West Virginia Code of State Rules › Agency 48 - Miner Training Education And Certification › Title 48 - LEGISLATIVE EXEMPT RULE BOARD OF MINER TRAINING, EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATION (NOW BOARD OF COAL MINE HEALTH AND SAFETY) › Series 48-02 - Safety Training Program for Prospective Underground Coal Miners › Section 48-2-2 - Criteria For Health And Safety Training Program For Prospective Underground Coal Miners In West Virginia

Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 28, July 12, 2024
2.1. An approved training program must, at a
				minimum, include the topics described in the course outline in Section 3 and
				meet the training objectives specified in Section 4. The time distribution for
				the subjects is a suggested one which vary as long as the training objectives
				are achieved.
2.2. Any
				participating center may suggest modifications in the course outline, but such
				modifications must be approved by the Board of Coal Mine Health and Safety.
				(See Section 5 for Training Program Approval Procedures.)
2.3. Training centers which offer this
				instruction may obtain the training materials developed specifically for the
				program from the West Virginia Office of Miners' Health Safety and Training.
				Alternatively, a center may elect to develop or use its own materials which
				must be approved by the Board of Coal Mine Health and Safety. (See Section 5
				for Training Program Approval Procedures.)
2.4. Instructors for this program must be
				approved by the West Virginia Office of Miners' Health, Safety and Training as
				having demonstrated sufficient experience and/or knowledge of underground
				mining. (See Section 6 for Instructor Approval Procedures.)
2.5. The equipment necessary to implement
				this training is: appropriate equipment to present the Office of Miners'
				Health, Safety and Training course material; self-contained self-rescuer
				trainers; personal safety equipment (e.g., I.D. tags, miner's belt; hard hat;
				respirator; safety glasses; cap light; gloves; knee pads; boots; hearing
				protectors); simulation device for artificial respiration; splints; bandages;
				sample electrical cables, section light; personal dust sampler; slate bar; and
				sounding tool. Suggested equipment: 3-dimensional miniature scale model mine
				(cutaway); sample defective and non-defective hand tools; box for sounding
				demo; resin bolts; roof bolts; resin; rockdust sampler; stretcher; broken-back
				board; shovel; mine fuses; circuit breaker panel; sample electrical switches;
				methane (appropriate substitute); sample mine map; and a sample roof control
				plan. Access to an underground mine facility is desirable.
2.6. Any person, regardless of race, creed,
				color, national origin, sex or age is eligible for the training program. But it
				should be understood by all prospective trainees that upon completion of the
				training program and receipt of the permit of apprenticeship, employment within
				the coal industry is not guaranteed. Each trainee will still be subject to
				their prospective employer's physical examination requirements and other
				employment standards. The Board of Coal Mine Health and Safety assumes
				compliance with all equal opportunity employment requirements.
2.7. Issuance and Expiration of Initial
				Apprentice Miner's Cards.
2.7.1. Upon
				completion of the approved eighty (80) hour pre-employment training program, a
				permit of apprenticeship shall be issued to any person who scores at least
				eighty percent (80%) on the final examination administered by the West Virginia
				Office of Miners' Health, Safety and Training, provided that such person passes
				the examination within forty-five (45) days after completing the eighty (80)
				hour program.
2.7.2. The apprentice
				miner's card is valid for one (1) year.
2.7.3. If an apprentice begins apprenticeship
				("On The Job") training as a miner prior to the expiration date on the
				apprentice miner card, the card will remain valid until the completion of the
				apprenticeship training, provided, that such training is continuous and a
				miner's card is obtained within eight (8) months.
2.7.4. If the apprentice does not begin
				apprenticeship ("On The Job") training as a miner prior to the expiration date
				on the apprentice miner card, the card will become invalid on the expiration
				date.
2.7.5. Any prospective miner
				who does not score at least eighty percent (80%) on the initial apprenticeship
				miners examination will be given a second opportunity to retake such
				examination, provided that such person retakes and passes the exam within
				forty-five (45) days after completing the eighty (80) hour program. In the
				event of failure on the second opportunity the prospective miner must repeat
				the approved eighty (80) hour pre-employment training program in order to
				retake the examination.