Barry VanSickle continues a life of service as SURF ERT supervisor

Barry VanSickle has spent his career giving back.

His role as the supervisor for the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) Emergency Response Team (ERT) is just the latest chapter in a lifetime of service.

VanSickle joined the army out of high school. “Some of that was selfish—to pay for college,” he said. “But the army teaches you that service is about more than yourself.”

VanSickle built a second career in emergency medical services, alongside his time in the military. “Twenty-three years ago, I became an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) to help serve the community I lived in,” VanSickle said.

His EMT experience landed him a job at a local mine. When SURF added a full-time emergency response team, he was encouraged to apply for a position. “So, I’ve been at SURF since the full-time ERT started. Before this, my whole life has essentially been about volunteering to serve others,” he said.

Those who lead lives of service are often driven by personal experiences. This is true for VanSickle. He lost his father in a mining accident at Homestake in 1970. “That was a life-changing event for me, and it's always in my mind.”

He is thankful that modern safety protocols are very different than 50 years ago. “It’s likely that some things could have been done better back then, that could have changed that outcome,” he said. “Here at SURF, I want to both help make change to avoid accidents and to be able to respond and help if needed.”

He also credits his life of service to his own upbringing.

“We grew up without having lot. Still, my mother was always there for us and for others in our community,” VanSickle said. “She worked in a service type industry, and she helped instill that lifestyle. I think everybody on our ERT team has that same mindset. People who take on these roles aren’t here to make money or be famous. They enjoy giving back, they enjoy the work, they enjoy serving and taking care of others.”

Like many servant leaders, VanSickle most often deflects questions about himself, to focus instead on his team. SURF’s ERT is comprised of 11 full time and 24 part time members—and each person has the skills and training needed for the unique situations required for underground rescue. This means an ability to operate in confined spaces, or in rope rescue situations inside shafts that are thousands of feet deep. This also means completing rescues in environments where oxygen might be limited and a breathing apparatus is required.

Photo by James Walton.
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“We have to train for the worst-case scenarios,” VanSickle said. “This month our training is going to an underground level with breathing apparatus while walking a distance to see how much air we expend. We need to make sure we are physically fit for the job, to make sure our equipment works. We must withstand the conditions, temperatures, or water and mud on parts of the floor, confined spaces in training situations. We train like this so we’re ready if needed.”

While the team must be ready for worst-case situations and VanSickle is proud of the excellent track record at SURF. In fact, for more than two years there have been no injuries at SURF resulting in loss of time at work.

“It’s a very safe place to work and that a good thing,” VanSickle said. “But we are really like any other large industrial environment. We work in a lot of different places here, from the super cleanrooms to some of the oldest underground mine drifts and shafts in North America. We have to know what to expect, and what the potential is. The variety here is part of what keeps us interested.”

VanSickle said he is also proud of the support his team is given at SURF. Sixteen team members are undergoing the full EMT course. “Most of our members were ready to sign up and take this course without pay. But the leadership here at SURF supported making this happen on the clock. It’s a whole lot of training. Kudos to management and kudos to the 16 people taking the class.”

VanSickle noted that stepping-up to serve is just part of the culture of the ERT team at SURF.  He said those who operate in the highest callings of service, where each-others’ lives are at stake, often build a deep comradery.

“When we call on them, they're going to show up, and they're going to put on a pack, and they will go find people underground. And that's what they're here to do,” VanSickle said. “It's unique people who apply here and who work here, and these people take this work seriously. And I'm pretty proud to be part of it. We have an incredible team, and I’m really proud of them.”