MERC 2025: Training, Growth, and a Standout Performance from the Chichester Hub ERT Team

The Mines Emergency Response Competition (MERC) continues to be one of the strongest platforms in Western Australia for showcasing the capability, professionalism, and teamwork of Emergency Response Teams across the mining industry. This year was no exception. The standard was incredibly high, the competition was tight across all events, and every team that stepped onto the field lifted the bar.

For INCOVER Solutions, MERC 2025 marked an important milestone. I had the privilege of training the Chichester Hub Emergency Response Team in the lead-up to the competition, and the development they achieved during the training process was substantial.

Training the Chichester Hub ERT: Hard Work, Consistency, and Growth

From the outset, the Chichester Hub team committed to the training with intensity and purpose. Their objective was not only to perform well at MERC but to genuinely build capability, sharpen decision-making under pressure, and develop the type of operational consistency that mine sites rely on during real-world emergencies.

Over the weeks of preparation, their progress was clear:

• Improved technical execution across all key emergency response skill sets

• Stronger communication and teamwork under stress

• Increased confidence in scenario management

• Better individual readiness translating into stronger team cohesion

Outstanding Support from the ESO and ER Department

A result like this is never achieved in isolation. One of the standout elements in this year’s preparation was the level of support provided by the ESO team and the wider Emergency Response department at the Chichester Hub. Their involvement behind the scenes made a significant difference. From ensuring training resources were available to supporting team members through their development, their contribution played a major role in the team's growth and readiness.

A Tight Competition Across All Events

Across the board, the competition this year was extremely competitive. Every team arrived prepared, and the level of performance across scenarios including fire, rescue, first aid, hazmat, rope, and road crash was impressive.

It was rewarding to see teams from across the mining sector push each other, share knowledge, and walk away stronger than they arrived. MERC has built a reputation for lifting the industry standard, and 2025 reinforced that again.

Congratulations to all the competing teams. The collective capability on display this year was something the industry should be proud of.

Looking Ahead to MERC 2026

The Chichester Hub ERT delivered a strong performance, but what stood out most was their mindset after the competition. The team is already hungry to build on this year’s result and continue refining their skills for the year ahead.

Growth is not a once-a-year objective. It is an ongoing process. This group is already focused on what comes next.