After two months trapped half-a-kilometre underground, 33 South American miners are expected to start their ascent as early as Tuesday night.
The men, who haven't seen the light of day since August 5th, will take a 15-minute, 2,000 foot trip in what is considered the largest-scale rescue effort in history.
Oxygen masks, heart monitors, temperature gauges and open phone lines will be with them as they head for the surface. A camera will also record their journey as they squeeze through a space measure 21" in diameter – an area not much bigger than the typical basketball hoop.
Engineers have used 300 feet of steel casing to secure the rescue shaft, hoping to protect the workers from falling debris.
"We are pretty sure that the cage will behave properly," said Chile's Mine Minister, Laurence Golborne.
If something does go wrong, officials say an escape system is in place that will allow each miner to separate the capsule and lower back down.
All that remains before the rescue can start is the installation of a huge winch that will bring the capsule to the surface. CTV News is told workers have poured the concrete and are waiting for it to dry.
Once officials are confident the system works, the plan is to rescue the most vulnerable men first, pulling out the healthiest men last.
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Local expresses far-reaching concerns
Chilean-born Ricardo Acuna, who lives in Edmonton, says the incident speaks to widespread safety issues in his home country. He worries the spotlight will go out after the rescue is complete and media moves out.
"People are asking questions about the money," he said.
"A country that is in the process of laying off civil servants - why all of a sudden they have the money to do this?"
Mining is the largest industry in Chile. Most sites – including the one where workers are currently trapped – are privately-run.
Acuna believes there aren't enough systems in place to make sure sites are safe.
He says the mine in question was closed in 2006 after a death occurred and was reopened a year later without inspection.
It's his hope the international attention garnered by this latest incident will be enough to trigger a safety overhaul.
With Files from Kevin Armstrong
