According to MSHA, the Federal Governing body for mines in the United States, companies are required to have and maintain underground mine rescue capabilities. This means that Intrepid must have a fully-equipped, well trained, and physically fit mine rescue team. Intrepid has had a very dedicated mine rescue team, that typically trains at least once each month. The training revolves around First-Aid, testing/maintaining equipment like Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA), Gas Detectors, and Ventilation Measurement devices. The team also studies and tests their knowledge on all of these subjects. However, one of the most difficult activities to train for and practice is the protocols around exploration of a 
mine that has suffered a fire, cave-in, explosion, or other major disaster. Obviously, these conditions can’t just be created in our mine for the team to train in. We have to use designed scenarios that put our decision making and knowledge to the test, but are built to be performed in an open area like a parking lot, or even inside a large open space. The team must test for smoke/gasses as they enter “the mine”, precisely map all conditions that they encounter (i.e. cave ins, water, evidence of fire, damage, and any miners living or deceased). When living miners are encountered, the team uses their first aid skills and assesses the patient’s injuries and their ability or inability to walk out of the mine. Incapacitated and unconscious miners are properly packaged and placed in a stretcher basket and carried out. These practices are very difficult, because you are essentially pretending to encounter all of these things. MSHA has created competition style events that that test all of these skills. These contest are typically held at numerous regional events around the nation each year. There is no set requirement for companies to attend any of these events, but Intrepid sees the value in sending our team to one or two of these contests each year. The competitive nature of putting your skills, knowledge, and problem-solving up against teams from other mining companies has a great driving effect to create a desire to study, practice, and remain involved. Every other year, there is a National Mine Rescue Competition held in different parts of the country. Teams from companies all over the United States gather to see who is the best of the best in a number of different categories. August 9-11, 2022, the mine rescue team from Intrepid traveled to Lexington, Kentucky for the very purpose. Twenty-two other teams from Metal/Non-Metal mines were in attendance. While there are a few different categories, the most sought after and desired is the Mine Rescue Field Competition, which is a scenario as described above. To begin the day, the team of 7 sat for a test of their knowledge, and did very well which resulted in 6 discounts for their combined score. Next, the team competes in the field scenario and does so as if they are entering a real mine. 5 team members must wear the SCBA breathing apparatus and travel through the problem. Two members remain outside the mine and communicate with the team in the mine and must map everything the team encounters. The team encountered fallen ground, explosives gasses, damaged electrical equipment, numerous victims, and they were required to ventilate the mine with fresh air for the trapped miners, while avoiding blowing the explosives gases over any ignition sources. The team did the problem perfectly with zero discounts and was able to do so in a very speedy time of 75 minutes for the 90 minute designed problem. The maps are then graded for accuracy and content. The maps had discounts of 11 points. So all together the team finished the problem with an amazing 17 discounts. When all the teams competed, the final totals put Intrepid in third place for the field contest. The difference in scoring from 1st place to 3 place was on 13 points. In the combined scoring, which includes First-Aid, and Tech (Gas Instrument and Ventilation), and the Field; Intrepid was able to capture 5th place.
Any time the Intrepid Mine Rescue team is afforded the opportunity to attend these events, we are thrilled to do so. To be able to be recognized for the time and effort on a National stage is absolutely incredible. The teams that competed in Kentucky are the best of the best, there is no room for luck at this level of competition. Here are the names of your co-workers that make up the Intrepid Mine Rescue Team…
Captain- Josh Nichols First-Aid Team Tech Team Breathing Apparatus Benchman
Gas Man- Josh Hedrick Steve Grayson Josh Nichols- Ventilation Mike Runner
Map Man- Nick Neumann Nick Neumann Sam Chavez- Gas Detectors
First-Aid- Steve Grayson Robby Harris
Co-Captain- Robby Harris
Fresh Air Base- Mike Runner
Command Center- Sam Chavez
Alternate- Shane Hall
Alternate- Sam Biscaino
Team Trainers- Johnny Rodriguez/Mike Runner
