#199- Mine Safety & Health Conference: Diane Watson
In this episode of Mining Minds, we sit down at the Mine Safety & Health Conference with returning guest Diane Watson — a respected safety professional, MSHA veteran, and industry leader dedicated to improving safety culture across mining.
Originally featured on Episode #93, Diane returns to share her passion for connecting people, fostering communication, and ensuring the next generation of miners understands the "why" behind safety. From her start as a haul truck operator to her time with MSHA and now as the founder of Silverado Compliance Solutions, Diane talks mentorship, accountability, leadership, and the challenges of evolving safety standards in a fast-changing industry.
Catch both of Diane's episodes on all major podcast platforms.
Event Sponsor:
Safety First Training and Consulting
Episode Sponsors:
Safety First Training and Consulting
Chapters:
02:24 Reconnecting with Diane Watson: From Episode #93 to Now
06:04 Passing the Torch: Mentorship and Losing Industry Knowledge
08:43 Communication, Culture, and the Importance of "Why"
10:48 Compliance vs. Culture: Turning Rules into Conversations
13:20 From MSHA to Silverado Compliance Solutions
16:27 Teaching Supervisors: The Role of Responsibility and Accountability
19:30 Defining "Agents of the Company" and Ownership in Safety
23:11 Building Relationships with Inspectors and Regulators
34:19 Technology, AI, and the Future of Mine Safety Standards
37:10 The Human Element: Mental Health and Worker Connection
40:42 Big Companies, Bigger Culture — Keeping People First
50:06 Integrity in Consulting and Working with Purpose
53:18 Collaboration, Community, and What Keeps Diane Motivated
