A. The operator and his agent shall cooperate with the mine foreman and other officials in the discharge of their duties as required by the Act. Such operator and agent shall direct the mine foreman and all other miners employed at the mine to comply with all provisions of the Act, especially when the attention of such operator or agent is called by the Chief, the Director, or a mine inspector to any violation of the Act.
B. The operator of any mine or his agent shall operate each of his mines at all times in full conformity with the Act and any other mining law of the Commonwealth, including regulations adopted by the Department or the Board. This requirement shall not relieve any other person who is subject to the provisions of the Act from his duty to comply with the requirements of the Act.
C. Nothing in the Act shall be construed to relieve an operator or his agent from the duty imposed at common law to secure the reasonable safety of his employees.
D. No operator, agent, or certified person shall knowingly permit any person to work in any part of a mine in violation of written instructions issued by a mine inspector pursuant to the Act.
E. The operator or his agent shall fully comply with any action plan required by the Chief to address hazardous conditions or practices.
Code 1950, §§ 45-7, 45-8, 45-12, 45-68.4, 45-69, 45-73, 45-75, 45-78, 45-79, 45-81, 45-83 to 45-85; 1950, p. 156; 1954, c. 191; 1966, c. 594, §§ 45.1-21, 45.1-30, 45.1-104; 1972, c. 784; 1974, c. 323; 1975, c. 320; 1976, c. 598; 1978, cc. 120, 222, 489, 729; 1982, cc. 118, 255; 1984, cc. 178, 590; 1988, c. 577; 1990, c. 963; 1993, cc. 171, 442; 1994, c. 28, § 45.1-161.14; 2005, c. 3; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 387.
Structure Code of Virginia
Title 45.2 - Mines, Minerals, and Energy
Chapter 5 - Coal Mine Safety Act
§ 45.2-500. Coal Mine Safety Act
§ 45.2-503. Special safety rules
§ 45.2-504. Age requirement to work in mines
§ 45.2-505. Prohibited acts by miners or other persons; miners to comply with law
§ 45.2-506. Safety materials and supplies
§ 45.2-507. Notifying miners of violations; compliance with Act
§ 45.2-508. Appointment of Chief
§ 45.2-509. Qualification of Chief
§ 45.2-511. Appointment and general qualifications of mine inspectors
§ 45.2-512. Qualifications of coal mine inspectors
§ 45.2-513. Duties of the Chief; penalty
§ 45.2-514. Technical specialists
§ 45.2-515. Board of Coal Mining Examiners; purpose
§ 45.2-516. Board membership; terms; meetings
§ 45.2-517. Board compensation; expenses
§ 45.2-518. Records of the Board
§ 45.2-519. Nominations for the Board
§ 45.2-520. Certification of certain persons employed in coal mines; powers and duties of the Board
§ 45.2-521. Examinations required for Coal Mining Certifications
§ 45.2-522. Performance of certain tasks by uncertified persons; penalty
§ 45.2-523. Coal Mining Examiners' Fund
§ 45.2-525. Replacement of lost or destroyed certificates
§ 45.2-526. Reciprocal acceptances of other certifications
§ 45.2-527. Continuing education requirements
§ 45.2-528. Board action; suspend, revoke, or take other action
§ 45.2-530. General coal miner certification
§ 45.2-531. First-class mine foreman certification
§ 45.2-532. Surface foreman certification
§ 45.2-533. Chief electrician certification
§ 45.2-534. Top person certification
§ 45.2-535. License required for operation of a coal mine; term
§ 45.2-536. Coal Mine Operator License Fund
§ 45.2-537. Application for license for the operation of a coal mine
§ 45.2-538. Denial or revocation of license for the operation of a coal mine
§ 45.2-539. Operating without license; penalty
§ 45.2-540. Annual reports; condition to issuance of license following transfer of ownership
§ 45.2-543. When the Chief may cause maps to be made; payment by operator
§ 45.2-544. Making false statements; penalty
§ 45.2-545. Mine rescue and first aid stations
§ 45.2-547. Duty to train teams
§ 45.2-548. Qualification for team membership; direction of teams
§ 45.2-550. Requirements of recovery work
§ 45.2-551. State-designated mine rescue teams
§ 45.2-553. Inspections; Mine Rescue Coordinator
§ 45.2-554. Workers' compensation; liability
§ 45.2-555. Reports of explosions and mine fires; procedure
§ 45.2-556. Operators' reports of accidents; investigations; reports by Department
§ 45.2-557. Reports of other accidents and injuries
§ 45.2-558. Duties of mine inspectors
§ 45.2-559. Frequency of mine inspections
§ 45.2-560. Evaluation of risks at mines
§ 45.2-561. Review of inspection reports and records
§ 45.2-562. Advance notice of inspections; confidentiality of trade secrets
§ 45.2-563. Scheduling of mine inspections
§ 45.2-565. Duties of operator
§ 45.2-566. Duties of inspectors
§ 45.2-567. Inspection reports
§ 45.2-568. Notices of violations
§ 45.2-570. Tolling of time for abating violations
§ 45.2-572. Violations; penalty
§ 45.2-573. Prosecution of violations
§ 45.2-575. Reports of violations
§ 45.2-576. Virginia Coal Mine Safety Board; purpose
§ 45.2-577. Membership; terms; compensation; quorum; meetings
§ 45.2-578. Powers and duties of the Virginia Coal Mine Safety Board