VISTA Training Blog

Now viewing category: Best Practices

Formal training vs. on-the-job experience

When it comes to heavy equipment, is it best for an operator to learn in a structured training environment - such as a classroom or computer-based training program - or via on-the-job experience? The ideal solution is a combination of the two.

Training: How do you assess what your trainees know?

Teaching or training is an art form. One of the biggest challenges facing teachers and instructors is discovering how well information being taught is understood.

7 ways mobile technology can be used for in-field safety training

Rapidly advancing mobile technology is opening up big opportunities for in-the-field safety training. Here are 7 ways in which smartphones and tablets can be used to enhance the training function.

The perils of unstructured on-the-job training

Looking for timely, helpful topics for your weekly safety talks?

“ASSET MANAGEMENT” vs “DATA MANAGEMENT”

Most of the existing, off-the-shelf Asset Management software programs today are not for Asset Management. Even though most of the vendors claim to have AMS software, their programs are actually for Data Management, so their systems are not performance-based AMS and lack the analysis tools and processes to perform planning, programming and budgeting.

Tips for Transporting Heavy Equipment

Moving heavy equipment comes with a unique set of challenges. View these tips to help make sure your equipment is transported safely and effectively.

Innovative field activity helps trainees visualize haul truck blind spots

One of the challenges in training new hires to be haul truck operators is that they may not truly grasp just how large the blind spots of a modern ultra-hauler are. To solve this problem, VISTA Training developed a unique on-the-job activity that shocks them into understanding and respecting the blind areas around their haul truck.

Plan for better training outcomes in your mine

In most mines, inadequate training tends to be invisible, until it is revealed in operational challenges. It then gets fixed in a reactive manner, in the field. Why not modify your training methods instead to produce better outcomes from the start?

5 Safety benefits of equipment telematics

As more fleets are being equipped with telematics technology, a clear picture is emerging of the ways in which it can help to improve safety on busy job sites. Here are five safety benefits of telematics.

Is your mine training program crippled by these 10 hidden inefficiencies?

Now that cost-cutting is the norm in the mining industry, you need to take a fresh look at all aspects of your operations for ways to improve efficiency. Here are 10 hidden inefficiencies we see in many mine training programs:

On-site training: Bandages only last so long

How are you approaching on-site training at your mine? If you rely on a training firm to come on-site, train and then leave every time you hire new equipment operators, is that cost-effective? Or is it just a bandage, a superficial, short-term solution to an immediate training need?

8 key advantages of a Learning Management System

If you're not currently using a learning management system to manage your company's training programs, you're missing out on some significant opportunities for improved efficiency and cost savings. Here's what you need to know.

Crawler excavator safety: Own it with this best practices training program

In well-trained hands, a crawler excavator can be amazingly productive. But with a less-experienced operator behind the controls, it can present some significant safety challenges. Learn best practices for safe excavator operation with this month's discounted training program.

Death on the jobsite: It only takes a second

An on-the-job accident has a ripple effect that few people can anticipate. That's not something most heavy equipment operators like you think about when you climb into the cab in the morning to start your shift. But perhaps you should. You see, it only takes a second...

Is reading a manual really training - or just a futile CYA exercise?

Reading manuals and PDFs is what passes for training at some mines. According to VISTA CEO Bruce Rabe, that's not enough. To be effective, training must be meaningful, memorable and motivational.

10 ways high-quality equipment training can save your mine money

Training isn't an expense but an investment in business improvement, productivity and increased safety. Our new report outlines 10 ways high-quality equipment training saves mines money.

NIOSH Ladder Safety app offers impressive toolset

If the jobs you handle involve working with straight or extension ladders, then you really ought to download the NIOSH Ladder Safety app for your smartphone.

Please share your mine safety tips on Twitter

Please help us collect the best tips on improving mine safety. Simply post your tips to Twitter with the hashtag #minesafety140.

How I almost died in a trench collapse

Murphy's Law takes no prisoners. All it does is create widowers if you ignore it when doing utility construction. That was a lesson contractor Greg Strudwick learned the hard way many years ago, when he almost died in a trench collapse.

Help us spread the word about the importance of job site safety

Show your commitment to work site safety by sharing this image on your social media channels.

10 ways e-learning can improve mine safety

As mines continue to look for ways to cut costs and increase productivity, driven by instability in mineral prices and other economic factors, they need to look for ways to deliver training more efficiently. E-learning offers many benefits to mines and can also deliver a very attractive return on investment (ROI).

Winter shut-down precautions for large mining equipment

Large mining machinery, like a world-class athlete, needs time to cool down at the end of a long run, even if the ambient temperature is downright frigid. Your machine needs to go through a cool-down period. Here's an effective winter shut-down procedure

Winter start-up precautions for large mining equipment

Starting up large a mining machine in cold weather can place a lot of stress on its diesel engine and hydraulic system, if not done properly. Here are some helpful tips on how to bring a machine up to operating temperature after starting it.

The truth about fall fatalities and injuries in construction

According to OSHA, falls are the number one source of work-related deaths for construction workers. This infographic from the Laborers Health and Safety Fund of North America outlines some sobering statistics related to falls on construction sites.

