Training Issues For An Training Issues For An Evolving Mining WorkforceEvolving Mining Workforce

Elaine T. Cullen, CMSPElaine T. Cullen, CMSP

Spokane Research LabSpokane Research Lab

NIOSHNIOSH

W estern Stakeholder M eetings

IssuesIssues

Training Training materials materials specific to specific to Metal/Non Metal/Non Metal are Metal are non-non-existent or existent or old.old.

IssuesIssues

The mining The mining workforce is workforce is changingchanging

U.S. Miners are U.S. Miners are getting oldergetting older

80% Turnover80% Turnover

IssuesIssues

50% of new 50% of new trainees wash outtrainees wash out

Younger miners Younger miners like computers like computers and interactive and interactive trainingtraining

Access to high Access to high tech is a problemtech is a problem

IssuesIssues

Who will train new Who will train new miners?miners?

Need to capture Need to capture wisdom and wisdom and knowledge of knowledge of “Expert Miners”“Expert Miners”

Older miners teach Older miners teach culture as well as culture as well as how to do the job.how to do the job.

IssuesIssues Women miners Women miners

are still rare but are still rare but growing in growing in numbers.numbers.

Women are often Women are often operators of operators of large equipment.large equipment.

Women learn Women learn differently than differently than men do.men do.

IssuesIssues

Many new miners Many new miners are Spanish are Spanish speakingspeaking

ESL is a growing ESL is a growing concernconcern

Current ProjectsCurrent Projects

Toolbox Toolbox Training – Training – Sand and Sand and Gravel Gravel Operators Operators

Lani Boldt Project ManagerLani Boldt Project Manager

Current ProjectsCurrent Projects

Tim Orr – Project Manager

Virtual Mine

Current Current ProjectsProjects

Training VideosTraining Videos– Handling Handling

Explosives Explosives (1999)(1999)

Current Current ProjectsProjects

Training VideosTraining Videos– Handling Handling

ExplosivesExplosives– Roof Hazard Roof Hazard

Recognition Recognition (1999)(1999)

Current Current ProjectsProjects

Training VideosTraining Videos– Handling Handling

ExplosivesExplosives– Roof Hazard Roof Hazard

RecognitionRecognition– Installing Installing

Ground Ground Supports (2000)Supports (2000)

““MMiner iner MMike ike SSaves aves

TThe he DDay!”ay!”

CooperatorsCooperators

Lucky Friday Lucky Friday MineMine

Sunshine Sunshine MineMine

Galena MineGalena Mine Meikle MineMeikle Mine K2 MineK2 Mine MSHAMSHA

Starring…Starring…

A NIOSH Presentation

Includes training on…Includes training on…

Haul trucksHaul trucks TrainsTrains SlushersSlushers CagesCages LHDsLHDs Traffic signalsTraffic signals HorseplayHorseplay And more!And more!

Wayne BrennerWayne BrennerSunshine MinerSunshine Miner

d. June 5, 2001

Starring…Don Capparelli

So…So… what do the Experts what do the Experts

have to say?have to say?

Experts have Experts have credibility credibility through…through…

AgeAge SuccessSuccess Street-smartsStreet-smarts ExpertiseExpertise PresencePresence Being a “truth Being a “truth

teller”teller”Pegg - 1999

“Developing learners’ conceptual understanding of why things are done a certain way, and what would happen if they were not, is a key role for the expert.”Billett

In other words…

What will happen if new miners don’t do things the “right” way?

Experts play Experts play many roles…many roles…

MentorMentor LeaderLeader ModelModel CoachCoach TeacherTeacher AdvisorAdvisor CounselorCounselor BuddyBuddy

Pegg - 1999

Effective skill development requires that …”learners are able to observe, participate and be guided by experts within an authentic culture of practice”.Stephen Billett – Centre for Skill

Formation Research and Development, Brisbane

Mining relies on a Master-Apprentice

relationship to train new hands…

The question is:

Is it really possible to “capture” an expert?

Zen And The Art Of Zen And The Art Of Rock boltingRock bolting

Starring Jim Mortensen

Experts share…Experts share… Knowledge about Knowledge about

what’s important.what’s important.

Experts share…Experts share… Knowledge about Knowledge about

what’s important.what’s important. Knowledge about Knowledge about

how to do things.how to do things.

Experts share…Experts share…

Knowledge about Knowledge about what’s important.what’s important.

Knowledge about Knowledge about how to do things.how to do things.

Values and Values and attitudes of the attitudes of the culture…culture…

An Evaluative ReportAn Evaluative ReportSafety Professionals Value…Safety Professionals Value…

QualityQuality CredibilityCredibility ContentContent EffectivenessEffectiveness Engaging NatureEngaging Nature

– RelevanceRelevance– Appropriate lengthAppropriate length– Use of humorUse of humor– Use of “miners” languageUse of “miners” language

Sunshine Mine FireSunshine Mine Fire

May 2, 1972May 2, 1972

91 Miners Lost91 Miners Lost

You Are My SunshineYou Are My Sunshine

Taped Interviews Taped Interviews with Survivorswith Survivors

Historical PhotosHistorical Photos

What happened?What happened? What went wrong?What went wrong? What did we learn?What did we learn?

Seven NIOSH videos Seven NIOSH videos in four years…in four years…

What’s next?What’s next?

Future PlansFuture Plans

Spanish versions Spanish versions of safety training of safety training videos and other videos and other productsproducts

““Staying Alive”Staying Alive”

A Cooperative A Cooperative project with the project with the State of ArizonaState of Arizona

Future PlansFuture Plans

Steve Crosten Steve Crosten in…..in…..

““Timber!”Timber!”

Future PlansFuture Plans

Tips For The Tips For The TrainerTrainer

Future PlansFuture Plans

UG Mining 101UG Mining 101

Future PlansFuture Plans

Surface Slope Surface Slope StabilityStability

In In Summary...Summary...