{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/45.2-550.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/45.2-550.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/45.2-550.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/45.2-550.html"}],"law_id":364342,"edition_id":2,"section_id":364342,"structure_id":52005,"section_number":"45.2-550","catch_line":" Requirements of recovery work","history":"1975, c. 432, \u00a7 45.1-33.5; 1984, c. 590; 1994, c. 28, \u00a7 45.1-161.72; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 387.","full_text":"A\n\nDuring recovery work and prior to entering any mine, every mine rescue team conducting recovery work shall be properly informed of existing conditions by the operator or his agent in charge.\n\nB\n\nEach mine rescue team performing rescue or recovery work with breathing apparatus shall be provided with a backup team of equal strength stationed at each fresh air base.\n\nC\n\nFor every two teams performing work underground, one six-member team shall be stationed at the mine portal.\n\nD\n\nTwo-way communication, life lines, or their equivalent shall be provided by the fresh air base to each team, and no team member shall be permitted to advance beyond such communication system.\n\nE\n\nA mine rescue team shall immediately return to the fresh air base if any team member’s breathing apparatus malfunctions or the low-oxygen alarm activates.\n\nF\n\nThe Director may also assign rescue and recovery work to inspectors, instructors, or other qualified employees of the Department as the Director determines desirable.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1357381,"text":"During recovery work and prior to entering any mine, every mine rescue team conducting recovery work shall be properly informed of existing conditions by the operator or his agent in charge.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":1357382,"text":"Each mine rescue team performing rescue or recovery work with breathing apparatus shall be provided with a backup team of equal strength stationed at each fresh air base.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":1357383,"text":"For every two teams performing work underground, one six-member team shall be stationed at the mine portal.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":1357384,"text":"Two-way communication, life lines, or their equivalent shall be provided by the fresh air base to each team, and no team member shall be permitted to advance beyond such communication system.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"4":{"id":1357385,"text":"A mine rescue team shall immediately return to the fresh air base if any team member’s breathing apparatus malfunctions or the low-oxygen alarm activates.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D","next_prefix":"F"},"5":{"id":1357386,"text":"The Director may also assign rescue and recovery work to inspectors, instructors, or other qualified employees of the Department as the Director determines desirable.","type":"section","prefixes":["F"],"prefix":"F","entire_prefix":"F","prefix_anchor":"F","level":1,"prior_prefix":"E"}},"ancestry":[{"id":52005,"edition_id":2,"name":"Mine Rescue Teams","identifier":"5","label":"article","depth":5,"order_by":5,"parent_id":52000,"metadata":{"child_laws":10,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:51:59","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:33:34","permalink":{"id":1449857,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52005,"identifier":"5","token":"45.2\/II\/A\/5\/5","url":"\/45.2\/II\/A\/5\/5\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":52000,"edition_id":2,"name":"Coal Mine Safety Act","identifier":"5","label":"chapter","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":51999,"metadata":{"child_laws":82,"child_structures":10},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:51:54","date_modified":"2026-08-02 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12:33:33","permalink":{"id":1449649,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":51931,"identifier":"II","token":"45.2\/II","url":"\/45.2\/II\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":51927,"edition_id":2,"name":"Mines, Minerals, and Energy","identifier":"45.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":99,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":627,"child_structures":120},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:51:17","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:33:32","permalink":{"id":1449541,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":51927,"identifier":"45.2","token":"45.2","url":"\/45.2\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":364337,"structure_id":52005,"section_number":"45.2-545","catch_line":" Mine rescue and first aid stations","url":"\/45.2-545\/","token":"45.2\/II\/A\/5\/5\/45.2-545","metadata":false},{"id":364338,"structure_id":52005,"section_number":"45.2-546","catch_line":" Mine rescue teams","url":"\/45.2-546\/","token":"45.2\/II\/A\/5\/5\/45.2-546","metadata":false},{"id":364339,"structure_id":52005,"section_number":"45.2-547","catch_line":" Duty to train teams","url":"\/45.2-547\/","token":"45.2\/II\/A\/5\/5\/45.2-547","metadata":false},{"id":364340,"structure_id":52005,"section_number":"45.2-548","catch_line":"Qualification for team membership; direction