#203- Mine Safety & Health Conference: Don Neff

Join Mining Minds from the 2025 Mine Safety & Health Conference as we sit down with Don Neff, Security Manager and longtime Nevadan. Don shares his journey from growing up in Elko County to serving in the Air Force's photo-recon field, working as a Nevada Highway Patrol officer, and ultimately finding his place in mining safety. Drawing on decades of experience, Don talks about reading people, leading through influence, and navigating the impact of emerging technology, autonomy, and AI on mine safety. He breaks down the importance of true partnerships—especially in contractor management—and the need for meaningful engagement, strong systems, and asking the right "what if" questions. Please help us welcome Don Neff to the Face! Thank you to the Mine Safety & Health Conference for providing us the opportunity to participate in this event.  Event Sponsor:  Safety First Training and Consulting Episode Sponsors: Safety First Training and Consulting JSR Fleet Performance  Liebherr Mining  Chapters: 00:45 Growing Up Nevada 01:40 High School, Sports, and Early Ambitions 02:30 Joining the Air Force & Seeing the World 05:45 Culture Shock Abroad 07:40 Returning Home & Working for Nevada Highway Patrol 09:00 Policing During Nevada's Mining Boom 12:30 From Law Enforcement to Mining Safety 14:45 Technology, Autonomy & Safety Skepticism 18:40 Regulation Gaps & Challenges with MSHA 25:00 Leading Indicators, Engagement & Safety Culture 31:00 Contractor Management & True Partnerships 35:45 Moving Into Security 39:30 Mentorship, Leadership & Final Thoughts