By Lea Rizzo

May 18, 2016 - Today marks the beginning of the 40th Annual Alabama Mine Rescue Contest, which is being held in Sumiton, Alabama.

Bevill State Community College cohosts the three day mine rescue event, which runs from today through Thursday, with the Alabama Coal Association.

The Mine Safety and Health Administration website describes mine rescue contests as being designed to “sharpen skills and test the knowledge of team members who would be called on to respond to a mine emergency.”

Six teams are competing this year in exercises that will test different team skills, including mine rescue, benchman and pre-shift contests. The mine rescue will involve working through scenarios involving mine disasters, while participants in the benchman contest will be thoroughly checking the mine rescue equipment to ensure it’s ready to go underground. During the pre-shift contest, mine examiners will be judged on how they handle different obstacles in a simulated mine.

One member from each team will take place in the benchman and per-shift contests.

A first aid contest is also being held in which teams compete based on time and skill in first aid.

Events will take place at Bevill’s exhibit hall in Building 1400 and on the football field at the Sumiton Community Center. The mine rescue contests will start at 8 a.m. today and Wednesday.

A start time for Thursday’s pre-shift and benchman contests has not yet been determined.

In addition to two of the state of Alabama rescue teams that are trained at Bevill, teams from Warrior Met Coal, Drummond Company Shoal Creek Mine and Oak Grove Mine will also be competing. 

The 2016 contest will conclude with a luncheon and awards ceremony on Thursday at Bevill’s Sumiton campus cafeteria and auditorium. 

Mine rescue team members practice at Bevill State Community College in Sumiton for the 40th Annual Mine Rescue Contest taking place today through Thursday in Sumiton, Alabama.