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The Legislative Service Commission staff updates the Revised Code on an ongoing basis, as it completes its act review of enacted legislation. Updates may be slower during some times of the year, depending on the volume of enacted legislation.
 
 
 
Section
Section 1565.01 | Chapter does not apply to chapter 1514 activities.
 

Nothing in this chapter applies to activities that are permitted and regulated under Chapter 1514. of the Revised Code.

Section 1565.02 | Mine foreman - duties - delegation of duties.
 

Under the direction of the superintendent in charge of a mine, the mine foreman shall carry out this chapter and Chapters 1561., 1563., and 1567. of the Revised Code, see that the regulations prescribed for each class of workmen under his charge are carried out, and see that any deviations from any of them are promptly adjusted. This section does not prohibit the mine foreman from delegating any of his duties, except those which are subject to the limitations of such chapters, to men who in his judgment are competent to perform them, but such delegation shall not relieve the mine foreman from the responsibility of having these duties properly performed.

No person shall refuse or neglect to comply with this section.

Section 1565.03 | Supervision of miner or loader.
 

Unless the miner or loader has the required qualifications, the mine foreman, or the person whom he delegates as overseer, shall supervise the work of such miner or loader as to the manner in which he performs his duties, and shall instruct him concerning all things relating to his safety, and shall further instruct such miner or loader not to handle or use any explosives, except in the mine foreman's or overseer's presence, until such time as he is competent to handle and use the same with safety. The mine foreman shall have the work of such inexperienced person supervised so long as such person is not working with an experienced miner or loader, until such person is competent to work alone.

No person shall refuse or neglect to comply with this section.

Section 1565.04 | Employment of certified mine foreperson - examinations for hazardous conditions.
 

The operator of each mine who is an employer as defined in section 4123.01 of the Revised Code, or any mine with three or more workers, shall employ a certified mine foreperson. In gaseous underground mines, only a holder of a mine foreperson of gaseous mines certificate that contains a notation by the chief of the division of mineral resources management showing the holder to be at least twenty-three years of age and have at least five years' actual practical experience in gaseous mines shall be employed as the mine foreperson. In other underground mines, the mine foreperson shall be a holder of a mine foreperson of nongaseous mines certificate that contains a notation by the chief showing the holder to be at least twenty-one years of age and have at least three years' actual practical experience in mines. All such underground mines shall have at least one certified foreperson on duty at all times when workers are employed in the loading or mining of coal underground. Each active working area of a surface coal mine and each active surface installation of an underground coal mine shall be examined for hazardous conditions, at least once during each working shift or more often if necessary for safety, by a certified mine foreperson who is designated by the operator to conduct such examinations. Any hazardous conditions noted during the examinations shall be reported to the operator and shall be corrected by the operator. A certified mine foreperson may conduct the examination that is required during each shift at multiple mine sites, provided that the sites are within a ten-mile radius.

No operator of a mine shall refuse or neglect to comply with this section.

Section 1565.05 | Copy of certificate to be filed and exhibited.
 

The operator of a mine shall keep on file a copy of the certificate of each mine foreperson, foreperson, and fire boss in the operator's employ or under the operator's control. Such certificate shall be exhibited to the chief of the division of mineral resources management, or any deputy mine inspector, upon demand.

No operator of a mine shall refuse or neglect to comply with this section.

Section 1565.06 | Appointment of noncertificate persons for emergency - temporary certificates.
 

(A) In emergencies arising at a mine because of accident, death, illness, or any other cause, an operator may appoint noncertificate persons as forepersons and fire bosses to act until certified forepersons and fire bosses satisfactory to the operator can be secured. Such appointee may not serve in such capacity for a period longer than six months or until such time thereafter as an examination is held for such certified persons under section 1561.13 of the Revised Code. The employer of such noncertificate person shall, upon appointment of such noncertificate person in this capacity, forward the name of such noncertificate person to the chief of the division of mineral resources management.