of teams","url":"\/45.2-548\/","token":"45.2\/II\/A\/5\/5\/45.2-548","metadata":false},{"id":364341,"structure_id":52005,"section_number":"45.2-549","catch_line":" Team members to be considered employees of the mine where emergency exists; compensation; workers' compensation","url":"\/45.2-549\/","token":"45.2\/II\/A\/5\/5\/45.2-549","metadata":false},{"id":364342,"structure_id":52005,"section_number":"45.2-550","catch_line":" Requirements of recovery work","url":"\/45.2-550\/","token":"45.2\/II\/A\/5\/5\/45.2-550","metadata":false},{"id":364343,"structure_id":52005,"section_number":"45.2-551","catch_line":" State-designated mine rescue teams","url":"\/45.2-551\/","token":"45.2\/II\/A\/5\/5\/45.2-551","metadata":false},{"id":364344,"structure_id":52005,"section_number":"45.2-552","catch_line":" Mine Rescue Fund","url":"\/45.2-552\/","token":"45.2\/II\/A\/5\/5\/45.2-552","metadata":false},{"id":364345,"structure_id":52005,"section_number":"45.2-553","catch_line":" Inspections; Mine Rescue Coordinator","url":"\/45.2-553\/","token":"45.2\/II\/A\/5\/5\/45.2-553","metadata":false},{"id":364346,"structure_id":52005,"section_number":"45.2-554","catch_line":" Workers' compensation; liability","url":"\/45.2-554\/","token":"45.2\/II\/A\/5\/5\/45.2-554","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":364341,"structure_id":52005,"section_number":"45.2-549","catch_line":" Team members to be considered employees of the mine where emergency exists; compensation; workers' compensation","url":"\/45.2-549\/","token":"45.2\/II\/A\/5\/5\/45.2-549","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":364343,"structure_id":52005,"section_number":"45.2-551","catch_line":" State-designated mine rescue teams","url":"\/45.2-551\/","token":"45.2\/II\/A\/5\/5\/45.2-551","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/45.2-550\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1975. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 432 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1975 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 2 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1984, chapter 590; in 1994, chapter 28<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":1449879,"object_type":"law","relational_id":364342,"identifier":"45.2-550","token":"45.2\/II\/A\/5\/5\/45.2-550","url":"\/45.2-550\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/45.2-550\/","token":"45.2\/II\/A\/5\/5\/45.2-550","dublin_core":{"Title":" Requirements of recovery work","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 45.2-550","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> During recovery work and prior to entering any mine, every mine rescue team conducting recovery work shall be properly informed of existing conditions by the operator or his agent in charge. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Each mine rescue team performing rescue or recovery work with breathing apparatus shall be provided with a backup team of equal strength stationed at each fresh air base. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> For every two teams performing work underground, one six-member team shall be stationed at the mine portal. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> Two-way communication, life lines, or their equivalent shall be provided by the fresh air base to each team, and no team member shall be permitted to advance beyond such communication system. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> A mine rescue team shall immediately return to the fresh air base if any team member’s breathing apparatus malfunctions or the low-oxygen alarm activates. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

F.<\/span> The Director<\/span> may also assign rescue and recovery work to inspectors, instructors, or other qualified employees of the Department<\/span> as the Director<\/span> determines desirable. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\n REQUIREMENTS OF RECOVERY WORK (\u00a7 45.2-550)\n\nA. During recovery work and prior to entering any mine, every mine rescue team\nconducting recovery work shall be properly informed of existing conditions by\nthe operator or his agent in charge.\n\nB. Each mine rescue team performing rescue or recovery work with breathing\napparatus shall be provided with a backup team of equal strength stationed at\neach fresh air base.\n\nC. For every two teams performing work underground, one six-member team shall be\nstationed at the mine portal.\n\nD. Two-way communication, life lines, or their equivalent shall be provided by\nthe fresh air base to each team, and no team member shall be permitted to\nadvance beyond such communication system.\n\nE. A mine rescue team shall immediately return to the fresh air base if any team\nmember’s breathing apparatus malfunctions or the low-oxygen alarm\nactivates.\n\nF. The Director may also assign rescue and recovery work to inspectors,\ninstructors, or other qualified employees of the Department as the Director\ndetermines desirable.\n\nHISTORY: 1975, c. 432, \u00a7 45.1-33.5; 1984, c. 590; 1994, c. 28, \u00a7 45.1-161.72;\n2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 387.","edition":{"id":2,"name":"2026","slug":"2026","date_created":"2026-07-16 18:40:23","date_modified":"2026-08-02 15:14:36","current":1,"order_by":2,"last_import":"2026-08-02 12:37:30"}}