Welcome back to our ‘Best Mining Story’ column, an opportunity for employees to share their favourite memories, experiences and stories in mining. This week, we meet Ann Vath, Mill Supervisor, Round Mountain, who recently received the General Supervisor Award at the 2021 Nevada Mining Association (NvMA) Safety Awards. Ann shares with us her journey in the industry and how her long career at Round Mountain has ingrained the values of health and safety in her day-to-day life.
“I joined Round Mountain in 1984 after moving to Nye County from my hometown of St. Louis, Missouri. I started my career in mining working in the assay lab, and later gained experience in a variety of departments at the mine including the crusher, mill and mine departments. I later returned to the mill where I am now a supervisor.
As the mill supervisor, my job is to oversee everyday operations of the mill, working closely with my team of supervisors and their crews to ensure we are meeting targets for production and recovery, while also adhering to the highest standards of health and safety. In 2020, we implemented the critical risk management program that focuses on assessing bigger hazards that can cause long-term impacts. This was a great opportunity for our team to work together to assess areas of critical risk and ways to mitigate these potential hazards as a team.
When I found out my team had nominated me for the NvMA award, I was really overwhelmed with emotion. As I said, I’ve worked in the industry for 36 years and to receive such honorable recognition shows my hard work is paying off and that my team not only notices, but values the contributions I make to our culture.
Safety culture has always been a top priority for me. I believe in valuing each employee’s well-being and working collaboratively to make sure everyone is watching each other’s backs. I think it is important to lead by example and follow the policies and procedures laid out for you in order for your colleagues to do the same. In doing so, I believe you’re leading your team in the right direction for a safer workforce.
Over my career at Round Mountain, I’ve been able to work with some amazing operators and supervisors who have shaped my success story by giving me the skills and resources to have safety become a natural part of my day – a skill I hope to ingrain in my team and the next generation of miners. I would like to thank NvMA for recognizing me for this award, and most importantly, my team, for not only nominating me, but helping put into action the safety culture we preach as supervisors, and making Round Mountain a safe place to work every day.”
Do you have a Best Mining Story you want shared on Kinross World? Send your submissions to KinrossWorld@Kinross.com for a chance to be featured! Submissions can range from operational achievements, to exploration adventures, safety shares or inspirational moments. We look forward to your stories!
