Registration Deadline Approaching for Florida’s Inaugural
Surface Mining Emergency Response Training and Competition
HAVANA, Fla. — Miners, emergency responders and safety workers have until Feb. 19 to register for the Inaugural Surface Mining Emergency Response Training and Competition hosted by the Florida Mine Safety Program (FMSP) on Feb. 26 – March 1. During the competition, which will be held at the Florida Public Safety Institute, located just northwest of Tallahassee, Fla., emergency response teams will be tested across a wide range of realistic emergency response scenarios.
“We encourage miners, emergency responders and safety workers to sign up for the competition before the registration deadline on Feb. 19,” said FMSP Mining Program Manager Karen Miller, CMSP. “We hope prospective participants will take advantage of this fun and unique opportunity to expand their emergency response skills by engaging in a variety of training courses and demonstrations. Friends and families of competitors – as well as the general public – are also invited to watch the competition and participate in other fun-filled activities throughout the event.”
The event will commence at on Monday, Feb. 26, with free demonstrations on topics of drones, body-worn cameras and medical response to trauma. Various eight-hour training sessions – such as rope rescue awareness, water safety and survival and a first aid refresher – will be offered for a small fee. Attendees also can participate in a blind knot-tying competition and vendor drawings during Vendor Night. The team competition will begin with a Multiple-Choice Exam, followed by a Field Exercise and a First Aid Practical. The competition will come to an end on Thursday, March 1, with a banquet that will include dinner, a team procession and an awards ceremony.
Participating in the competition will not affect the national standing or ranking of teams. Additionally, a non-competitive registration option is now available to those wishing to attend a wide range of activities without participating in the competition portion of the event.
Registration to participate as a team, vendor, or non-competitor is open until Feb. 19 and requires a team fee of $550, a vendor fee of $400 or a non-competitor fee of $150. To register, please visit http://flminesafety.com/competition-registration/.
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The Florida Mine Safety Program (FMSP) aims to educate those who partake in mining operations by assisting mining companies and mining contractors with their health and safety training. For more than 30 years, the program has operated as a federally-funded grant program under the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), whose mission is to prevent death, disease and injuries in the mining industry. This is done through a variety of training courses, conferences and informational seminars offered by FMSP. To learn more, visit www.flminesafety.com.