The Mining Emergency Response Competition (MERC) has once again proven to be an incredible showcase of skill, teamwork, and dedication. This year, the event took on a truly global feel, with the inclusion of two international teams highlighting MERC 2024’s theme: “Collaborating on a Global Scale.”

Held over three action-packed days from Nov 29th – Dec1st, MERC 2024 saw 4000+ members of the public and 167 volunteers come together to support 18 teams in a series of high-stakes emergency response scenarios. This event is not just a competition, but a platform where Mining Emergency Response teams refine the life-saving skills that ensure our worksites remain as safe as possible.

 

Congratulations to the Top Teams!

This year’s competition was fierce, and we want to extend our heartfelt congratulations to every team who competed over the weekend. Special congratulations to the top-performing teams for their exceptional efforts:

• 1st Place | Northern Star Global
• 2nd Place | Fortescue Chichester Operations
• 3rd Place | Regis Resources Duketon Gold Mine
• 4th Place | West African Resources Sanbrado
• 5th Place | Anglo Gold Ashanti Tropicana Gold Mine

Special Awards

• Team Spirit | Pt Putra Perkasa Abadi
• Road Crash Scenario | Fortescue Chichester Operations
• Fire Fighting & Breathing Apparatus Scenario | Rio Tinto Supply Chain & Services
• ERT Scenario | Regis Resources Duketon Gold Mine
• IMT Scenario | Northern Star Global
• Confined Space Scenario | Fortescue Chichester Operations
• Vertical Rescue Scenario | Northern Star Global
• First Aid Scenario | Northern Star Global
• HazMat Scenario | West African Resources Sanbrado

Individual Awards

• Overall First Aid | Northern Star Global
• Overall Breathing Apparatus | Northern Star Global
• Overall Team Safety | West African Resources Sanbrado
• Overall Best Medic | Northern Star Global – Sarah Jones
• Overall Best Captain | Northern Star Global – Maritza Potgieter

 

SETS’ Role at MERC 2024

SETS is incredibly proud to continue our longstanding involvement as a sponsor of MERC, now in its 14th year. As always, our role in this event is more than just sponsorship; it’s about helping to provide world-class emergency response training and skill-building opportunities for teams across the mining sector. Our commitment to safety is at the core of everything we do, and we’re honoured to support these brave teams who put their skills to the test in real-world, high-pressure scenarios.

This year, SETS CEO Kevin Boardbent took on the role of Event Manager for the Fire Scenario, a critical part of the competition. Kev, who has been volunteering at MERC since it began, continues to play an integral part in making various MERC events run smoothly.

 

Special Recognition | Volunteers of the Year

We’re also pleased to share that SETS CEO Kevin Boardbent and Fiona Forsyth were both recognised with the Volunteers of the Year award for 2024. Having been involved with MERC from the very beginning, their dedication to the event and the industry has been truly inspiring. Their hard work and commitment to safety and training have had a lasting impact on MERC and the broader mining community, and we couldn’t be more proud of their recognition.

 

Looking Ahead to MERC 2025

Another year of MERC has come and gone, but the lessons learned and the connections made will continue to strengthen the safety standards in the mining industry. We are incredibly proud to be part of this vital event, and we can’t wait to see what MERC 2025 will bring.

Until then, let’s continue working together to make our worksites safer, our emergency response teams stronger, and our communities more supportive.

To learn more about MERC we encourage you to visit the MERC website or check out their Facebook page.