§22A-6-6 Health and safety administrator; qualifications; duties; employees; compensation.
§22A-6-6. Health and safety administrator; qualifications; duties; employees; compensation.
(a) The governor shall appoint the health and safety administrator of the board for a term of employment of one year. The health and safety administrator shall be entitled to have his or her contract of employment renewed on an annual basis except where such renewal is denied for cause: Provided, That the governor has the power at any time to remove the health and safety administrator for misfeasance, malfeasance or nonfeasance: Provided, however, That the board has the power to remove the health and safety administrator without cause upon the concurrence of five members of the board.
(b) The health and safety administrator shall work at the direction of the board, independently of the director of the office of miners' health, safety and training and has such authority and shall perform such duties as may be required or necessary to effectuate this article.
(c) In addition to the health and safety administrator, there shall be such other research employees hired by the health and safety administrator as the board determines to be necessary. The health and safety administrator shall provide supervision and direction to the other research employees of the board in the performance of their duties.
(d) The employees of the board shall be compensated at rates determined by the board. The salary of the health and safety administrator shall be fixed by the governor: Provided, That the salary of the health and safety administrator shall not be reduced during his or her annual term of employment or upon the renewal of his or her contract for an additional term. Such salary shall be fixed for any renewed term at least ninety days before the commencement thereof.
(e) Appropriations for the salaries of the health and safety administrator and any other employees of the board and for necessary office and operating expenses shall be made to a budget account hereby established for those purposes in the general revenue fund. Such account shall be separate from any accounts or appropriations for the office of miners' health, safety and training.
(f) The health and safety administrator shall review all coal mining fatalities and major causes of injuries as mandated by section four of this article. An analysis of such fatalities and major causes of injuries shall be prepared for consideration by the board within ninety days of the occurrence of the accident.
(g) At the direction of the board, the administrator shall also conduct an annual study of occupational health issues relating to employment in and around coal mines of this state and submit a report to the board with findings and proposals to address the issues raised in such study. The administrator is responsible for preparing the annual reports required by subsection (e), section four of this article and section nine of this article.