§22A-7-7. Continuing education requirements for underground mine foreman-fire boss.
(a) An underground mine foreman-fire boss certified pursuant to this article on or after the effective date of this section shall complete the continuing education requirements in this section within two years of their certification and every two years thereafter. The continuing education requirements of this section may not be satisfied by the completion of other training requirements mandated by the provisions of this chapter.
(b) In order to receive continuing education credit pursuant to this section, a mine foreman-fire boss shall satisfactorily complete a mine foreman-fire boss continuing education course approved by the board and taught by a qualified instructor approved by the director. The mine foreman-fire boss shall not suffer a loss in pay while attending a continuing education course. The mine foreman-fire boss shall submit documentation to the office certified by the instructor that indicates the required continuing education has been completed prior to the deadlines set forth in this subsection: Provided, That a mine foreman-fire boss may submit documentation of continuing education completed in another state for approval and acceptance by the board.
(c) The mine foreman-fire boss shall complete at least eight hours of continuing education every two years.
(d) The content of the continuing education course shall include, but not be limited to:
(1) Selected provisions of this chapter and 30 U. S. C. § 801, et seq.;
(2) Selected provisions of the West Virginia and federal underground coal mine health and safety rules and regulations;
(3) The responsibilities of a mine foreman-fire boss;
(4) Selected policies and memoranda of the Office of Miners’ Health, Safety and Training, the Board of Coal Mine Health and Safety, and from any safety analysis performed by the company;
(5) A review of fatality and accident trends in underground coal mines; and
(6) The board shall solicit input from mining companies on the substance of the training and discuss how the training shall be scheduled during the year.
(e) The board may approve alternative training programs tailored to specific mines.
(f) A mine foreman-fire boss who fails to complete the requirements of this section shall have his or her certification suspended pending completion of the continuing education requirements. During the pendency of the suspension, the individual may not perform statutory duties assigned to a mine foreman-fire boss under West Virginia law. The office shall send notice of any suspension to the last address the certified mine foreman-fire boss reported to the director. If the requirements are not met within two years of the suspension date, the director may file a petition with the Board of Appeals pursuant to the procedures set forth in section thirty-one, article one of this chapter and, upon determining that the requirements have not been met, the Board of Appeals may revoke the mine foreman-fire boss’ certification, which shall not be renewed except upon successful completion of the examination prescribed by law for mine foremen-fire bosses or upon completion of other training requirements established by the board: Provided, That an individual having his or her mine foreman-fire boss certification suspended pursuant to this section who also holds a valid mine foreman-fire boss certification from another state may have the suspension lifted by completing training requirements established by the board.
(g) The office shall make a program of instruction that meets the requirements for continuing education set forth in this section regularly available in regions of the State, based on demand, for individuals possessing mine foreman-fire boss certifications who are not serving in a mine foreman-fire boss capacity: Provided, That the office may collect a fee from program participants to offset the cost of the program.
(h) The office shall make available to operators and other interested parties a list of individuals whose mine foreman-fire boss certification is in suspension or has been revoked.