(B) An operator may appoint as a temporary foreperson or fire boss a noncertificate person who is within six months of possessing the necessary actual practical experience to qualify to take the examination for certification for the position to which the person is temporarily appointed. Upon appointment of a noncertificate person, the operator shall forward the name, social security number, and brief summary of the person's actual practical experience to the chief, and the chief shall issue the person a temporary certificate for the position to which the person has been temporarily appointed. A temporary certificate issued under this division is valid for six months or until such time thereafter as an examination is held under section 1561.13 of the Revised Code for the position to which the person has been temporarily appointed.

(C) A nonresident person who possesses a valid certificate issued by another state for a position for which the chief issues a certificate shall be eligible for a temporary certificate from the chief upon presentation to the chief of a copy of the certificate from that other state. Chapter 4796. of the Revised Code does not apply to a certificate issued under this section. A temporary certificate issued under this division shall be valid for six months.

No operator of a mine shall violate or fail to comply with this section.

Last updated December 29, 2023 at 7:38 AM

Section 1565.07 | Superintendent in charge of mine - qualifications and duties.
 

The superintendent in charge of a mine shall direct the mine foreperson in such manner as is necessary to secure compliance with this chapter and Chapters 1561., 1563., and 1567. and section 1509.18 of the Revised Code. The superintendent may act as mine foreperson, but if the superintendent does so act regularly, the superintendent shall obtain a certificate from the chief of the division of mineral resources management in the same manner as the certification of mine foreperson is obtained.

A person designated as a superintendent of an underground coal mine after January 1, 1977, shall, within six months after being so designated, demonstrate to the chief that the person has knowledge of the mining laws of this state governing the operation of underground coal mines either by presenting evidence that the person has passed a mine foreperson examination given by the chief or an examination given by the chief concerning the laws of this state governing the operation of underground coal mines.

No person shall refuse or neglect to comply with this section.

Section 1565.08 | Revocation or suspension of certificate.
 

If a person certified by the chief of the division of mineral resources management purposely violates the mining laws, the person's certificate may be revoked by the chief after investigation and a hearing in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.

No person whose license, certificate, or similar authority to perform any certifiable mining duties in another state is suspended or revoked by that state shall be certified for an equivalent mining certificate in this state during the period of the suspension or revocation in the other state.

Section 1565.09 | Employment of minors - complaint.
 

A deputy mine inspector shall investigate the employment of miners in and about the mines in his district, and if he finds any minors employed in violation of section 1565.10 of the Revised Code, he shall make a complaint thereof to the juvenile court, or any other court having competent jurisdiction, against the employer of such minors.

Section 1565.10 | Employees must be at least eighteen years of age.
 

No person shall be employed in or around a mine until he has attained the age of eighteen years.

No person shall refuse or neglect to comply with this section.

Section 1565.11 | Miners' safety committee - duties.
 

The miners employed in a mine may appoint two of their number to act as a safety committee to inspect, not more often than once each month, the mine and the machinery connected therewith, and to measure the ventilating current. The operator may accompany such committee, or appoint two or more persons for that purpose. The operator shall afford every necessary facility for making such inspection and measurement, but the committee shall not interrupt or impede the work in the mine, at the time of such inspection and measurement. After such inspection and measurement, such committee shall forthwith make a report thereof to the chief of the division of mineral resources management, on a blank furnished by the chief.

No operator of a mine shall refuse or neglect to comply with this section, and no such person shall violate this section.

Section 1565.12 | Notice and report of accident resulting in loss of life.
 

When a loss of life is occasioned by accident in any mine, the operator thereof shall forthwith give notice thereof to the chief of the division of mineral resources management, and to the deputy mine inspector in charge of the district. Such notice shall be given by telephone or electronic format. The operator of such mine shall, within twenty-four hours after such accident causing loss of life, send a written report of the accident to the chief. Such written report shall specify the character and cause of the accident, the names of the persons killed, and the nature of the injuries that caused death. In the case of injury thereafter resulting in death, the operator shall send a written notice thereof to the chief, and to the deputy mine inspector of such district, at such time as such death comes to the operator's knowledge.

No operator of a mine shall refuse or neglect to comply with this section.

Last updated August 9, 2023 at 1:24 PM

Section 1565.13 | Right of action for injury.
 

