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Goldfields Mine Emergency Response Competitions

The Goldfields Mine Emergency Rescue Competition started in the Goldfields in 1903, with regular competitions taking place from 1911.

The competitions play an integral part in mine site emergency training, offering competing teams the opportunity to test and hone their emergency response skills through simulated emergency situations while sharing their experience and knowledge with fellow participants.

CME and the Mine Emergency Rescue Competition Committee host two mine competitions each year, the Surface Mine Emergency Rescue Competition (SMERC) in April/May and the Underground Mine Emergency Rescue Competition (UMERC) in November.

Teams compete in multiple events, including:

  • Firefighting (SMERC)
  • Vehicle Extrication (SMERC)
  • Search and Rescue (UMERC)
  • Breathing Apparatus Skills (UMERC)
  • Theory
  • Team Skills
  • Rope Rescue
  • Overall First Aid
  • Incident Management

The competitions attract 10-15 competing teams from the Goldfields region, more than 40 local sponsors, and more than 100 industry volunteers!

Learn more about the competition from former SMERC competitor Victoria Putter here.

Follow our MERC Facebook Page here.

Follow our MERC LinkedIn Page here.

For competition enquiries please contact Karlee on merc@cmewa.com.

Underground Mining Emergency Response Competition Winners
  • Best team – 1st place – Evolution
  • Best team – 2nd place – Northern Star Resources – Kalgoorlie Operations
  • Best team –3rd place - Anglo Gold Ashanti– Tropicana
  • Best New Team – Evolution
  • Best Captain – Nicholas Winner (Evolution)
  • Best New Captain –Nicholas Winner (Evolution)
  • Search & Rescue – Evolution
  • Rope Rescue – Northern Star Resources – Kalgoorlie Operations
  • First Aid –Evolution
  • Fire Fighting – Evolution
  • Theory –Norton Goldfields
  • Team Skills – Evolution
  • Overall First Aid – Anglo Gold Ashanti – Tropicana
  • Breathing Apparatus Skills – Northern Star Resources – KCGM
  • Team Safety – Northern Star Resources – Kalgoorlie Operations
  • Incident Management Richard Mackiewicz – Anglo Gold Ashanti – Tropicana
  • Team Overall BA Skills– Evolution
  • Theory Individual – Cameron Brown – Northern Star Resources – KCGM
  • Chief Adjudicators Award – Goldfields – Jess Bennett

Photos from previous Mining Emergency Response Competitions

The competitions attract 10-15 competing teams from the Goldfields region, more than 40 local sponsors (listed below), and more than 100 industry volunteers.

Awards NightNorthern Star and Evolution Mining
Competition MomentoOrica
Welcoming EveningOff Road Trucks Australia
Competition Shirt- FRONTNorthern Star
Competition Shirt- SLEEVEHudson Pristine Engineering
Competition Shirt- SLEEVEOperational Geotechs
Competition Stubby HolderFFRE
YearbookSt Barbara Leonora
Competition Cap Core HS
Best team – FIRST PLACEGastech
Best Team – SECOND PLACEPWR
Best Team – THIRD PLACEInterfire Agencies
Best Team – BEST NEW TEAMFRSA
Best Team – TEAM SAFETYDMIRS
Best Team – OVERALL BA SKILLSDraeger
Best Team – OVERALL FIRST AIDRed Earth Health
Event – BREATHING APPARATUSISH24
Event – FIRE FIGHTINGMinetech
Event – FIRST AIDMed Response and Trauma Sim
Event – ROPE RESCUEArcher Access
Event – SEARCH & RESCUEWEST rescue
Event – INCIDENT MANAGEMENTAnsell
Event – THEORYTasman Safety and Training Services
Event – TEAM SKILLSGold Fields
Individuals – BEST CAPTAINBaseline Group
Individuals – BEST NEW CAPTAINSETS Enterprises
Individuals – BEST SCENARIOH L Geospacial
Individuals – CHIEF ADJUDICATORMurchison Mining
Individuals – THEORYAustralasian Response Group
In Kind SponsorsMinetech
In Kind SponsorsGoldfields Physio
In Kind Sponsors BOC
In Kind SponsorsFire Suppression Australia
In Kind SponsorsindustryFX
In Kind SponsorsRemoteMS
In Kind SponsorsAustralasian Response Group
In Kind SponsorsMineARC
In Kind SponsorsWestern Pathology
In Kind SponsorsFRSA
In Kind SponsorsEmyjor