A. Documentation of examinations and testing conducted pursuant to § 45.1-161.256 shall be recorded in a mine record book provided for that purpose. Documentation shall include hazardous conditions found in the work area. However, examinations of fire extinguishers shall be conducted by an authorized person and documentation shall be accomplished by recording the date of the examination on a permanent tag attached to the extinguisher.

B. The actual methane readings taken during examinations required under this Act shall be recorded in the mine record book.

C. The surface foreman shall maintain and sign a daily record book. Where such reports disclose hazardous conditions, the surface foreman shall take prompt action to have such conditions corrected, barricaded, or posted with warning signs.

D. Records shall be countersigned by the supervisor of the examiner creating the records. Where such records disclose hazardous conditions, the countersigning of the records shall be performed no later than the end of the next regularly scheduled working shift following the shift for which the examination records were completed, and the person countersigning shall ensure that actions to eliminate or control the hazardous conditions have been taken. Where such records do not disclose hazardous conditions, the countersigning may be completed within 24 hours following the end of the shift for which the examination records were completed. The operator may authorize another person with equivalent authority of the supervisor to act in the supervisor’s temporary absence to read and countersign the records and ensure that action is taken to eliminate the hazardous conditions disclosed in the records.

E. All records of inspections shall be open for inspection by interested persons and maintained at the mine site for a minimum of one year.

History

Code 1950, §§ 45-32, 45-33, 45-60.4, 45-61, 45-68.1, 45-69.7; 1954, c. 191; 1966, c. 594, §§ 45.1-20, 45.1-42, 45.1-65; 1976, c. 598; 1978, cc. 118, 120; 1982, c. 385; 1994, c. 28; 1996, c. 774; 1999, c. 256; 2005, c. 3; 2007, cc. 894, 914.