Are you blind to your equipment's blind spots?

One of the big safety challenges for those of you who operate construction equipment is to maintain constant awareness of your blind spots. For many types of machinery, these unseen areas can be quite large, which can create significant safety issues on busy construction sites.

8 common threats to haul truck tires (and how to avoid them)

Haul truck tires are one of the largest expenses for most mines. This means that improving their lifespan can not only save your mine millions of dollars. Here are 8 common threats to haul truck tires, and what you can do to minimize them.

Should you build or buy mine training?

It's usually more economical and effective to buy mine training programs and have them adapted to needs than to develop them internally. Here are eight reasons why.

Are your haul truck operators guilty of distracted driving?

Are your haul truck operators guilty of distracted driving? Several recent stories in the media illustrate the dangers of this growing problem.

Step up your haul truck operator training before an accident, not after

Large haul trucks tend to be unforgiving of mistakes. That's why it's critically important to provide your operators with comprehensive training on them before accidents occur, not after.

The myth of the "safety pyramid"

One of the deeply embedded myths of the safety profession is Herbert William Heinrich's "safety pyramid." However, recent research shows that it is not a valid tool for accident and injury prevention.

Aerial lift at work: What's wrong with this picture?

What's wrong with this photo of an aerial work platform? More than meets the eye.

Why a simulator alone is not a complete training solution

Mining equipment simulators need be integrated into a blended curriculum in order for them to be effective training tools.

Report emphasizes bottom-line benefits of increasing your investment in safety

McGraw-Hill's new Safety Management in the Construction Industry SmartMarket Report reveals that contractors are seeing significant positive impacts from investing in strong safety management programs. The data paint a striking picture.

Confined space safety: Don't take it for granted

How deep does a trench need to be in order to be considered a confined space? Not as deep as you think, say members of the ASSE LinkedIn group.

Blended learning: A more effective model for haul truck operator training (video)

Blended learning is a powerful tool for training new equipment operators, because it helps them to better retain key machine knowledge than other training methods. That was the core message of the technical paper VISTA Training presented at the recent Haulage & Loading Conference in Phoenix, which you can experience in this just-published video.

Job site safety: A bitter pill to swallow

A savvy instructor once shared a clever and devastatingly memorable demonstration of the risks we take for granted on the job site - using a jar filled with 330 small pills.

Visit with VISTA Training at the 2013 Haulage & Loading Conference

If you're planning to attend the 2013 Haulage & Loading Conference in Phoenix May 19-22, be sure to stop by the VISTA booth and say hello. We'll have an exhibit there, where we'll be talking about the latest developments in our mining programs and services.

Facing a slow-down at your mine? Now's the time to step up training

Now is the time to manage costs more aggressively at your mine. But it's also an excellent time to redouble your investment in training. Here's why.

How an investment in training paid off for one Utah city

The March issue of APWA Reporter magazine contains a fascinating case history authored by the retired public works director from the city of South Jordan, Utah that provides tangible proof that training isn't an expense, but rather an investment that can yield a variety of positive benefits.

What's behind the worldwide decline in mine equipment performance?

According to the presenters of a paper at the recent SME Annual Meeting in Denver, worldwide mining equipment performance has declined by 34% since 2001. We believe a lack of training is one of the culprits.

10 reasons to hire a training firm with deep mining expertise

When it comes to hiring an outside firm for training services in the mining industry, you have two choices: Hire a generalist firm with some experience in many industries, or hire a specialist firm that has a deep level of expertise in mining. Here are 10 practical reasons why you ought to hire a specialist firm like VISTA Training that has a wealth of experience and expertise in mine training and operations - and can help transfer best practices from other mines to yours.

The mechanic who cheated death

What do you do when a laborer doesn't take safety seriously in his job? This VISTA employee took matters into his own hands - and ended up saving a life.

21 tips for safer winter equipment operation

In colder climates, winter presents a special set of challenges to heavy equipment operators. To ensure safe operation and to help prevent damage to your machine, here are 21 best practices to keep in mind when starting and using it in cold weather.

Want a 2:1 return on investment? Train your people!

Is training a good investment? One university study answers that question with an unequivocal "Yes!"

"Organized confusion" of a road crew highlights the need for training

The hidden costs of an equipment accident

It is easy to say there is no time to do employee training until an avoidable accident happens. If the accident is serious or fatal; priorities regarding training often suddenly change. Part of the reason is due to unseen costs of an accident that suddenly start to come to light.

Instructional design: The foundation of all effective training

Benefits of blended learning in operator training

Blended learning can make a tremendous difference in the results you can achieve with operator training, especially in a high-performance mining environment.

Accident investigations almost always reveal avoidable safety issues

Almost every job site accident involving construction equipment can be traced back to a safety issue, and is ultimately avoidable.

The principles of adult learning - explained

For safety training to be effective, it needs to take into account how adults learn. That's the key message of an excellent paper presented in Professional Safety, the journal of the American Society of Safety Engineers. This paper is highly recommended reading!