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Emergency Response Is The Function of Mines Rescue.
As a legislated emergency service provider for the NSW coal industry, we are responsible for training and maintaining a competent brigade of rescue personnel.
In the event of an incident at a mine site, we will provide you the best expert advice and supply all the necessary equipment. Coal Mines Technical Services (CMTS) also supports Mines Rescue, by providing critical environmental monitoring technical expertise when rapid, real-time data and analysis is required for Mines Rescue deployment.
We are proud to admit that we assist in ensuring that the industry maintains the very highest possible safety standards.
With 64 permanent full-time staff, including 35 emergency responders, Mines Rescue trains and manages approximately 500 rescue volunteers throughout the state. We provide specialist training across several areas, from emergency and incident response to generic mining inductions. Our trainers and assessors are technical professionals with the first-hand experience in underground and surface mining, as well as extensive experience in emergency response and rescue.
Having expanded its training services beyond the mining industry, Mines Rescue has also assisted and improved safety in the fields of aviation, government, military and marine engineering. To find out more about our courses and state-of-the-art facilities, including world-leading virtual reality technology, please visit our Education and Training page.
Emergency Simulations
Mines Rescue regularly organises, manages and responds to emergency simulations and management reviews, as required by mining industry legislation. This ensures employees maintain current knowledge of all emergency response requirements.
We also conduct five Mines Rescue competitions annually, where the skills of participants are challenged under pressure. We are committed to continuous improvement, and through these events, we are able to identify which skill areas require greater focus.
Memberships and Industry Associations
Mines Rescue believes in the benefits of working together with other expert organisations.
The sharing of knowledge and learnings helps facilitate a process of continuous improvement at Mines Rescue. As such, the organisation is involved in a number of working groups and committees.
- Mines Rescue chairs the following committees: Mines Rescue working group
- Standing Committee on Airborne Contaminants and Occupational Hygiene (SDC) (Is a sub-committee of the Coal Services Board of Directors.). The 2 sub-committees (below), are not currently active but diesel particulate is a standing agenda item at every meeting and as such is discussed at each meeting.
- Noise-Induced Hearing Loss sub-committee
- Airborne Contaminants and Diesel Particulate sub-committee.
Additionally, we are an active member of the International Mines Rescue Body and the inter-agency working group on emergency response and mines rescue.
Mines Rescue regularly works with the following groups:
- Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA)
- PwC’s Skills for Australia Industry Reference Committee
- Coal Competence Board
- Skills Service Organisations
- involvement in and hosting of local, Australian, and international rescue competitions
- involvement in joint alliances with key industry partners for advanced training programs
- involvement in industry forums and conferences to ensure current industry knowledge is maintained.
We also have a representative on the Australian Resuscitation Council to ensure currency in first aid.
Mines Rescue, Gas Detection and Emergency Preparedness
NOTE: The book is not currently available (Under Review)
Mines Rescue, Gas Detection and Emergency Preparedness is the most comprehensive mine emergency manual available internationally.
This manual covers a vast range of subjects, including mining emergency management, rescue equipment, firefighting, gases, gas detection, gas analysis and interpretation, self-escape, aided escape and rescue systems, spontaneous combustion, explosions, outbursts, the effect of heat and humidity on rescuers and inertisation and sealing.
It serves as a key reference material for both the mining industry at an operational level and academics at a theoretical level.
Emergency Preparedness and Mines Rescue Guidelines
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