jervis Inlet

· Lafarge Canada Inc. – Central Aggregates

· Lafarge Canada Inc. – Coquitlam Sand and Gravel

· Orca Sand & Gravel Ltd.

· Western Canadian Coal Partnership – Willow Creek.

Edward Prior Award – presented to operations that worked a minimum of 200,000, but no more than one million worker hours, in the competition period and having the lowest injury-frequency rate. This year’s recipient is Teck Coal Limited – Line Creek Operations.

John Ash Award – presented to operations that worked a minimum of one million worker hours in the competition period and having the lowest injury-frequency rate. This year’s recipient is Teck Coal Limited – Greenhills Operations.

Small Underground Award – presented to operations that worked a minimum of 20,000, but no more than 240,000 worker hours, in the competition period, one-third of which are underground and having the lowest injury-frequency rate. This year’s recipient is Quinsam Coal Corporation.

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Media contact:	Jake Jacobs Public Affairs Officer Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources 250 952-0628 250 213-6934 cell

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