In case of an injury to person or property, occasioned by a violation of this chapter and Chapters 1561., 1563., and 1567., and section 1509.18 of the Revised Code, or any failure to comply with those chapters or that section, by any operator of a mine, a right of action shall accrue to the person injured, for any direct damage the person injured has sustained thereby. In case of loss of life by reason of such failure or neglect, a right of action shall accrue to the widow, and children, or if there are none, then to the parents and next of kin, of the person whose death was so caused, for like recovery of damages for the injury they have sustained. Any operator of a mine who has complied with Chapter 4123. of the Revised Code is exempt as provided in section 4123.74 of the Revised Code, and not liable for damages at common law or by statute for injury or death of any employee.

Section 1565.14 | Lien for labor.
 

Each person who performs labor in opening or developing any mine, mining, or labor connected therewith, has a lien upon all the property of the person, firm, or corporation owning, constructing, or operating such mine, for the full value of such labor, upon the same terms as mechanics' liens are secured and enforced.

Section 1565.15 | Emergency medical personnel, services and training to be provided for mine employees.
 

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "EMT-basic," "EMT-I," "paramedic," and "emergency medical service organization" have the same meanings as in section 4765.01 of the Revised Code.

(2) "First aid provider" includes a mine medical responder, an EMT-basic, an EMT-I, a paramedic, or an employee at a surface coal mine who has satisfied the training requirements established in division (D)(1) of this section.

(3) "Mine medical responder" means a person who has satisfied the requirements established in rules adopted under division (E)(1) of this section or has been issued a certificate under division (E)(2) of this section.

(B) The operator of an underground coal mine where twenty or more persons are employed on a shift, including all persons working at different locations at the mine within a ten-mile radius, shall provide at least one mine medical responder, EMT-basic, or EMT-I on duty at the underground coal mine whenever employees at the mine are actively engaged in the extraction, production, or preparation of coal. The operator shall provide mine medical responders, EMTs-basic, or EMTs-I on duty at the underground coal mine at times and in numbers sufficient to ensure that no miner works in a mine location that cannot be reached within a reasonable time by a mine medical responder, an EMT-basic, or an EMT-I. Mine medical responders, EMTs-basic, and EMTs-I shall be employed on their regular coal mining duties at locations convenient for quick response to emergencies in order to provide emergency medical services inside the underground coal mine and transportation of injured or sick employees to the entrance of the mine. The operator shall provide for the services of at least one emergency medical service organization to be available on call to reach the entrance of the underground coal mine within thirty minutes at any time that employees are engaged in the extraction, production, or preparation of coal in order to provide emergency medical services and transportation to a hospital.

The operator shall make available to mine medical responders, EMTs-basic, and EMTs-I all of the equipment for first aid and emergency medical services that is necessary for those personnel to function and to comply with the regulations pertaining to first aid and emergency medical services that are adopted under the "Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977," 91 Stat. 1290, 30 U.S.C.A. 801, and amendments to it. The operator of the underground coal mine shall install telephone service or equivalent facilities that enable two-way voice communication between the mine medical responders, EMTs-basic, or EMTs-I in the mine and the emergency medical service organization outside the mine that provides emergency medical services on a regular basis.

(C) The operator of a surface coal mine shall provide at least one first aid provider on duty at the mine whenever employees at the mine are actively engaged in the extraction, production, or preparation of coal. The operator shall provide first aid providers on duty at the surface coal mine at times and in numbers sufficient to ensure that no miner works in a mine location that cannot be reached within a reasonable time by a first aid provider. First aid providers shall be employed on their regular coal mining duties at locations convenient for quick response to emergencies in order to provide emergency medical services and transportation of injured or sick employees to the entrance of the surface coal mine. The operator shall provide for the services of at least one emergency medical service organization to be available on call to reach the entrance of the surface coal mine within thirty minutes at any time that employees are engaged in the extraction, production, or preparation of coal in order to provide emergency medical services and transportation to a hospital.

The operator shall provide at the mine site all of the equipment for first aid and emergency medical services that is necessary for those personnel to function and to comply with the regulations pertaining to first aid and emergency medical services that are adopted under the "Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977," 91 Stat. 1290, 30 U.S.C.A. 801, and amendments to it.

