Safety & Health Information - Mary Lou George - Brief Glimpse into the Life of a Mine Inspector

U.S. Department of Labor

Mine Safety and Health Administration
4015 Wilson Boulevard
Arlington, Virginia 22203-1984

June 1998

Dear Colleague:

Can one person's deepest thoughts and perceptions be encapsulated in 12 minutes? It hardly seems possible, but the enclosed videotape offers a brief yet compelling glimpse into one mine inspector's life, and the influential role mining has played within her family and in shaping her own values about work, responsibility and accountability.

Mary Lou George worked for a number of years as a miner in various Western operations, and has been a mine inspector in the Mine Safety and Health Administration's (MSHA) Vacaville, California, office since 1995. No stranger to the hazards that accompany such a career, she lost a father, a brother and several friends to mining-related accidents and illnesses.

When I first met Mary Lou last February, she was an eager participant in MSHA's Visiting Inspector Program. Her candor and commitment so impressed me, I wanted others to have the opportunity to hear her story.

Please share this short program with your colleagues, your families, and at gatherings that showcase miners' health and safety. This video is being distributed to all MSHA district and field offices, but you may request additional copies by contacting the National Mine Health and Safety Academy at (304) 256-3257.

Sincerely,

J. Davitt McAteer
Assistant Secretary for
Mine Safety and Health

Mary Lou George has since passed away.
Her message is of great importance to all in the mining industry. Please take the time to listen.

**"The Time was Right!" (VC-923)**
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	The video cassette, "The Time was Right!" (VC-923), is available from MSHA. For information on obtaining this video, please contact the Library at the National Mine Health and Safety Academy at (304) 256-3266 or zzMSHA-Library@dol.gov.