By Sara Arola<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n Only a few jobs have the ability to shape a career; fewer careers have the power to define a life. Truly life-defining careers are those workers fully devote themselves to, and sometimes even risk their lives for, every day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Some come to mind easily \u2013 military service, medicine, ministry, law enforcement, teaching and firefighting. Other life characterizing careers go mostly unnoticed and unsung \u2013 in fact, one of those less conspicuous occupations is almost entirely underground. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For centuries, courageous individuals have dedicated their lives to mining, and in turn given life to mining\u2019s proud story. It was not until recently that women began playing an increasingly important part in that story. Today, however, women are choosing to dedicate themselves to a career and a life in mining, and they are helping propel mining\u2019s story forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n The only female in the room<\/strong> \u201cGrowing up, I was fascinated by the area\u2019s mining history,\u201d said Henderson. \u201cHowever, I wasn\u2019t certain mining was a career I wanted to pursue until I attended the Colorado School of Mines and joined the mine rescue team.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n The Colorado School of Mines focuses on science and engineering degrees that prepare students to work in many industries, including mining. In 2019, 30.7% of its students were female, more than double the number of females who currently work in the mines, which according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics sits only around 13%. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHonestly, the fact that the industry is so male dominated did not really cross my mind until I had already chosen my major,\u201d said Henderson. \u201cI was in one of my first mining classes and the professor said, \u2018good morning, gentlemen\u2019, paused and then followed with, \u2018and lady.\u2019 It took me a second to register that I was the only female in the room. I was so caught up in the excitement of the opportunity, I had overlooked the fact that it was an uncommon career for women.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thankfully, that did not deter Henderson. After graduating with a bachelor of science in mining engineering, she is now an underground senior mine engineer at the Galena silver-zinc-lead-copper mine in northern Idaho.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n Blowing things up, breaking barriers and overcoming stereotypes<\/strong> \u201cWhen I heard that I could play in the dirt and blow things up for a living, I was sold,\u201d said Harman. \u201cIt never occurred to me that I shouldn\u2019t pursue a career in mining because it was a male-dominated industry. It was something that interested me, and that was what mattered in the end.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Now, Harman does get to “blow things up” for a living \u2013 she currently serves as a consulting engineer for Hexagon Mining. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFor a long time, people couldn\u2019t picture women in mining\u2019s high-risk and highly physical work environment \u2013 they assumed women were not capable of performing certain tasks,\u201d said Henderson. \u201cBut when you work hard and show your knowledge and worth, this doesn\u2019t remain a barrier for long.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe greatest hurdle is proving women can perform the same tasks as men,\u201d agreed Harman. \u201cIt\u2019s taken time, opportunity and hard work to convince some that woman belong underground, but the industry mindset is changing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Advancements in safety<\/strong> More stringent laws and regulations, including the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 (Mine Act), have contributed to lower fatality rates in recent years. Advanced technology and cutting-edge personal protective equipment (PPE) are also helping better protect miners both above and below the surface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Drones, autonomous trucks and automated muckers are all relatively recent innovations that are not only making a significant impact on mining productivity, but also on safety. Automation allows miners to be physically isolated from underground hazards while they operate the machinery from above ground. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There have also been noteworthy advancements in PPE. More than a hundred years ago, Dr\u00e4ger, an international developer of medical and safety technology, invented the first breathing apparatus, the Model 1904\/1909, to supply miners with oxygen during mining disasters. Later, Dr\u00e4ger created the Dr\u00e4ger Pulmotor, the first ventilator. These pioneering products paved the way for the innovative, life-saving solutions on the market today, including the Dr\u00e4ger PSS BG4 Plus, a closed-circuit breathing apparatus specifically designed for demanding tasks like mine rescue. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Mine rescue: Training, technology and trust<\/strong> Today mine rescue contests are essential aspects of professional training because they allow miners to sharpen their skills and prepare for various emergency scenarios in a controlled environment. Safety isn\u2019t about luck \u2013 it is about learning to trust your skills, your teammates and your equipment. These contests can help mine rescue teams build that much needed trust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMy participation in mine rescue is what got me hooked on mining, because it introduced me to the amazing network of people in the industry,\u201d said Henderson.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Sharing pride and information<\/strong> For Henderson, it is her co-workers, male and female, who make the future of mining so exciting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMining attracts down to earth, adventurous, hardworking people who are always willing to pass on their knowledge and expertise,\u201d she said. \u201cFrom the miner who has worked underground his entire career to the engineer implementing state-of-the-art automation, everyone has valuable experience to share.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n As one of the world\u2019s oldest industries, mining remains a tremendous source of history and tradition. For the more than half a million miners in the United States, it is also a source of immense pride \u2013 beyond a mere occupation, it becomes part of their identity and a badge of honor. Going forward, more and more women will have the opportunity to carry that badge and write the next chapter in mining\u2019s story. <\/p>\n\n\n\n About the author: Sara Arola is the marketing manager for Dr\u00e4ger’s mining and tunneling solutions division in North America.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n They are each helping to shape the next chapter of mining, advancing the industry and improving safety. Meet Nicole Henderson and Katherine Harman in this issue\u2019s Women in Mining spotlight. By Sara Arola Only a few jobs have the ability to shape a career; fewer careers have the power to define a life. Truly life-defining careers are those workers fully…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":34,"featured_media":6014,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_themeisle_gutenberg_block_has_review":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[4],"tags":[192,1401,191,1003,590],"coauthors":[2429],"class_list":["post-6013","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-features","tag-colorado-school-of-mines","tag-mine-rescue","tag-mining-engineering","tag-sme","tag-women-in-mining"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/northamericanmining.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/WIM-Nicole_Henderson.jpg\")
As a child, Nicole Henderson often visited the Silver Valley in northern Idaho. The region, which has long been a hot spot for adventure-seeking tourists and outdoor enthusiasts, is home to 90 mines, including two that are still in operation. In the 1870s, gold fever brought miners to the area and today the valley still ranks among the top 10 mining districts in world history. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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Katherine Harman also graduated from the Colorado School of Mines with a bachelor of science in mining engineering. Her interest in the field was piqued in high school when the Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration (SME) gave a presentation on mining and geology to her class. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Mindsets are not the only thing changing in mining. According to Henderson, the industry is gradually becoming \u201ca tamer environment\u201d compared to the days of dynamite and pickaxes. More importantly, mining is also becoming safer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Both Henderson and Harman were actively involved with their student mine rescue teams at the Colorado School of Mines. Henderson was part of the first all-female competitive mine rescue team, having served as \u201cgas man\u201d for two years and as team captain for two years. During her college years, Harman served as captain of both the all-female team and the coed team. Throughout their careers, Henderson and Harman have stayed involved in mine rescue, and both agree that properly training for real mine rescue situations can be the difference between life and death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Henderson agreed that it is the people that make mining an exceptional career path. To ensure inclusion, she encourages women entering the industry to avoid separating themselves from their male colleagues. \u201cYoung girls shouldn\u2019t think of themselves as the future women of mining, but instead just think of themselves as future miners,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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