45.1-161.38 - First-class mine foreman certification.
§ 45.1-161.38. First-class mine foreman certification.
A. The operator of any coal mine where three or more persons work during anypart of a twenty-four-hour period shall employ a mine foreman. The operatorshall employ as a mine foreman only persons holding a first-class mineforeman certificate. The holder of such a certificate shall present thecertificate, or a photostatic copy thereof, to the operator where he isemployed, who shall file the certificate or its copy in the office at themine, and the operator shall make it available for inspection by interestedpersons.
B. The holder of a first-class mine foreman certificate shall be authorizedto act as foreman for all underground coal mines.
C. Applicants for a first-class mine foreman certificate shall be not lessthan twenty-three years of age and have had at least five years of experiencein a coal mine (at least three years shall have been in an underground coalmine). A graduate of an approved four-year college course in miningengineering shall be given credit for three of the five years of practicalexperience required. An applicant who possesses a degree in mining technologyshall be given credit for two of the five years of practical experiencerequired. If the applicant meets the above requirements, makes eighty-fivepercent or more on each of the subjects of the written examination, andpasses required map and gas examinations, he shall be entitled to afirst-class mine foreman certificate. The written examination shall address,among other relevant topics, the theory and practice of coal mining; natureand properties of noxious, poisonous, and explosive gases, and methods fortheir detection and control; requirements of the coal mining laws of thisCommonwealth; and responsibilities and duties of a mine foreman under statelaw.
D. Each candidate for certification as a first-class mine foreman shallcomplete the course or courses of instruction in first aid as provided insubsection A of § 45.1-161.101 and pass an examination relating thereto,approved by the Board of Coal Mining Examiners.
(Code 1950, §§ 45-7, 45-12, 45-29, 45-30, 45-31, 45-33.1, 45-68.4, 45-69,45-73, 45-75, 45-78, 45-79, 45-81, 45-83; 1950, p. 156; 1954, c. 191; 1966,c. 594, §§ 45.1-13 to 45.1-15, 45.1-21, 45.1-101.2; 1972, c. 784; 1974, c.686; 1976, c. 598; 1977, c. 679; 1978, cc. 94, 222, 489, 729; 1982, c. 255;1984, cc. 178, 590; 1988, c. 577; 1993, cc. 171, 442; 1994, c. 28; 1997, c.274.)