Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 45, November 8, 2024
Section 48-7-4 - Qualifications4.1. Apprentice Electrician. A person becoming an apprentice electrician shall be issued an apprentice electrician's card by the Office of Miners' Health, Safety and Training upon verification by the employer who verifies that the person has attended an eight (8) hour classroom training course in the hazards of electricity, has been issued an experienced miner card, and is to be trained in accordance with this rule or an alternative electrical training program established and approved pursuant to 48-8-8.3, for the next twelve (12) months. Electrical contractors, employees of preparation plants and employees working on the surface areas which do not require a miners' certification may become an apprentice electrician provided they are enrolled in an approved electrical training program for a twelve (12) month period or in an alternative apprentice electrical program as set forth in 48-8-8.1. After becoming a certified electrician, if he or she obtains employment in a job that requires an underground miner or surface miner certificate he or she must perform electrical work under the direct supervision of a person who is a certified electrician and is also a certified miner. A written record shall be kept at the work site reflecting the electrical work performed. After the employee has obtained ninety six (96) hours in the related electrical work, worked at least six (6) months and one hundred eight (108) shifts, and successfully passed the miners' certification test then he or she would be qualified to perform duties as an unsupervised certified electrician. 4.1.1. During the twelve (12) month training period the apprentice electrician shall complete an approved forty (40) hour classroom training program comprised of the following subjects: 4.1.1.a. State and Federal mining laws which apply to electricity;4.1.1.c. AC and DC theory;4.1.1.d. Basic electricity;4.1.1.e. Schematic reading;4.1.1.f. Gas detection and fire prevention; and,4.1.1.g. National Electric Code.4.1.2. Twenty percent (20%) of the twelve (12) month training shall be involved directly with electrical work.4.1.3. All of the apprentice electrician's training experience shall be logged and kept by the operator with the supervising certified electrician and the apprentice both validating the experience by signatures and certification numbers. Log sheets used for recording the required experience must be on a form approved by the Director of the Office of Miners' Health, Safety and Training. Records verifying an apprentice's electrical experience shall be presented prior to testing for electrical certification.4.1.4. All energized electrical work performed by an apprentice electrician shall be done under the immediate supervision of a certified electrician. All other electrical work performed by an apprentice electrician shall be done under the direct supervision of a certified electrician. All work to be performed by the apprentice electrician shall be examined by a certified electrician prior to any work being performed, and again prior to the circuits or equipment being energized and returned to service.4.2. Electrician (Low, medium and high voltage). A person may become certified as a low, medium, and high voltage electrician when the person has at least twelve (12) months of experience in performing electrical work as an apprentice electrician, has worked with low, medium, and high voltage, (at least twenty percent (20%) of the required electrical experience during the twelve (12) month training program shall be directly related to high voltage) and has satisfactorily passed the electrical certification examination. The low, medium and high voltage certified electrician is permitted to perform all types of electrical work at any mining operation.4.3. If an apprentice electrician is unable to obtain the experience that is directly related to high voltage due to the lack of high voltage equipment that is available, the apprentice may at the discretion of the Director complete a high voltage training program prescribed by the Board of Miner Training Education and Certification and approved by the Director of the WV Office of Miners' Health, Safety and Training.4.4. Degree in Electrical Engineering. A person who has a Bachelor's Degree or Associate Degree in electrical engineering from an accredited college or university, and has at least six (6) months of experience in performing electrical work under the supervision of a certified electrician may be permitted to become certified as an electrician when the person has satisfactorily passed the electrician certification examination.4.5. Electrical Training Programs Already in Effect. All persons training to become certified electricians prior to the effective date of this rule, shall be allowed to continue training and shall become certified as an electrician after the completion of one (1) year experience in performing electrical work under the supervision of a certified electrician and after successful passage (at least eighty (80%) percent score) of the certification examination. Experience log sheets verifying electrical work performed prior to the effective date of this rule shall be accepted so long as they comply with the requirements of the prior rule. However, all electrical work performed on or after the effective date of this rule, shall be verified on log sheets that comply with the requirements of this rule. Any person who begins training to become a certified electrician on or after the effective date of these rules, shall comply with the applicable provisions of this rule.4.6. Prior Certification. All valid electrical certifications issued by the Department of Mines or the Department of Energy prior to the effective date of this rule shall remain valid. Any person holding a prior certification and wishing to be certified in another category must: 4.6.1. document his experience;4.6.2. successfully pass any other portion of the electrical certification examination not previously taken for low, medium, and high voltage as required in Section 5 this rule; and,4.6.3. successfully pass the hands-on (skill) portion of the electrical certification examination.4.7. Similar Experience. A person who has at least three (3) years of experience in performing electrical work in an underground coal mine, on the surface work areas of an underground coal mine, on a surface coal mine, in a non-coal mine, in the mine equipment manufacturing industry, or in any other industry using or manufacturing similar equipment may file an application and challenge the electrical certification test to become a certified electrician. If the experience is properly documented and approved by the Director or his authorized representative then the applicant may test to become a certified electrician.