§ 45.2-553. Inspections; Mine Rescue Coordinator
A. The Director shall (i) inspect, or cause to be inspected, the rescue station of each state-designated mine rescue team four times each year; (ii) ensure that all rescue stations are adequately equipped; and (iii) ensure that all team members are adequately trained. B. The Director shall designate an employee of the Department as the […]
§ 45.2-554. Workers’ compensation; liability
A. For the purpose of workers’ compensation coverage, during any mine disaster to which a state-designated mine rescue team responds under the provisions of this article or during any training exercise for a state-designated mine rescue team, members of the state-designated team shall be deemed to be within the employment of the operator of the […]
§ 45.2-551. State-designated mine rescue teams
The Director may, upon the request of an operator or agent who employs a mine rescue team, designate two or more mine rescue teams as “state-designated mine rescue teams.” Any team that is certified as a mine rescue team by MSHA under 30 C.F.R. Part 49 shall be eligible to be a state-designated mine rescue […]
§ 45.2-552. Mine Rescue Fund
The Mine Rescue Fund, referred to in this section as “the Fund,” is hereby created as a special nonreverting fund in the state treasury. The Fund shall be established on the books of the Comptroller. All moneys collected from operators pursuant to agreements entered into by the Director shall be paid into the state treasury […]
§ 45.2-550. Requirements of recovery work
A. During recovery work and prior to entering any mine, every mine rescue team conducting recovery work shall be properly informed of existing conditions by the operator or his agent in charge. B. Each mine rescue team performing rescue or recovery work with breathing apparatus shall be provided with a backup team of equal strength […]
§ 45.2-547. Duty to train teams
It is the duty and responsibility of the Department to see that every team is properly trained by a qualified instructor of the Department or other person who has a certificate of training from the Department or MSHA. 1975, c. 432, § 45.1-33.2; 1984, c. 590; 1994, c. 28, § 45.1-161.69; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, […]
§ 45.2-548. Qualification for team membership; direction of teams
A. To qualify for membership in a mine rescue team, an applicant shall be an experienced miner and shall pass a physical examination by a licensed physician, physician assistant, or licensed nurse practitioner at least annually. A record that such examination was taken shall be kept on file by the operator who employs the team […]
§ 45.2-549. Team members to be considered employees of the mine where emergency exists; compensation; workers’ compensation
When engaged in rescue or recovery work during an emergency at a mine, all team members assigned to the work shall be considered, during the period of their work, employees of the mine where the emergency exists and shall be compensated by the operator at the rate established in the area for such work. In […]
§ 45.2-546. Mine rescue teams
The Director may have trained and employed at the mine rescue and first aid stations operated by the Department mine rescue teams as he determines necessary. Each member of a mine rescue team shall devote four hours each month for training purposes and shall be available at all times to assist in rescue work. Members […]
§ 45.2-545. Mine rescue and first aid stations
The Director may purchase, equip, and operate for the use of the Department mine rescue and first aid stations as he determines necessary for the adequate provision of mine rescue and recovery services at all mines in the Commonwealth. 1975, c. 432, § 45.1-33.1; 1984, c. 590; 1994, c. 28, § 45.1-161.67; 2021, Sp. Sess. […]