Reposted from the College of Science.

The importance of safety is difficult to state when things are going well. You’re never going to read a news story about the life that wasn’t lost in an accident or read a statistic about the disasters passively averted. When things are going smoothly, safety measures feel downright mundane, but that’s why they are so important to highlight and celebrate. It means they are working, that tragic stories are being averted and lives are being preserved.

In the realm of mining here at the University of Utah, this takes the form of the Mine Rescue Team, a student-led organization that trains and competes with other teams across the country. In this field that’s especially valuable, as Travis Bach explained, “Most mines, especially underground mines, have rescue teams. There are important procedures; it’s a dangerous environment, so specialists are trained to enter the mine, rescue people, and bring them out to first responders.” Mining incidents happen quickly and require immediate attention, and these specialists ensure that everyone gets to go home.

Despite being on the younger side of mine rescue teams, the U already has incredibly strong performances under its belt, having won the overall competition at the Society of Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration Engineers’ annual conference in February. They’ve been lauded for their stellar communication and teamwork, their ability to seamlessly act and react together in high-stress situations.

The Department of Mining Engineering is relatively small on campus, meaning these members share classes and have become friends. With the support of nearby mines (who often donate equipment for the team to use), the Mining Rescue Team can translate their cohesion into even greater success when the competitions start.

As for what those competitions entail, every aspect of rescue is scrutinized to reflect the severity of lives being on the line. Mass casualty simulations will test the team’s reaction to a major collapse in an underground environment. How do they prioritize injuries? Do they have the first aid skills to do so? How efficiently and safely can they get people out of a mine? Also heavily scrutinized is the equipment, as teams are provided with malfunctioning equipment and tested to see how well they can both find and fix those issues.

The teams’ ability to navigate underground is tested with scavenger hunts in real mines. Rope challenges measure the necessity of creating impromptu harnesses in case of a fall… all while the judges are actively tampering with the environment to mimic an unpredictable crisis. These are incredibly varied competitions, but as Joe Rhoades described, such breadth is a critical aspect of the outing.

“There’s collapsing walls, there’s toxic gas, malfunctioning equipment, fires, every kind of health emergency,” to name a few. It’s an ever-changing environment where everyone has to stay on their toes, and competitions like this are the perfect way to hone those skills.

But the Mine Rescue Team isn’t just for mining and engineering students. The disaster relief focus has drawn members from across the health sciences, and a geologist joined the ranks to get some proper mineral exploration (a career of searching for future mines) experience. Geology & Geophysics major Constance Suave explained that mining engineers and geologists work “hand-in-glove” constantly.

“I’d decided I wanted to know more about what comes after the process of my future career,” she said. “I didn’t know what to expect at first, but I’ve really come to appreciate the industry and the culture around safety. It’s not just mine rescue—staying mindful and staying safe is important for everyone.”

It may be a relatively silent importance, but thanks to teams like this, the message is still carried to the right people. As Mine Rescue Team president Hunter Norris put it, “The saying that ‘Everyone goes home’ has always rung true to me, and it is a goal I will strive for in my career.”

Current students participating in rescue teams like this one at the U ensure that the future mining leaders they’ll become will be informed and motivated by those values of safety throughout their career environments.

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The banner image shows the U’s Mining Rescue Team. From left: Carson Smith, Travis Bach, Joe Rhodes, Hunter Norris, Constance Sauvé, Trey Robison.

• Bianca Lyon associate director of marketing and communications, College of Science
  (801) 587-2999 bianca.lyon@utah.edu