Haile Gold Mine’s Mine Emergency Response Team (MERT) has earned national recognition for their skills and exceptional service provided to a family in need last year.
While traveling to the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) National Mine Rescue competition in Kentucky, USA in August 2024, our team stopped to assist a family involved in a serious accident on the interstate. They provided first aid and support while waiting for the ambulance to arrive.
Their selfless actions were recognized with a rare and prestigious award from the Joseph A. Holmes Foundation, an organization dedicated to promoting safety in mining.
Matt Warner, Asset President at Haile Gold Mine, said our team lives our Values every day, whether they’re completing rigorous training exercises or responding when it matters most.
“Haile’s MERT didn’t hesitate to step in when they saw a family in need, applying their expertise outside of the mine site without a second thought. That kind of selflessness is rare, and it’s why they were honoured with this prestigious award. The team’s actions is a direct representation of our company Value of Care, reminding us all that safety isn’t just a workplace responsibility — it’s a way of life,” said Matt.
Once at the competition, our team earned the First Novice Team Award. The competition featured 89 teams competing to test their skills under pressure, and navigated complex scenarios and solved critical problems in simulated mine emergency conditions.
In a powerful roundtable discussion with Safety Manager Craig Stephens, Underground Manager Jake Largent, and Asset President Matt Warner, the team recounts the dramatic rescue of a family in distress and the rare national honor they received as a result. Watch the video below to hear to hear their heroic story in their own words:
