Mark your calendar for Oct. 14-16, 2008. Those are the likely dates for the next TRAM conference at the Mine Safety and Health Academy in Beaver (Beckley), W.Va.

For years industry has been justly complaining about the Mine Safety and Health Administration's (MSHA) inconsistency in enforcement. On a better hand the Mine Safety and Health Academy is the very watchword for consistency. Its products have consistently improved, and that is especially true of the TRAM conference.

The reason you want to go to TRAM is that the program quality continues to improve. The variety of topics is right on target. There is enough for beginning trainers in loss control and serious stimulation for more experienced trainers. Most of the 60-plus offerings repeat over the two days. It is not possible to attend all of the desirable sessions, but by having repeats it is possible to have two rewarding days. In those hours when there is nothing appealing, there is the library for research or the halls and cafeteria for conversation. All of the presenters are comfortably approachable in the halls or at meals in what is truly a collegial atmosphere. The presenters enjoy listening and talking about their work.

The speakers range from trainers who started in plants and offices and worked their way into responsible training positions to Ph.D.s. Last year Rick Sullivan from the Ironworker Management Progressive Action Cooperative Trust and the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Ironworkers made a presentation on "Delivering Winning Presentations." Sullivan practiced what he preached. He delivered a "winning presentation" and at the same time passed on an appropriate amount of useful information for a 50-minute session that illustrated his practical handout without just rereading it. He did not exhaust his subject or his audience. The Ph.D. did not get in the way. He was on target for his audience. Last year's attendees can hope that he will be persuaded to come back in October 2008.

Sullivan was the outstanding presentation from labor. MSHA and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the state grants programs represented government well, and there were good speakers from industry.

It has been years since I have done dust sampling or been responsible for someone else doing sampling. But to cover the base, NIOSH provided three people with "Facilitating the Use of Personal Dust Monitors." If that is too esoteric for your immediate needs, there was a four-hour "Electrical Safety Presentation."

Lattice boom success

For those who keep track of MSHA fatality reports, perceptive people should notice that for a couple of years, there has not been a fatality during the setup and dismantling of a lattice boom crane. The support of lattice booms during pin insertion and removal is very important. There was no session on that subject, but rigging was covered again. With any luck rigging will be on the agenda again for 2008.

Many years ago there was a study in Canada showing that people who have first-aid training experience fewer injuries than people without first-aid training. TRAM had a session on "Emergency Preparedness." If you have read this far you know that emergency preparedness cannot be exhausted in a 50-minute session. However, a 50-minute session might be enough to plant the idea that organizations that prepare for downgrading incidents are likely to experience fewer of them. And, of course, the added advantage is that if there is a downgrading incident, the organization is prepared to handle it.

The North Carolina state grant program has won the contest for preparation of training materials in four of the last five years. All of the state grant programs prepare material that is free or available for nominal charges. The quality and relevance are high.

Carl R. Metzgar, CSP, has more than 30 years of safety and health experience in the pit and quarry industries. He was formerly a safety and health director for lone Star industries, and mideast division safety director for Vulcan materials. He currently offers consulting services with a specialization in program evaluation, training, compliance and loss control. based in Winston-Salem, N.C., he can be reached at 336-766-8264; fax: 336-766-1218; E-mail: cmetz46840@aol.com
.