(D)(1) An employee at a surface coal mine shall be considered to be a first aid provider for the purposes of this section if the employee has received from an instructor approved by the chief of the division of mineral resources management ten hours of initial first aid training as a selected supervisory employee under 30 C.F.R. 77.1703 and receives five hours of refresher first aid training as a selected supervisory employee under 30 C.F.R. 77.1705 in each subsequent calendar year.

(2) Each miner employed at a surface coal mine who is not a first aid provider shall receive from an instructor approved by the chief three hours of initial first aid training and two hours of refresher first aid training in each subsequent calendar year.

(3) The training received in accordance with division (D) of this section shall consist of a course of instruction established in the manual issued by the mine safety and health administration in the United States department of labor entitled "first aid, a bureau of mines instruction manual" or its successor or any other curriculum approved by the chief. The training shall be included in the hours of instruction provided to miners in accordance with training requirements established under 30 C.F.R. part 48, subpart (B), as amended, and 30 C.F.R. part 77, as amended.

(E)(1) Except as provided in division (E)(2) of this section, the chief, in consultation with persons certified under Chapter 4765. of the Revised Code to teach in an emergency medical services training program, shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code that do all of the following:

(a) Prescribe training requirements for a mine medical responder that specifically focus on treating injuries and illnesses associated with underground coal mining;

(b) Prescribe an examination for a mine medical responder;

(c) Prescribe continuing training requirements for a mine medical responder;

(d) Establish the fee for examination for a mine medical responder;

(e) Prescribe any other requirements, criteria, and procedures that the chief determines are necessary regarding the training, examination, and continuing training of mine medical responders.

(2) The chief shall issue a mine medical responder certificate in accordance with Chapter 4796. of the Revised Code to an applicant if either of the following applies:

(a) The applicant holds a certificate in another state.

(b) The applicant has satisfactory work experience, a government certification, or a private certification as described in that chapter as a mine medical responder in a state that does not issue that certificate.

(F) Each operator of a surface coal mine shall establish, keep current, and make available for inspection an emergency medical plan that includes the telephone numbers of the division of mineral resources management and of an emergency medical services organization the services of which are required to be retained under division (C) of this section. The chief shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code that establish any additional information required to be included in an emergency medical plan.

(G) Each operator of an underground coal mine or surface coal mine shall provide or contract to obtain emergency medical services training or first aid training, as applicable, at the operator's expense, that is sufficient to train and maintain the certification of the number of employees necessary to comply with division (B) of this section and that is sufficient to train employees as required under division (D) of this section and to comply with division (C) of this section.

(H) The division may provide emergency medical services training for coal mine employees by operating an emergency medical services training program accredited under section 4765.17 of the Revised Code or by contracting with the operator of an emergency medical services training program accredited under that section to provide that training. The division may charge coal mine operators a uniform part of the unit cost per trainee.

(I) No coal mine operator shall violate or fail to comply with this section.

Last updated December 29, 2023 at 7:14 AM

Section 1565.16 | Motormen and trip riders.
 

Motormen and trip riders shall use care in handling the locomotive and cars, and shall see that the signal or marker is used for the purpose as provided. Motormen and trip riders shall be governed by the speed provided for in sections 1567.39, 1567.40, and 1567.41 of the Revised Code in handling cars.

No person shall refuse or neglect to comply with this section.

Section 1565.24 | Miner working alone - unqualified miners.
 

No person shall work by himself as a miner in a coal mine without having produced satisfactory evidence to the mine foreman of such mine that he has worked at least one year with, or as, a practical coal miner. This section applies only to mines generating methane, other gas, or combustible matter.

No mine foreman of a coal mine shall permit anyone to mine coal in such mine until such person is qualified, unless he is accompanied by a competent coal miner.

Section 1565.25 | Effect of child support default on certificate.
 

On receipt of a notice pursuant to section 3123.43 of the Revised Code, the chief of the division of mineral resources management shall comply with sections 3123.41 to 3123.50 of the Revised Code and any applicable rules adopted under section 3123.63 of the Revised Code with respect to a certificate issued pursuant to this chapter.

Section 1565.99 | Penalty.
 

Whoever knowingly violates any section of this chapter is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.