skip navigational links http://www.dol.gov www.msha.gov United States Department of Labor
A to Z Index | Find It! in DOL |            [skip navigational links]     Search MSHA's Website   Search MSHA
 
Mine Type:  All mines, surface and underground Category:  Communications and Training
Mine Safety and Health Administration
MSHA's Accident Prevention Program
Miner's Tips

The Magic of Mentoring
Printer Friendly Version 		Safety Something YOU can live with!


Alfredo Paredes II of Temecula, California shares valued memories of being mentored:

Day in and day out we tram our drills to new locations and nothing ever happens. Just about the time we forget we are operating a piece of equipment with no suspension and not driving our trucks, it happens: The Magic Of Mentoring
  • You dump into a mud hole that wasn't there yesterday,
  • one of your tracks goes over a rock in the road you did not see, or
  • you are going up a steep incline and your tracks lose traction and you slide sideways.
You get that feeling of loss of control and your heart starts to race. For the next few days you walk around your drill before you tram and you are much more aware of your surroundings. But as that feeling goes away you stop walking around your drill before you tram and become less aware of your surroundings. I was always told three things when I was being schooled in the art of tramming a drill:
    1. "DRILLS CAN KILL"
    2. "NEVER GO SIDEWAYS ON A INCLINE" , and
    3. "ALWAYS TAKE THE TIME TO BE SAFE"
I owe a lot to that old timer. Thanks Dad.

MSHA postscript: The message Mr. Paredes shares is much deeper than the tramming of a drill. Safety training can come in many forms. Often the best, most unforgettable training comes at the side of a parent, a mentor, or an older, experienced coworker who cared enough to take a new kid under his wing. In the workplace there is no greater act of kindness and caring than the sharing of a safe work attitude.

MSHA extends a thank you and a tip of the hardhat to
Alfredo Paredes,
a winner of a limited edition sticker and patch.

If you have a tip you would like to pass on, you can e-mail it to
zzMSHA-MinersTips@dol.gov.
If your tip is selected, you will receive credit in this space.


Issued: 12/10/2007
Tag # AP2006-93525



Back to Top   Back to Top www.msha.gov www.dol.gov
Frequently Asked Questions | Freedom of Information Act | Customer Survey
Accessibility | Privacy & Security Statement | Disclaimers
Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA)
1100 Wilson Boulevard, 21st Floor
Arlington, VA 22209-3939		 Phone:    (202) 693-9400
Fax-on-demand: (202) 693-9401
Technical (web) questions: Webmaster
On-line Filing Help: MSHAhelpdesk@dol.gov
or call (877) 778-6055
Contact Us