ST. LOUIS, MO (March 27, 2024) — The Doe Run Company’s (Doe Run) Maroon mine rescue team was awarded two first place awards and two third-place awards at the 2024 Tennessee Southeast Regional mine rescue contest in Sevierville, TN. The team competed against 26 coal and metal/non-metal mine rescue teams to earn first place in Team Tech and Team Trainer competitions. The Maroon team also took home 3rd place in the two-day mine rescue field problem competition and were awarded third place overall in the grand champion category which includes results for field, tech and first aid, combined.

The competition consisted of two days of separate Mine Rescue Field problems including: simulating underground emergency situations, a first aid competition with a CPR and first-responder scenario, a breathing apparatus Benchman contest, and a team technician competition to test technical troubleshooting of mine rescue equipment and calculate ventilation readings. Each event also included a written test to assess the team’s knowledge. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) judged the event.

“We have a great group of teammates all dedicated to honing their skills and being ready to serve in the event of an underground mine fire or other emergency situation,” said Andrew Hampton, captain of Doe Run’s Maroon team and instrument tech at Doe Run’s Fletcher Mine and Mill. “These competitions serve as a way for us to measure our skills against some of the best teams in the country and make sure we are staying current with all practices. We appreciate the opportunity Doe Run provides so that we can regularly test our skills.”

Doe Run’s mine rescue teams train on a voluntary basis and compete in mine rescue competitions annually. The teams consistently place near or at the top at regional and national mine rescue competitions.

“We hope we never have to use the skills of these highly-trained miners in a mine rescue scenario,” said Kevin James, environmental health and safety manager at Doe Run. “And we are grateful for the training and testing they undergo to be prepared at a moment’s notice.”

Doe Run’s focus on safety is evident beyond mine rescue. Several sites have gone years without a lost-time accident, including Sweetwater Mill reaching 27 consecutive years with no lost-time accidents; Brushy Creek Mill with 17 years; and Buick Mill with 12 years. In addition, the Sweetwater Mine surface team has reached 19 years with no lost-time accidents.

About The Doe Run Company

Based in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, The Doe Run Company is a privately held natural resources company and a global provider of lead, copper and zinc concentrates. Dedicated to environmentally responsible mineral and metal production, Doe Run operates one of the world’s largest, single-site lead recycling centers, located in Boss, Missouri, and mines from one of the world’s largest lead mining districts, also in Missouri. The Doe Run Company and its subsidiaries deliver products and services necessary to provide power, protection and convenience. Doe Run has operations in Missouri, Washington and Arizona. For more information, visit www.doerun.com.

L to R. Front row kneeling: Luke Davis (Benchman) and Brandon “Buck” Roderman (first-aid).
Back row: Andrew Hampton (Team Captain and Team Tech), Michael Snyder (first-aid), Jarred Tackett (first-aid), Richie Brewer, Ethan Kerr, Jake Piatt (Team Tech), and Steve Setzer (Team Trainer).