(225 ILCS 705/Art. 6 heading)
ARTICLE 6.
MINE EXAMINERS--REQUIREMENTS AND DUTIES.
|
(225 ILCS 705/6.01) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 601)
Sec. 6.01.
Each applicant for a certificate of competency as mine examiner
shall produce evidence satisfactory to the Mining Board that he is a
citizen of the United States, at least 21 years of age and of good
repute and temperate habits and that he has had at least 4 years
practical underground mining experience,
and has been issued a First Class Certificate of Competency by the
Department of Natural Resources.
He shall pass an examination as to his
experience in mines generating dangerous gases, his practical and
technological knowledge of the nature and properties of mine gases, the laws
of ventilation, the structures and use of safety lamps, and the laws of
this State relating to safeguards against fires from any source in mines.
He shall also submit to the Mining Board satisfactory evidence that he has
completed a course of training in first aid to the injured and mine rescue
methods and appliances prescribed by the Department. Persons who
have graduated and hold a degree in engineering or an approved 4-year program
in coal mining technology
from an accredited
school, college, or university, are required to have only 2 years of
practical underground mining experience to qualify for the examination for a
certificate of competency.
Persons who have graduated and hold a two-year Associate in Applied
Science Degree in Coal Mining Technology from an accredited school, college
or university are required to have only 3 years' practical underground
mining experience to qualify for the examination for a Certificate of
Competency as a Mine Examiner.
(Source: P.A. 89-445, eff. 2-7-96.)
|
(225 ILCS 705/6.02) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 602)
Sec. 6.02.
Certified mine examiner.
A certificated mine examiner shall
be required at all coal mines. There shall be one or more additional
certificated mine examiners whenever required in writing by the State Mine
Inspector when the conditions are such as to make the employment of such
additional mine examiners necessary.
(Source: P.A. 87-1133; 88-185.)
|
(225 ILCS 705/6.03) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 603)
Sec. 6.03.
The mine examiner shall perform the duties set out in Sections
6.04 to 6.11, inclusive.
(Source: Laws 1953, p. 701.)
|
(225 ILCS 705/6.04) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 604)
Sec. 6.04.
(A) In gassy mines:
1. When the mine is to be operated he shall examine the prescribed
working places of such mine within 4 hours before any workers in such
shift, other than the examiner or the examiners designated by the Mine
Manager to make the examination, enter the underground areas of the
mine. Examine every active working place in the mine and make tests
therein with a permissible flame safety lamp for accumulation of methane
and oxygen deficiency in the air therein; examine seals and doors to
determine whether they are functioning properly; inspect and test the
roof, face and rib conditions in the working areas and on active
roadways and travelways; inspect active roadways, travelways, approaches
to abandoned workings and accessible falls in active sections for
explosive gas and other hazards; and inspect to determine whether the
air in each split is traveling in its proper course and in normal
volume.
2. On non-coal producing shifts he shall examine the mine in its
entirety the same as for a coal producing shift, except where men are to
work only in the shaft, slope or drift or on the immediate shaft
bottom, then only that area immediately surrounding the bottom need be
examined.
(B) In non-gassy mines:
1. He shall examine the underground areas in the mine at least once
in each calendar day during which coal is produced. Such examination
shall be made within 4 hours immediately preceding the beginning of the
first coal-producing shift on such day.
2. On idle days he shall examine all sections of the mine where men
are required to work.
3. On idle nights, if the mine has been examined for the day shift
and the men are to work in sections previously examined and no coal is
to be mined, no further examination shall be required.
(C) One examination on each day when workers perform production or
idle day work shall include the escape ways required by Sections 19.11
and 19.13.
(Source: P.A. 81-992.)
|
(225 ILCS 705/6.05) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 605)
Sec. 6.05.
When in the performance of his duties, he shall carry with him a
safety lamp in proper order and condition and a rod or bar for sounding the
roof.
(Source: Laws 1953, p. 701.)
|
(225 ILCS 705/6.06) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 606)
Sec. 6.06.
He shall see that the air current is traveling in its proper
course and in proper quantity; and measure with an anemometer the amount of
air passing in the last cross-cut or break-through of each pair of entries,
or in the last room of each division in long-wall mines, and at all other
points where he may deem it necessary; and note the result of such
measurements in the mine examiner's book kept for that purpose.
(Source: Laws 1953, p. 701.)
|
(225 ILCS 705/6.07) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 607)
Sec. 6.07.
He shall inspect all places where men are required in the
performance of their duties to pass or to work, and observe whether there
are any recent falls or dangerous roof or accumulations of gas or dangerous
conditions in rooms or roadways; and examine especially all roadways
leading to escapement shafts or other openings for the safe exit of men to
the surface, the edges and accessible parts of recent falls and old gobs
and air-courses.
(Source: Laws 1953, p. 701.)
|
(225 ILCS 705/6.08) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 608)
Sec. 6.08.
