Nominations are open for the Mining Emergency Response Competition, which will test teams from resource companies.

The event also raises money for charity and provides the public with an opportunity to watch how teams respond to different scenarios.

“The experience and knowledge teams receive by participating in such competitions is invaluable,” Mines Department safety boss Simon Ridge said.

“Workers from all the sites that have teams in these competitions can be assured of the priority their companies give to having well-trained rescue teams.

“The commitment to emergency response shown by the teams and companies involved should never be taken for granted.”

“Having skilled mine rescue teams should not be seen as a luxury but as a necessity.”

The competition follows the Chamber of Minerals and Energy underground safety competition, held at the Mount Charlotte underground operation in Kalgoorlie at the end of October.

The DMP supported both events, providing adjudicators and sponsorship.

“The competitions are an important way to gauge the capacity of mine sites to deal with onsite emergencies,” Ridge said.

“It gives emergency response teams a good understanding of what their strengths are and the areas in which they can improve.

“This is vital in ensuring competence across all areas of mine emergency and response.”

The Mining Emergency Response Competition in Perth will be hosted at Langley Park on November 29 and 30.