Mining has used nicknames to identify individuals since it began. They sometimes describe a physical characteristic or trait of a miner or describe an incident or work habit. These are a few of the nicknames I've come across in my career.
- "Lips" This person had rather large ones, hence the name (honestly)
- "Large and in Charge" This description was used for a Supervisor, I recently worked with
- "Big Mac" Used to describe his size and his propensity to devour a hamburger, which was usually supplied by the company.
- "Bam Bam" Not sure how they arrived at this one. It may have been used to describe the way he operated equipment.
- "867-5309" This is from the Tommy Tu-Tone song of the same title. I gave this person this name because if you tried to contact him 30 minutes before the end of shift you would need a cell phone.
- "What you want me to do" This moniker was given to an Electrical Supervisor. This is the response you received from him every time you asked him to do something.
- "The Bird" At first it was used as a parody of his last name. Later on it was noted he shared some of the same physical characteristics as an ostrich.
- "Chef" If you're familiar with the character from "South Park" you know this individual.
- "Smooth as Veneer" It rhymes with Chen...ier which is the Anglicization of the French surname. This person was really smooth or as he would say "All the women's love me".
- "Blow out" This nickname was given to a young Supervisor early in his career when he attempted to wire up a round using igniter cord and tape fuse. The result prompted the nickname.
- "Captain Canada" This same individual was given this title that still sticks to this day. It was given to him when he took over the Captains position of the Ontario team at the national mine rescue competition. I don't recall if they won, but even if they didn't, he's still a legend.
- "Tripod" I believe he got this name after someone witnessed him in the shower.
- "Chicken Choker" Given to a now retired former Captain. You'll have to use your imagination here. (I'm sure he did)
- "Twisted Shifter" This name was given to an old "Cousin Jack" shift boss around the time that the Hair Band "Twisted Sister" came to prominence. If you knew the person he was the total opposite.
- "Doo Lang, Doo Lang, Doo Laing" You know who you are!
- "Beetle Juice" An accurate description of this former captain's physical appearance.
- "Peter Alphabet" This person had a last name with every consonant in the alphabet and none of the vowels.
- "Action Jackson" Probably one of the laziest workers I've come across.
- "Roger Kaa Kaa" This person was employed as a Sanitary engineer. Not to be confused with........
- "Ray Poo Poo"
- "Triple XXX" An adaptation of the first letter of this persons last name. From the movie of the same title.
- "The Crown Prince" Given to a young, up and comer.
- "Claire the Bear" This is the person who taught me how to drill/blast when I first started out. I spent 6 months working and learning from this man. He told me from the onset, that you can get away with a lot as long as you can "backup your Bulls__t" ...... They don't make em like Claire any more.
There are more that I could list here, but in keeping with the "G" rating that I'm trying to maintain.....................OK, here's a few more.
- "Farrell Land" This is what we called the underwinds (shaft bottom) at the last place I worked.
- "Standby" This handle was usually given to a rookie who was assigned to work with a senior worker. Often he was told to "standby" until needed.
- "Sparky" The name of the prior Electrical Supervisor to "What you want me to do"
- "Ham Sandwich" The name of a former Superintendent. An older (slightly deaf) supervisor heard this rather than the Super's name when introductions were made.
- "Hollywood" Several Supervisors have shared this name. It's given to an individual who is all "sizzle" and no "steak", or as they say in Texas "All hat, no cattle". Every site I've worked at had a "Hollywood".
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