W. Va. Code § 22A-2-39 — WV Code / Chapter 22A / Article 2 / Section 39
§22A-2-39. Belt conveyor; installation; maintenance; examination of belt conveyors and belt entries.
Status: in_force

(a) On or after July 1, 1971, all conveyor belts acquired for use underground shall be flame-resistant conveyor belts.

(b) A clear travelway at least twenty-four inches wide shall be provided on both sides of all belt conveyors installed after July 1, 1971. Where roof supports are installed within twenty-four inches of a belt conveyor, a clear travelway at least twenty-four inches wide shall be provided on the side of such support farthest from the conveyor.

(c) On belt conveyors that do not transport men, stop and start controls shall be installed at intervals not to exceed one thousand feet. Such controls shall be properly installed and positioned so as to be readily accessible.

(d) Persons shall not cross moving belt conveyors, except where suitable crossing facilities are provided.

(e) All belt conveyors shall be inspected by a certified belt examiner, mine foreman-fireboss or assistant mine foreman-fireboss for frozen rollers and fire hazards following the last production shift each week, also before holidays, vacation periods, as hereinafter provided, with records kept of daily inspection.

(f) (1) Belt conveyors on which coal is transported on any shift shall be examined during each coal-producing shift. Such examination shall be made of belt conveyors and belt conveyor entries for unsafe conditions including, but not limited to, mine gases, frozen rollers, hazardous roof or rib conditions and fires.

(2) Whenever an on-shift examination of a belt conveyor and belt conveyor entry has not been made during the preceding shift, an examination shall be made of the belt conveyor and belt conveyor entry prior to the conveyor being started; or if any miner is going to enter the belt conveyor entry, then the area where such miner will be working shall be examined. Such examination shall be made by a certified mine foreman-fire boss, assistant mine foreman-fire boss, or a certified belt examiner. Thereafter, on-shift examinations by a certified belt examiner, mine foreman-fire boss or assistant mine foreman-fire boss shall be made as herein required.

(g) In the conduct of the examination, the belt examiner, mine foreman-fire boss or assistant mine foreman-fire boss shall travel the full extent of the belt conveyor or belt conveyor entry assigned and shall place his initials and the date and time of his examination at or near each belt head and along each belt conveyor he examines. Should the belt examiner, mine foreman-fire boss or assistant mine foreman-fire boss find a condition which he considers dangerous to persons entering such area, he shall erect a danger sign to prevent other persons from entering the area and notify his immediate supervisor of the condition. Only state or federal inspectors or authorized representatives of the miners, and persons authorized by mine management to correct the condition, may enter such area while the danger sign is posted. At the conclusion of each shift, belt examiners, mine foreman-fire bosses or assistant mine foreman-fire bosses shall record in a book provided for that purpose the results of their examination, including comments concerning the physical condition of the belt conveyor and the area where the belt conveyor is located. Such book shall be examined and countersigned by the mine foreman or his assistant and by the person conducting such examination on the next oncoming shift.

(h) The examinations set forth in this section shall be the only examinations required of belt conveyors and belt conveyor entries, notwithstanding any provision of sections fourteen, twenty or any other section of this chapter relating to the examination of belt conveyors and belt conveyor entries.

(i) The board of miner training, education and certification shall establish criteria and standards for the training, examination and certification of "belt examiners". Persons seeking to be certified as a "belt examiner" must hold a miner's certificate and have at least two years practical underground mining experience. Such training, examination and certification program shall, as a minimum, require a demonstration of knowledge of belt conveyors roof control, ventilation and gases.

(j) Deluge-type water sprays, water sprinklers, dry chemical sprinkler system or foam generators (designed to be automatically activated in the event of a fire or rise in the temperature at or near the belt drive) shall be installed at each main and secondary conveyor drive that are located underground.

(k) All underground belt conveyors shall be equipped with slippage and sequence switches.

(l) Telephones or other suitable communications shall be provided at points where supplies are regularly loaded or unloaded from the belt conveyors.

(m) After supplies have been transported on belt conveyors, such belts shall be examined by a belt examiner, mine foreman-fire boss or assistant mine foreman-fire boss for unsafe conditions prior to the transportation of men.

(n) No person shall be permitted to perform any work within the confines of the cargo space of a crusher or feeder, unless the crusher or feeder has been de-energized and locked out.