Kentucky Coal Facts - 13th Edition - Department for Energy ...

Mine Safety & Training
Basic Regulations & Overview
Safety and health standards are highly regulated by the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) and the
Kentucky Office of Mine Safety and Licensing (KOMSL).
All surface and underground mines are inspected regularly. Larger mines may have inspectors at the mine site every day.
All certifications and mining specialties, as established by the Kentucky Mining Board, must be signed by the Director (KOMSL)
verifying the holder has completed the requirements for certification. All coal miners must be drug tested prior to being issued
any new certification.
Training for Surface Miners
New miners must have 24 hours of training and pass a written exam before being eligible for employment at a surface mine.
Workers at prep plants, rail sidings, and river terminals must also meet those training requirements. The inexperienced miner
must work a minimum of 45 days at a surface mine before becoming a certified experienced miner. After the initial training,
each surface mine employee is required to receive eight hours of retraining annually.
To obtain a Surface Mine Foreman Certification, a miner must have three years of surface mining experience achieved after
age 18. To obtain certification, a surface mine foreman must specialize in either coal extraction or post mining activities (coal
preparation or coal handling). The applicant must have at least one year of practical experience in the specialty category.
To become a blaster in a surface coal mine, the applicant must attend 30 hours of training and pass both a licensing and certification
test. Two years of additional work experience under a licensed blaster is required.
Training for Underground Miners
New miners are required to have a minimum of 40 hours of
training plus pass a written exam prior to starting work as an
inexperienced miner.
An inexperienced miner must work a minimum of 45 days in
an underground mine before becoming a certified experienced
miner.
A minimum of 16 hours of annual retraining is required to
maintain the miner certification and continue to work at an
underground mine.
A newly hired (inexperienced) underground miner must receive
eight hours of mine site-specific training prior to working
in an underground mine, for an experienced miner the
mine–site specific training is as needed.
To receive an Underground Mine Foreman Certification, a
miner must have five years of practical underground coal
mining experience gained after age 18, with at least one
year at the face of an active working section of a coal mine.
An Assistant Mine Foreman Certification requires three years
practical experience.
Underground Miner Classifications & Training
Experience Required
Mining Position
Electrical Inspector*
Mine Inspector/Mine Safety Analyst*
5 Years
Mine Foreman*
Electrical Instructor*
Asst. Mine Foreman*
3 Years
Instructor
Electrical Worker*
1 Year Hoisting Engineer*
Solid Blasting
Shot Firer*
45 days
Certified Miners
Special Training
MET Mine Emergency Technician
EMT Emergency Medical Technician
Source: Kentucky Office of Mine Safety and Licensing (KOMSL).
NOTE: More than 20,000 persons are trained or retrained annually for
one or more surface and/or underground miner classification by the
KOMSL to maintain the current Kentucky miner workforce of 14,083 miners.
*Tests are required in addition to years of experience.
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