Six emergency mining rescue teams have worked more than a kilometre underground on Tasmania's west coast over the weekend.
Mt Lyell Mine is the host of this year's Tasmanian Minerals Emergency Response Competition.
Now in its 30th year, the competition pits emergency response teams from mining companies against each other in a controlled setting, simulating emergencies.
Six teams from across the state — 36 people in all — went head-to-head on Saturday, competing in a range of emergency scenarios including rope rescue, fire fighting and underground search and rescue.
Tasmanian Minerals Emergency Response Committee chairman Ben Maynard said the search and rescue element took the teams 1,100 metres underground.
"Our annual competition provides teams with an excellent learning opportunity, and a practical way to test their skills in a simulated emergency situation, with a strong focus on safety," he said.
"The competition also allows a chance for us to test our effectiveness."
The first competition in 1987 was held at Mt Lyell.
Copper Mines of Tasmania spokesman Peter Walker said the competition also aimed to make sure individual teams could work together if necessary.
"Each mine and smelter site in the state has their own emergency response teams, and there is a mutual-aid agreement between these operations that ensures additional skilled assistance and support can be called upon in the event of an extended emergency." he said.
Mt Lyell is in care and maintenance mode.
Three miners have died at Mt Lyell Mine in recent years in two separate incidents.
Miners Alistair Lucas and Craig Gleeson fell to their deaths on December 9 2013, while Michael Welsh was killed in a mud rush on January 2017.
