§ 74-24.1. Short title and legislative purpose.
Article2A.
Mine Safety and HealthAct.
§ 74‑24.1. Short titleand legislative purpose.
(a) This Article shallbe known as the Mine Safety and Health Act of North Carolina.
(b) Legislativefindings and purpose:
(1) The General Assemblyfinds that the burden of operators and miners of this State's mines resultingfrom personal injuries and illnesses arising out of work situations issubstantial; that the prevention of these injuries and illnesses is animportant objective of the government of this State; that the greatest hope inattaining this objective lies in programs of research, engineering, education,and enforcement, and in earnest cooperation of the federal and stategovernments, operators, and miners.
(2) The General Assemblyof North Carolina declares it to be its purpose and policy through theexercise of its powers to assure so far as possible every worker in NorthCarolina's mines safe and healthful working conditions and to preserve ourhuman resources:
a. By encouragingoperators and miners in their effort to reduce the number of occupationalsafety and health hazards in mines and to stimulate and assist operators andminers to institute new programs and to perfect existing programs for providingsafe and healthful working conditions through technical assistance andconsultation;
b. By recognizing thatoperators and miners have separate but interdependent responsibilities andrights with respect to achieving safe and healthful working conditions;
c. By authorizing theCommissioner to develop occupational safety and health standards applicable tomines giving consideration to the needs of operators and miners and to adoptstandards promulgated from time to time by the federal government;
d. By providingoccupational health criteria which will assure insofar as practicable that nominer will suffer diminished health, functional capacity, or life expectancy asa result of his work experience in a mine;
e. By providingeducation and training programs to increase the number and competence ofpersonnel engaged in the field of occupational safety and health;
f. By providing aneffective enforcement program which shall include a prohibition against givingadvance notice of a mine inspection;
g. By providing forappropriate reporting procedures with respect to occupational safety and healthwhich will help achieve the objectives of this Article and accurately describethe nature of the occupational safety and health problems in mines;
h. By providing forresearch and technical assistance in the field of occupational safety andhealth in mines and by developing innovative methods, techniques, andapproaches for dealing with occupational safety and health problems in mines;and
i. By authorizing theCommissioner to enter into agreements and contracts with public and privateagencies, including agencies of the United States government, organizations,and individuals in order to carry out the ends and purposes of this Article.
(c) The GeneralAssembly of North Carolina appoints the North Carolina Department of Labor asthe designated agency to administer the Mine Safety and Health Act of NorthCarolina. (1975, c. 206, s. 1.)