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How To Retain Your Best Mining Employees

Woodhouse Colliery mining

Keeping employees happy is vital in all aspects of modern business. It will deliver a range of benefits ranging from increased productivity to low staff turnover rates. If you operate in the field of mining and exploration, it’s not only important to keep your office workers satisfied. Frankly, you need to give mining technicians the attention they deserve too. 

After all, their work is integral to the entire operation. As such, overlooking this feature could spell disaster for the entire company. Here’s what you can do to provide miners with the support they need. 

Maintain Safety At All Times

Safety should come first in all workplaces. However, mining sites are particularly hazardous. If employees feel that their safety is put at unnecessary risk, they will be eager to find an employer that does better. And once they do, they’ll jump ship without delay.

Of course, you must ensure that all site workers are supported by hard hats and suitable workwear. However, you should also invest in their staff safety training. This can extend to first aid training in case of an accident or emergency.

Putting alarm systems in place so that colleagues can be alerted to problems is another crucial step to success.

Help Them Stay Productive

High productivity levels won’t only aid your company’s bottom line. It can also boost staff happiness. Most employees will become frustrated if the tools and tactics implemented by the company lead to slow progress. In turn, this lack of engagement will cost you dearly.

As such, you need to provide your mining teams with the right tools ranging from blast hole drills and excavators to core trays and graders. Practical solutions should allow for quick exploration while also keeping core materials protected. 

Your business can support teams further by using fleet management tools. This will promote efficient journeys to the mining sites.

Let Them Show Their Initiative

As the owner, it can be tempting to micromanage every aspect of the business. Even if you rarely visit the site. In truth, you have hired workers who have the skills, experience, and passion to achieve far better results. So, it’s probably better to let them use their initiative.

Employees want to believe in what they’re doing. Allowing them to implement the tactics that they feel will deliver the best results can be a very smart move. They will need to do this under the supervision of a great project manager. But your involvement is minimal.

Aside from working in the best interests of your mining site workers, it allows you to focus on other tasks. So, your entire venture stands to see the benefits.

Appreciate Their Situations

Employees working on mining sites will be aware of the potential dangers. And the potentially long or unsociable hours involved. However, they’ll only accept this if they are remunerated to a suitable level. Check what your competitors pay and be prepared to at least match it.

It’s also important to remember that your workers are only human. In addition to implementing standard employee benefits, you must go the extra mile to make them feel included. This can range from staff parties to acknowledging their successes. 

Your mining site workers should feel valued, well-paid, and capable of producing great work. When they do, the rewards will soon show.

PM Today Contributor
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