In this episode of Mining Minds, the crew sits down with Diane Watson — retired Supervisory Special Investigator with MSHA, firefighter, EMT, and lifelong safety advocate. From leaving home at 15 and living in a woodshed to becoming one of the most respected voices in mine safety, Diane's story is one of resilience, grit, and purpose.
She walks us through her incredible journey: from driving haul trucks at Homestake McLaughlin Mine to shaping safety culture as an MSHA investigator and now as the founder of Silverado Compliance Solutions. Diane opens up about her early struggles, the mentors who inspired her, the challenges of being a woman in mining, and the lessons she learned leading inspections, investigations, and mine rescue competitions across the U.S. Please help us welcome Diane Watson to the Face!
Episode Sponosors:
Rockwell Industrial and Mining
Motor Mission Machine and Radiator
Diane Waston - Sliverado Complaince Solutions
Silverado Compliance Solutions
Instagram @firezin
Chapters:
02:08 Introducing Diane Watson: From Woodshed to the Face
04:09 Growing Up Tough and Leaving Home at 15
11:57 Landing Her First Mining Job at Homestake McLaughlin
13:00 Learning the Haul Truck and Building Confidence
15:49 Overcoming Stereotypes: Women in Mining in the '90s
17:22 Transitioning from Operator to Safety Professional
26:00 The MSHA Journey: Inspections, Challenges, and Ethics
35:14 Mine Rescue, Mentorship, and National Competitions
44:16 Leadership Lessons from the Face to the Federal Level
50:06 Investigations, Integrity, and Lessons from the FBI
57:01 Balancing Compliance with Common Sense
01:03:11 Founding Silverado Compliance Solutions
01:10:05 Retirement, Mentorship, and Giving Back to Mining
01:13:35 Full Circle: From the Cabin to Building a Legacy
