Sherritt Coal Poplar River Mine (PRM), recently celebrated Mining Week in Saskatchewan, along with other member of the Saskatchewan Mining Association (SMA).
Triangle News talked to Brian Cairns, Mine Manager of PRM. Cairns talked about PRM’s involvement in Saskatchewan Mining Week. “Sherritt Coal participated in a number of ways. We hosted a school tour of our Poplar River Mine and we promoted Mining Week through ads in our local newspapers. We also participated in the Emergency Response Team competitions.”
As well as the local activities, Cairns also reported on SMA activities. “Some Poplar River mine employees hold committee positions within the Association while others are involved by participating in the Emergency Response team competition sponsored by the SMA. The competition is an annual event in which both surface and underground mines compete in a variety of real life scenarios. Our Poplar River mine Emergency Response Team members meet regularly to train in first aid as well as rope rescue, confined space and fire fighting.”
He continued, “The Emergency Response Team is specially trained to rescue and/or administer first aid to our employees should the need arise. We spend time and resources training our team members to ensure we are prepared for an emergency, but hope we never have to use them. Some of our team members are also first responders in their home communities. So having a well trained Emergency Response Team is not only important to us here at the mine site, but it also benefts the surrounding communities as well.”
The Poplar River Mine Emergency Response Team won the Overall trophy for the 2011 competition. Cairns talked about the win. “(Winning) is recognition of the hard work and dedication of our team. The scenarios that our team compete in are tough and the judging is tight. Often there are very few points that separate the top team from the last place team. Our team worked hard this past week end and won first place overall in the surface mines category.
Cairns talked about the theme. “This year’s theme was “Mining: Investing in Saskatchewan’s Growth”. The Poplar River Mine supplies much of the fuel that keeps the electricity flowing in this province. A stable energy supply is an important element in supporting economic growth in Saskatchewan. We are also a large local employer which directly contributes to growth in the communities in this area as well.”
According to Cairns, the coal industry plays a big part in the Canadian mining scene and doesn’t see any major changes at PRM in the near future. “Coal continues to be a very important source of energy in Canada and Saskatchewan. Sherritt Coal is the largest thermal coal producer in the country and Poplar River contributes about ten percent of the company’s total production. As a major supplier to SaskPower, the Poplar River Mine wil continue to be a stable operation for the foreseeable future.”
The Poplar River Mine employees people from several communities in the area and is currently hiring new employees. “We maintain a steady workforce at the mine but we also have to ensure that as employees leave or retire we are able to replace them. We hire replacement workers on an ongoing basis and are currently hiring equipment operators and trades people.”
In the current growth climate being experienced in the province, Sherritt Coal is among many companies struggling to attract trades people. “The economic growth of Saskatchewan has created challenges for all companies who are competing to hire the best people in the trades sector. Mining Week is important to the industry because it creates awareness of the opportunities that exist in our sector.”
Cairns handed out some advice to people looking to find employment with the Poplar River Mine. “The mining industry employs a wide range of workers including engineers, tradespersons, mechanics, operators and administrators. In the trades we are looking for people who hold a Journeyman ticket and for the operators we require a Grade 12 diploma and a class 1A drivers license. Previous experience is always an asset and we train our people on site.”
Cairns said, “The vast majority of our Poplar River Mine employee have been hired from the surrounding communities.” Besides employing many people from the area, Cairns also talked about the contributions the company makes to the local communities. “Our employees are involved in various community organizations, doing such things as coaching minor sports teams and volunteering as fund raisers etc. Sherritt Coal has also supplied heavy equipment to help construct local golf courses, landscape school yards, and maintain landfill sites and our employees have volunteered their time to operate the equipment. We also provide funds to several local organizations each year.”
A SMA news release announced th Overall winners of the 43rd Annual Emergency Response Mine Rescue Skills Competition:
OVERALL
Surface Winner Sherritt Poplar River
Underground Winner Agrium
The Individual Event winners of the 43rd Annual Emergency Response Competition are:
FIRST AID
Surface Winner Cameco Key Lake
Underground Winner PotashCorp Cory
FIRE FIGHTING
Surface Winner Mosaic Belle Plaine
Underground Winner PotashCorp Lanigan
PROFICIENCY
Surface Winner PotashCorp Patience Lake
Underground Winner Cameco McArthur River
PRACTICAL SKILLS
Surface Winner Mosaic Belle Plaine
Underground Winner Cameco McArthur River
SURFACE FIELD
PROBLEM
Surface Winner Sherritt Poplar River
UNDERGROUND MINE PROBLEM
Underground Winner Agrium
SMA said, “The Saskatchewan Mining Association salutes these safety professionals who are a tremendous resource, both to the mines where they work and the communities in which they reside.”
“At the Emergency Response/Mine Rescue Skills Competition Awards Banquet, Cameco Corporation was also presented with the Regional John T. Ryan safety trophy for the best safety performance in the metal mine category in 2010 for its McArthur River Mine. The John T. Ryan Award is a national safety achievement award that symbolizes excellence with respect to the safe production of minerals in Canada.”
trianglenews@sasktel.net
