West Virginia Code
Article 2. Underground Mines
§22A-2-53a. Railroad Cars; Dumping Areas; Other Surface Areas

§22A-2-53a. Railroad cars; dumping areas; other surface areas.
(1) Employees handling railroad cars shall have access to and use an approved distinct audible signaling device to give warning when cars are in motion. Safety belts shall be worn and properly attached by all car droppers handling railroad cars. Railroad cars shall be maintained under control at all times. Cars shall be dropped at a safe rate of speed and in such a manner that will ensure the car dropper maintains a safe position while working and traveling around the car. Railroad cars shall not be coupled or uncoupled manually from the inside of curves unless the railroad and cars are so designed to eliminate any hazard from coupling or uncoupling from inside of curves.
(2) All dumping ramps shall be of a sufficient width to ensure safe operation of vehicles used thereon.
(3) All access roads leading to and from bath houses, portals, and other areas on which persons are expected to travel to and from work, shall be of sufficient width and be maintained in good condition. On haulage roads, guardrails or berms shall be provided on the outerbank of all elevated roads.
(4) Mobile surface loading and haulage equipment shall be inspected by a competent person before such equipment is placed into operation. Equipment defects affecting safety shall be corrected before the equipment is used.
(5) Safety protection, such as safety belts, lifelines, or lanyards to prevent a person from falling shall be provided at all times that miners are working in an area where the potential fall distance exceeds fifteen feet, except that safety belts shall not be used where they are impractical or would pose a greater hazard. Safety nets shall be provided when work places are more than twenty-five feet above the ground where the use of ladders, scaffolds, catch platforms, temporary floors, safety lines, or safety belts are impractical.

Structure West Virginia Code

West Virginia Code

Chapter 22A. Miners' Health, Safety and Training

Article 2. Underground Mines

§22A-2-1. Supervision by Professional Engineer or Licensed Land Surveyor; Seal and Certification; Contents; Extensions; Repository; Availability; Traversing; Copies; Archive; Final Survey and Map; Penalties

§22A-2-2. Submittal of Detailed Ventilation Plan to Director

§22A-2-3. Fans

§22A-2-4. Ventilation of Mines in General

§22A-2-4a. Use of Belt Air

§22A-2-5. Unused and Abandoned Parts of Mine

§22A-2-6. Requirements for Movement of Off-Track Mining Equipment in Areas of Active Workings Where Energized Trolley Wires or Trolley Feeder Wires Are Present; Premovement Requirements; Certified and Qualified Persons

§22A-2-7. When Underground Mine Foreman-Fire Boss Required; Assistants; Certification

§22A-2-8. Duties; Ventilation; Loose Coal, Slate or Rocks; Props; Drainage of Water; Man Doors; Instruction of Apprentice Miners

§22A-2-9. Slopes, Incline Planes and Haulage Roads

§22A-2-10. Signals on Haulways; Lights at Mouth and Bottom of Shaft; Operation of Cages

§22A-2-11. Boreholes

§22A-2-12. Instruction of Employees and Supervision of Apprentices; Annual Examination of Persons Using Approved Methane-Detecting Devices; Records of Examination; Maintenance of Methane Detectors, etc.

§22A-2-13. Daily Inspection of Working Places; Records

§22A-2-14. Safety Inspections; Removal of Gases

§22A-2-15. Dangerous Places

§22A-2-16. Examinations of Reports of Fire Bosses

§22A-2-17. Ascertainment, Record and Removal of All Dangers

§22A-2-18. Duty of Mine Foreman to Notify Operator When Unable to Comply With Law; Duty of Operator

§22A-2-19. Death or Resignation of Mine Foreman; Successor

§22A-2-20. Preparation of Danger Signal by Fire Boss or Certified Person Acting as Such Prior to Examination; Report; Records Open for Inspection

§22A-2-21. Fire Bosses to Have No Superior Officers

§22A-2-22. Unlawful to Enter Mine Until Fire Boss Reports It Safe; Exceptions

§22A-2-23. Authority of Fire Boss to Perform Other Duties

§22A-2-24. Control of Coal Dust; Rock Dusting

§22A-2-25. Roof Control Programs and Plans; Refusal to Work Under Unsupported Roof

§22A-2-26. Roof Support; Specific Requirements

§22A-2-27. Canopies or Cabs; Electric Face Equipment

§22A-2-28. Equipment to Conform With Height of Seam

§22A-2-29. Use of Authorized Explosives; Storage or Use of Unauthorized Explosives

