NOTICE
TO ALL PARTICIPANTS AND ATTENDEES
OF THE INTERNATIONAL MINES RESCUE COMPETITION
AT THE NATIONAL MINE HEALTH AND SAFETY ACADEMY
IN BEAVER, WEST VIRGINIA

If Raleigh County, in which the National Mine Health and Safety Academy is located, is experiencing a HIGH Covid Transmission Rate at the time the International Mines Rescue Competition is being held, the following precautions will be in place and must be complied with.

• Temperature will be taken of each person entering the National Mine Health and Safety Academy grounds.
• A Mask or Face Covering must be worn in ALL indoor spaces.
• Social Distancing must be kept in ALL indoor spaces

Example Score Sheets

The example score sheets linked below (.pdf) are provided for your reference. Please contact info@imrc2020.com with any questions.

• 2022 Updated Team Challenge Score Sheet
• Example 2022 IMRC Fire Fighting Score sheet
• Example 2022 Updated 2020 IMRC Biomarine BioPak 240R Testing Score Sheet
• EXAMPLE 2022 Updated Air Lift Bag Score Sheet
• Example 2022 Updated Anemometer Score Sheet
• Example 2022 Updated Gas Detector Score Sheet
• EXAMPLE 2022 Updated IMRC 2020 BG 4 Technican Score Sheets
• Example 2022 Updated Magnehelic Score Sheet
• Example 2022 Updated Smoke Tube Score Sheet
• Example Mine Rescue Score Sheets
• Example of 2022 IMRC First Aid Score Sheets as of 7-18
• Exmple Rope Rescue Scenario Score Sheet
• Example Rope Rescue Total Score Sheet
• Example Theory Assessment Score Sheet

COVID Guidance

As of June 16, 2022, "fully vaccinated" means that you can travel to the United States and Wwest Virginia two full weeks after your final dose of your 2-dose Moderna or Pfizer vaccine. You are then considered "fully vaccinated".  

You are also considered "fully vaccinated" for travel to the United States after you have the one-dose Johnson and Johnson vaccine and wait 2 weeks after that dose. We prefer for all participants to get booster shots when eligible and stay "up to date" with vaccinations. However, this is not mandatory.

Please refer to the CDC website for updates as they become available.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/international-travel-during-covid19.html

We will update this guidance as new information becomes available.

Update to First Aid Supplies Provided by the IMRC for the First Aid Simulation

The 2020 IMRC Rules state that the IMRC will provide 6 Pairs of Examination Gloves for the First Aid Simulation.

To ensure the Health and Safety of ALL individuals involved in the First Aid Simulation during the 2020 IMRC, the decision has been made that the IMRC will provide as many pairs of examinations gloves as a Team may require to complete the First Aid Simulation.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING THE TEAM CHALLENGE SEGMENT OF THE MINE RESCUE SKILLS SEGMENT OF THE COMPETITION

1) Log Sawing Challenge
EACH Team member of the six (6) person team will:

• Saw a log in half with a handsaw

While in the process of sawing the log the Team Member Sawing the log WILL NOT place their “Free” hand on the log. Contest Officials will secure the log against movement and will stop the Team Member if they place their “Free” hand on the log. On the first occurrence the Contest Officials will warn the Team Member. If the Team Member places their “free” hand on the log again, Contest Officials will stop them and 1 minute will be added to the working time.

2) Carry Challenge
EACH Team member will:

• Carry (2) forty-one (41 lbs) pound items (Dragersorb Kegs) for a distance of fifty (50) feet and
• Return to the starting point while carrying the items

3) Fire Hose lay out Challenge
EACH Team Member will:

• Roll out two (2) sections of fire hose from the designated starting point
• Connect the two sections of fire hose
• Un-connect and reroll the fire hose
• Return the fire hose to the starting point

4) Sledge Hammer Challenge
EACH Team Member will:

• Use a sixteen (12) pound sledge hammer to move an 8 inch wide by 8 inch thick by 4 foot long log a distance of 4 feet.

Security of the Mine Rescue and First Aid Simulations “Live Feed” Locations

During the days of competition during the International Mines Rescue Competition the Mine Rescue Simulation and the First Aid Simulation will be “live fed” to the Auditorium and Classroom G-214 at the National Mine Health & Safety Academy. This is due to the limited access of those two competitions.

The Mine Rescue Simulation will be live fed to the Auditorium and the First Aid Simulation will be live fed to Classroom G-214.

The ensure the integrity and lessen the possibly of any information about the simulations being given to Teams that have not performed those simulations. Only persons associated with the Teams that are currently performing those simulations will be allowed into these areas. Contest Officials and other approved persons will be granted access to those areas.

All persons at the International Mines Rescue Competition will be issued identification badges upon registration and the badges MUST be worn at ALL times. Contest Personnel will be stationed at both locations of the Live Feed and will check the Badges of those wishing to enter those areas. Persons without badges or appropriate permission will not allowed access to those areas.