As evidence of his examination of said doors, rooms and roadways
as provided for in this Article, he shall inscribe with chalk in some
suitable place on the doors, the roof or walls of rooms and roadways, but
not on the face of the coal, his initials and the date of his examination.
(Source: Laws 1953, p. 701 .)
|
(225 ILCS 705/6.09) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 609)
Sec. 6.09.
When working places are discovered in which there are recent
falls, dangerous roof, accumulation of gas or other dangerous conditions,
he shall place, in all entrance ways to said working places where dangerous
conditions exist, conspicuous marks or signs to "keep out". Should he find
that the provisions of Section 24.03, with reference to distance rock
dusting is back from the face, are not complied with, he shall record such
condition, and the place, in his daily examination report.
(Source: Laws 1955, p. 2012.)
|
(225 ILCS 705/6.10) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 610)
Sec. 6.10.
Upon completing his examination, he shall make a daily record of
the same in a book kept for that purpose, for the information of the
company, the State Mine Inspector and all other persons interested; and
this record shall be made each morning before the miners are permitted to
enter the mine.
(Source: Laws 1953, p. 701.)
|
(225 ILCS 705/6.11) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 611)
Sec. 6.11.
Should any dangerous conditions be found as described in Section
6.09, he shall record the same in the daily record book of examinations,
setting forth the nature of the conditions found and the location of same.
(Source: Laws 1955, p. 2012.)
|
(225 ILCS 705/6.12) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 612)
Sec. 6.12.
It shall be unlawful for the operator of any mine to have in his
service as mine examiner any person who does not hold a certificate of
competency issued by the Mining Board except that anyone holding a mine
manager's certificate may serve as a mine examiner; but in any mine
employing more than 25 men, the mine manager shall not act in the capacity
of mine examiner while acting as mine manager. However, whenever any
exigency arises by which it is impossible for any operator to secure the
immediate services of a certificated examiner, he may employ any
trustworthy and experienced man of the mine inspection district to act as
temporary mine examiner for a period not exceeding 7 days, and with the
approval of the State Mine Inspector of the district, for a further period
not exceeding 23 days. The employment of persons who do not hold
certificates as mine examiners shall in no case exceed the limit of time
specified herein, and the State Mine Inspector shall not approve of the
employment of such persons beyond the 23 day limit.
(Source: Laws 1953, p. 701.)
|
(225 ILCS 705/6.13) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 613)
Sec. 6.13.
Effective on or after January 1, 1977, it shall be unlawful
for the operator of any mine to employ underground any person in a
supervisory capacity who does not hold a certificate of competency as a
mine examiner or mine manager issued by the Mining Board; except those
engineering and maintenance supervisors who supervise persons engaged in
the maintenance and repair of underground equipment,
provided that these
supervisors have had training in mine ventilation and mine related
hazards approved by the Mining Board. Upon request, the Mining Board
may issue a temporary certificate of competency as mine examiner or mine
manager to any person who possesses a valid equivalent certificate
issued by the appropriate agency in another state, provided however that
such temporary certificate shall be valid only until the first available
examination given by the Mining Board
or 6 months, whichever is longer.
(Source: P.A. 80-296.)
|
(225 ILCS 705/6.14) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 614)
Sec. 6.14.
The certificate of any mine examiner may be cancelled and revoked
by the Mining Board upon notice and hearing as hereinafter provided, if it
shall be established in the judgment of the Mining Board that the holder
thereof has obtained said certificate by fraud or misrepresentation of his
experience or has become unworthy to hold said certificate by reason of
violation of the law, intemperate habits, incapacity, abuse of authority or
for any other cause. However, any person against whom charges or complaints
are made hereunder shall have the right to appear before the Mining Board
and defend himself against said charges, and he shall have 15 days' notice
in writing of such charges previous to such hearing. The Mining Board, in
its discretion, may suspend the certificate of any person charged as
aforesaid, pending such hearing, but the hearing shall not be unreasonably
deferred.
(Source: Laws 1953, p. 701.)
|
(225 ILCS 705/6.15) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 615)
Sec. 6.15.
In mines classified as gassy, a sufficient number of men trained
in the use of a permissible flame safety lamp shall be employed by the
operator, who shall examine the mine for obnoxious and inflammable gases
while men are working therein.
(Source: Laws 1953, p. 701.)
|
(225 ILCS 705/6.16) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 616)
Sec. 6.16.
When in the judgment of the State Mine Inspector, expressed in
writing to the mine operator, certain sections of a mine generate dangerous
quantities of explosive gases, the State Mine Inspector shall require those
sections of the mine to be examined for gas in a prescribed manner and at
shorter intervals of time than 4 hours preceding the time the day shift
goes on duty for every day in which the mine is to be operated.
(Source: Laws 1953, p. 701.)
|
|