§22A-2-30. Surface Magazines for Explosives

§22A-2-31. Transportation of Explosives

§22A-2-32. Underground Storage of Explosives

§22A-2-33. Preparation of Shots; Blasting Practices

§22A-2-34. Misfires of Explosives

§22A-2-35. Other Blasting Devices

§22A-2-36. Hoisting Machinery; Telephones; Safety Devices; Hoisting Engineers and Drum Runners

§22A-2-37. Haulage Roads and Equipment; Shelter Holes; Prohibited Practices; Signals; Inspection

§22A-2-38. Transportation of Miners by Cars; Self-Propelled Equipment; Belts

§22A-2-39. Belt Conveyor; Installation; Maintenance; Examination of Belt Conveyors and Belt Entries

§22A-2-40. General Provisions

§22A-2-41. Bonding Track Used as Power Conductor

§22A-2-42. Telephone Service or Communication Facilities

§22A-2-43. Actions to Detect and Respond to Excess Methane

§22A-2-43a. Operation of Cutting and Mining Machines; Repair and Maintenance of Same

§22A-2-44. Hand-Held Electric Drills and Rotating Tools; Trailing Cables

§22A-2-45. Installation of Lighting

§22A-2-46. Welding and Cutting

§22A-2-47. Responsibility for Care and Maintenance of Face Equipment

§22A-2-48. When Respiratory Equipment to Be Worn; Control of Dust

§22A-2-49. Safeguards for Mechanical Equipment

§22A-2-50. Procurement of Dust-Tight Electrical Equipment; Fireproof Construction; Dust Control; Repairs; Welding; Handrails and Toeboards; Protection of Personnel on Conveyors; Back Guards on Ladders; Walkways or Safety Devices Around Thickeners

§22A-2-51. Housekeeping

§22A-2-52. Storage of Flammable Liquids in Lamphouse

§22A-2-53. Smoking in and Around Surface Structures

§22A-2-53a. Railroad Cars; Dumping Areas; Other Surface Areas

§22A-2-53b. Haulage or Surface Areas

§22A-2-53c. Ramps; Tipples; Cleaning Plants; Other Surface Areas

§22A-2-54. Duties of Persons Subject to Article; Rules and Regulations of Operators

§22A-2-55. Protective Equipment and Clothing

§22A-2-55a. Safety Helmets

§22A-2-56. Checking Systems

§22A-2-57. No Act Permitted Endangering Security of Mine; Search for Intoxicants, Matches, etc.

§22A-2-58. Fire Protection

§22A-2-59. First-Aid Equipment

§22A-2-60. Accessible Outlets; Safe Roadways for Emergencies; Accessibility of First Aid Equipment; Use of Special Capsule for Removal of Personnel

§22A-2-61. Coal Storage Bins; Recovery Tunnels; Coal Storage Piles

§22A-2-62. Thermal Coal Dryers and Plants

§22A-2-63. No Mine to Be Opened or Reopened Without Prior Approval of the Director of the Office of Miners' Health, Safety and Training; Certificate of Approval; Approval Fees; Extension of Certificate of Approval; Certificates of Approval Not Transf...

§22A-2-64. Sealing Permanently Closed or Abandoned Mines

§22A-2-65. Mining Close to Abandoned Workings

§22A-2-66. Accident; Notice; Investigation by Office of Miners' Health, Safety and Training

§22A-2-67. Written Report of Accident

§22A-2-68. Preservation of Evidence Following Accident or Disaster

§22A-2-70. Shafts and Slopes

§22A-2-71. Right of Miner to Refuse to Operate Unsafe Equipment; Procedure; Discrimination

§22A-2-71a. Right of Miner to Refuse to Work in an Unsafe Area or Unsafe Manner

§22A-2-72. Long Wall and Short Wall Mining

§22A-2-73. Construction of Shafts, Slopes, Surface Facilities and the Safety Hazards Attendant Therewith; Duties of Board of Coal Mine Health and Safety to Promulgate Rules; Time Limits Therefor

§22A-2-74. Control of Respirable Dust

§22A-2-75. Coal Operators -- Procedure Before Operating Near Oil and Gas Wells

§22A-2-76. Reopening Old or Abandoned Mines

§22A-2-77. Quarterly Report by Operator of Mine; Exception as to Certain Inactive Mines

§22A-2-78. Examinations to Determine Compliance With Permits

§22A-2-79. Provisions of Article Severable

§22A-2-80. Existing Regulations to Be Revised