Living A Career Dream
Henry Crawford at the 2023 Mining Emergency Response Competition in Perth, Australia.
From childhood, Henry Crawford dreamed of becoming a firefighter. The idea sparked at an early age as he watched how his father was always willing to help people in need; when he saw someone stopped on the side of the road, he was the first to offer assistance. It wasn’t long before the practice rubbed off on his son and Henry started to imagine how he could turn helping others into a career. While attending a job fair in 2011, Henry discovered a path for pursuing that dream that he had never imagined - mining.
Henry began his career in 2011 as a miner at Hecla Greens Creek Mine, the largest producing silver mine in the United States. Shortly after joining he saw the mine rescue team practicing for a mine rescue competition and knew immediately that he wanted to volunteer.
Safety and deploying safe mining practices that minimize risks are critical aspects of the mining industry’s day-to-day operations. Volunteers for mine rescue teams undergo additional training in emergency response and medical care. As part of his training to join the volunteer rescue team at Greens Creek, Henry also had the opportunity to fulfill his childhood dream and complete surface training at a fair station.
“Other safety professionals have to pay to train, but in mining we get paid to complete safety training. It’s very rewarding to work in an atmosphere where you experience the kind of camaraderie that comes from having each other’s backs.”
Some of the members of Pogo Mine’s emergency response team.
A Culture of Safety
Now an underground miner for Northern Star Resources at Pogo Mine, where he has worked for the last five years, Henry is continuing to live and expand his long-time career aspiration by volunteering for Pogo’s mine rescue team, practicing for emergency scenarios once a week while on shift and serving as back-up for Pogo’s dedicated fire team.
“Thankfully we don’t have to respond to emergencies often, but testing and repairing equipment to make sure they are up to standards and running through digital checklists are part of our regular practice,” Henry said. “This preparation, repetition, and hands-on practice as a team are critical so we are ready when emergencies do arise. You know who you are going into battle with.”
Working closely with the other members of the mine rescue and fire teams, Henry’s additional work as a mine rescue volunteer helps ensure that each of the 480 employees on site go home safely at the end of every shift.
Learn, Evolve, Compete - Repeat!
As part of ongoing training, Henry has competed alongside his colleagues in 10 mine rescue competitions across North America – primarily the Central Mine Rescue competition. The events bring together teams from a cooperative of nine mines across Alaska and the Pacific Northwest who respond when any of the group’s members need aid.
While participation in these competitions is not mandatory, Henry sees the value in them as a way to test himself and practice alongside his team for a wide variety of rescue scenarios. Like the safety protocols followed as part of daily work, the repetition of training hours helps each task become second nature.
“You don’t feel as much pressure in a competition scenario or in a real life emergency because you know what to do. It becomes like walking or breathing – your instinct kicks in.”
Equally as important is the ability to practice working alongside other members of the mine rescue team, getting to know how to play to each other’s strengths and trust them to have your back.
“You walk away from these competitions feeling sure of yourself and your team,” Henry said. “You know you can count on each other.”
A Mind-blowing Opportunity
While he wouldn’t have imagined it at the time, the fire training Henry completed early in his career was the key that would open the door to other opportunities, allowing him to take his passion for mine rescue competitions onto the international stage. In 2023, Henry jumped at the chance to travel to Australia to compete in his 11th mine rescue competition as part of NSR’s team at the Mining Emergency Response Competition in Perth.
Only two members of the NSR team had competed alongside each other before and with only one week to train together before the competition, team bonding and learning to trust each other was key.
“It felt like a cultural exchange,” Henry said. “I kept raising my hand in training to ask questions as the Australian terminology was different than what I’m used to, but everyone was really patient and happy to explain differences to me. Their hospitality was off the charts. I didn’t feel like I was far from home at all.”
When it came time to compete alongside each other, Henry felt confident that he and his Australian peers had each other’s backs.
Mine rescue competitors in Perth.
Sharpening Their Skills
From rope rescue techniques in vertical rescue simulations to firefighting and first aid, the MERC program provided the 15 participating teams with challenges designed to sharpen their decision making processes and skills.
“It was more elaborate than any competition I’ve been in before…It was mind-blowing.” Henry said.”
Henry cited the crash course as the most personally challenging event – a simulation in which two patients were trapped inside and underneath a slanted vehicle, with the rescue team racing against the clock.
“The stress you’re under in these timed competition settings does prepare you for real life. You feel less anxious, knowing that you’ve handled a variety of emergency situations before, which helps you to analyze situations quickly and calmly.”
Ultimately the joint Australia-Alaska NSR team placed 6th out of 20 competitors – an excellent placing for a team that had never competed together before.
“When I first got into mine rescue I didn’t have a clue that I would have opportunities like this, to travel and compete across the world,” Henry said. “I would love to participate again and hope to see some of my Australian teammates at future competitions in the U.S.”
Preparing for the Next Challenge
Henry returned to Alaska following the competition and turned his attention to preparing for his next mine rescue challenge, the 2024 CMR competition in Idaho. As the most senior mine rescue volunteer on Pogo Mine’s team, Henry draws from his experiences to encourage newer teammates who are preparing for a competition for the first time and facing the task of perfecting life-saving skills.
“I’ve been doing this for 12 years now and I’m still learning. I tell them, ‘You’re here and you’re volunteering, that in itself is a lot.’”