A representative from an Indiana coal company recently donated equipment to help Southeastern Illinois College's coal-mine and fire-brigade training program.
Terry Phegley, a mine rescue trainer with Sunrise Coal in Terre Haute, recently gave SIC six pieces self-contained breathing apparatus, called SCBA. Phegley said in a news release on SIC's website that the donation was the company's way of showing how happy it has been with the training program.
New SCBA equipment similar to what SIC received can cost $2,000 to $3,000, SIC Fire Training Coordinator Bobby Williams said in the release.
“Though these pieces of equipment are not brand new, parts of them can be used and incorporated with the existing ones we have, which will help with repairs and extend their life,” Williams said in the release. “We are very fortunate and grateful to have the relationship we do with Mr. Terry Phegley and Sunrise Coal.”
SIC trains more than 1,000 miners on mine safety annually, with new workers making up about half that number, the release said. The program also trains about 100 people each year in fire brigade.
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