Isolation of Competing Teams during the International Mines Rescue Competition

During the days of competition during the International Mines Rescue Competition there will be NO CENTRALIZED Isolation of the competing Teams. All competing Teams shall remain at their Lodging Location until their assigned time(s) to report to their scheduled simulation. The assigned simulations and times will be given to the Teams at the time of registration.

Teams will be transported to the Competition Sites and returned to their lodging locations by the IMRC.

ALL Team Members, Interpreters and associated persons will be given identification badges at the time of registration. The badges MUST be worn at ALL times when at the competition sites. Persons without badges will not be allowed at the competition sites.

To enable the IMRC to provide for the personal health and safety of all individuals involved in the competitions during the International Mines Rescue Competition, anyone handling equipment such as SCBA’s during the Technician Competition and other equipment such as hand-held radios and gas detecting equipment, etc. will be required to wear disposable gloves. This includes all Contestants as well as Judges and other Competition Officials

The gloves will be provided by the IMRC and disposal areas will be available at all competition sites. Shared equipment such as SCBA’s, mannequins, etc. will be disinfected after use.

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A PDF version of this update as well as other documents and rules related to the IMRC are available on the Rules page.

The following changes have been made to Page 5 of the International First Aid Rules:

General:

The reference material being used to develop the scoresheets are as follows;

Emergency Medical Responder (First on Scene) 11th Edition Le Baudour Bergeron Workbook for Medical Responder (First on  Scene) 11th Edition Le Baudour Bergeron Basic Life Support, American Heart Association 2020 Basic Life Support Provider Manual (for copies https://shopcpr.heart.org/bls-provider-manual) All participating teams should use this reference material to prepare for the first aid competition. The minimum level of first aid training expected will be First Aid Training that is required by the jurisdiction that a Team is from or international equivalent.

Transparency and Fairness:

Teams that are trained by first aid providers other than Emergency Medical Responder (First on Scene) 11th Edition will not be at a disadvantage. With the goal of transparency and fairness Emergency Medical Responder (First on Scene) 11th Edition and American Heart Association Instructors are assisting in the development of the scenario. The treatment of all injuries will be reviewed by a medical professional.

Good News!

The MSHA Academy in Beckley, WV is the venue for most of the IMRC competition events. MSHA has informed us that the Academy will re-open fully in May 2022. We had been waiting to hear from MSHA regarding the re-opening and we now have the green light to proceed with the IMRC.

All teams that have submitted applications or registrations should update their information and send their registration fees (if you have not done so already) as directed on the registration forms which are located on the competition website. Judges should also update their registration forms as needed. Similarly, vendors and observers should update their registration forms and submit fees as indicated. If you or your company wishes to be a sponsor, please contact Jeff Kravitz: jeffkrav@msn.com.          

Volunteers should contact (Mack Wright: wright.mack@dol.gov or Link Selfe: selfe.lincoln@dol.gov) to get on the Volunteer list.

Thank you,
Jeff Kravitz
President, Holmes Mine Rescue Association

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the 2020 IMRC Mine Rescue Skills Competitors will be provided with 
Industrial Scientific MX-6 Multi-Gas Detector(s) in lieu of the previously listed Drager X-am 8000 Gas Testing Proficiency. Please review the PDF linked below for additional information about this important update.

2022 Gas Detector Update.pdf

Team Challenge Score Sheets

Updated 2020 IMRC Judge's Preliminary Information

2020 IMRC Training Questionnaire

Originally posted March 3, 2020.

The IMRC will take place September 9-16, 2022

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we have decided to postpone the IMRC 2020 competition until September 2022. We will post additional details as they become available.

Several registration and application forms have been updated on the 2020 International Mine Rescue Competition website to reflect the new competition date and submission deadlines. The Team Orientation Schedule has also been updated.

Visit the Competition Rules page to access the updated content and, as always, contact us at info@imrc2020.com with any questions.

We look forward to seeing you in April 2021!

Unfortunately, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we have decided to postpone the IMRC 2020 competition until next year.  We will post details as soon as they become available.

• U.S. and International Teams can chose to use either a BG 4 or a Biomarine 240R.
• Either apparatus (BG 4 or 240R) will be provided for U.S. and International Teams.
• The Teams must designate which apparatus they desire to use on their registration form.

The National Mine Health and Safety Acadamy in Beaver, WV, USA will host the next International Mines Rescue Competition.

Details have yet to be determined, but the twelfth biennial competition, which has the support of government, industry, and several international mining companies operating in the United States, will be held in September 2020.

The IMRB is in the process of finalizing dates, securing necessary venues and preparing an information package – website, newsletter and registration material - for the event. Additional information will be released in late 2019.