Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 50, December 13, 2024
Section 48-2-3 - Course Outline For Training For Prospective Underground Coal Miners3.1. This course outline is sequenced by instructional units for eighty (80) hours of student-teacher contact. Implementation of this program may be achieved by using the training materials available through the West Virginia Office of Miners' Health, Safety and Training. Alternatively, individual training centers may implement the outline through their own resources as approved by the Board of Coal Mine Health and Safety.3.2. General Orientation to Mining - Estimated Time: four (4) hours. 3.2.1. How coal is mined.3.2.2. Types of coal mines.3.2.3. Types of mining methods.3.2.4. Basic coal mining terminology.3.3. Introduction to General Mine Safety - Estimated Time: four (4) hours: two and one half (2-1/2) hours for General Mine Safety; one and one half (1-1/2) hours of Self-Rescuer.3.3.1. Preparation for underground tour.3.3.2. Personal safety equipment.3.3.3. Safety procedures for riding man trip in and/or out of mine.3.3.4. Hazards and precautions of moving around the mine.3.3.5. Use of the self-rescuer (demonstration and practice).3.4. Underground Mine Tour - Estimated Time: six (6) hours: one (1) hour for above ground briefing; four (4) hours for tour; one (1) hour for debriefing. (NOTE: If an underground tour is not possible, videos or other appropriate instructional experiences may be substituted.)3.5. First Aid-Part One. - Estimated Time: two (2) hours.3.5.1. What first aid is.3.5.2. How first aid should be administered (treat life-threatening conditions first).3.5.3. Demonstration and practice of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (C.P.R. and AED.)3.5.4. Demonstration and practice of mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.3.6. Recognition and Avoidance of Electrical Hazards - Estimated Time: four (4) hours. 3.6.1. Basic electricity.3.6.2. Conductors and nonconductors of electricity.3.6.3. Recognition and prevention of electrical hazards.3.6.4. Removal and treatment of a person in contact with dangerous electrical circuits.3.7. General Safety. - Part One. - Estimated Time: two (2) hours.3.7.1. NOTE: General Safety includes non-coal mining specific safety procedures, precautions and practices.3.7.1.a. Recognition of potential accident-producing situations.3.7.1.b. Lifting procedures for high and low coal.3.7.1.c. Proper handling of supplies and materials.3.8. First Aid. -- Part Two. -- Estimated Time: two (2) hours.3.8.1. Demonstration and practice of different methods of artificial respiration.3.8.2. Control of bleeding.3.9. Mine Gases and Their Detection. - Estimated Time: four and one half (4-1/2) hours. 3.9.1. Types of mine gases and their effects on the human body.3.9.2. Methods of detection.3.9.3. Demonstration and use of hand-held approved multi-gas detectors. The trainee needs to be familiar with how these testing devices are used; he/she does not need to be skilled in their use at this point.3.10. Fire Prevention and Control. - Estimated Time: three (3) hours.3.10.1. Causes of mine fires and explosions.3.10.2. Preventive measures.3.10.3. Primary and alternate methods of fire Control.3.10.4. Demonstration and practice in using a portable fire extinguisher.3.10.5. Location of fire fighting materials in the mine.3.11. Ventilation and Mine Mapping. - Estimated Time: five and one half (5-1/2) hours.3.11.1. Introduction to mine ventilation systems.3.11.2. Principal ventilation system components.3.11.3. Methods of ventilating the working face with blowing and exhausting fan systems.3.11.4. Minimum distances from line curtain to face and curtains to ribs.3.11.5. Procedures for hanging check curtains.3.11.6. Mine maps and mine map symbols.3.11.7. Primary and alternate escape ways on mine maps and section maps.3.12. First Aid-Part Three. - Estimated Time: two (2) hours.3.12.2. Treatment of physical shock.3.12.3. Dressing of open wounds.3.13. Roof and Rib Control. - Estimated Time: six (6) hours. 3.13.1. Recognition of hazardous roof and rib conditions.3.13.2. Instruction in visual inspection.3.13.3. Demonstration and practice of the sound and vibration method of inspection.3.13.4. Use of the slate bar.3.13.5. Appropriate actions for new miner under hazardous roof and rib conditions.3.13.6. Introduction to basic roof support systems.3.13.7. Correct and incorrect installation of conventional roof supports.3.13.8. Correct and incorrect installation of roof bolts.3.14. Haulage and Equipment Safety. -- Estimated Time: seven (7) hours. 3.14.1. Hazards and safety practices of working around, near, or on both track haulage equipment and rubber tired vehicles.3.14.2. Track haulage communication.3.15. State and Federal Laws and Regulations. - Estimated Time: two (2) hours. 3.15.1. State and federal laws that pertain to a new miner.3.15.2. Drug and alcohol testing (W. Va. Code § 22A-1A-1et seq. and 56 CSR §19-1 et seq.)3.16. First Aid-Part Four. - Estimated Time: two (2) hours. 3.16.1. Practice C.P.R. and artificial respiration.3.16.2. Treatment of burns, closed wounds, strains, sprains, and ruptures.3.17. Miner and Operator Rights and Responsibilities. - Estimated Time: three (3) hours. 3.17.2. Company policies.3.17.3. Legal rights and responsibilities.3.17.4. Grievance procedures.3.18. Health and Sanitation. - Estimated Time: two (2) hours. 3.18.1. Detection, causes and prevention of pneumoconiosis, hearing damage, and respirable dust disorders.3.18.2. Federal health and safety, but as it pertains specifically to health and sanitation.3.19. First Aid-Part Five. - Estimated Time: two (2) hours.3.19.1. C.P.R. and artificial respiration practice.3.19.2. Treatment of fractures and dislocations.3.19.3. Transporting the injured.3.20. General Safety-Part Two. - Estimated Time: four (4) hours.3.20.1. Accident causes and prevention.3.20.3. Selection of appropriate tools for tasks.3.20.4. Interpersonal communications.3.20.5. Supervisor-employee relations.3.20.6. Safety attitudes.3.21. General Mine Safety. - Estimated Time: seven (7) hours.3.21.1. Hazards and related safety practices for low coal, high coal, wet mines.3.21.2. Long wall, mobile bridge conveyor system, and related hazards.3.21.3. Good housekeeping.3.21.4. Cleaning activities and related hazards around ribs, tailpieces and belts.3.21.5. Mine communication systems.3.21.6. Emergency procedures.3.21.7. When and how to build barricades and the use of refuge alternatives.3.22. First Aid-Part Four. - Estimated Time: two (2) hours.3.22.1. Location of first aid materials in an underground coal mine.3.22.1. Review and practice of first aid procedures.3.23. Summary and Debriefing. - Estimated Time: four (4) hours. 3.23.1. Review of major points.3.23.2. Question and answer problem-solving session.3.23.3. Permit of apprenticeship examination.