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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>71388</law_id><section_number>45.2-847</section_number><catch_line> Examination of mine for explosive gas and other hazardous conditions</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="45.2">Mines, Minerals, and Energy</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="II">Coal Mining</unit><unit label="part" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="B">Underground Coal Mines</unit><unit label="chapter" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="8">Requirements Applicable to Underground Coal Mines; Electricity, Safety, Etc</unit><unit label="article" level="5" order_by="1" identifier="4">Ventilation, Mine Gases, and Other Hazardous Conditions</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Every certified person whose regular duties require him to inspect working places in any mine for hazardous conditions shall have in his <span class="dictionary">possession</span> and shall use, when underground, a permissible methane detector or other permissible device capable of detecting methane and oxygen deficiency. <a id="paragraph-257372" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/45.2-847/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> A sufficient number of permissible methane detectors or other permissible devices capable of detecting methane shall be kept at each mine inby the last open crosscut. Every miner shall be trained in the operation of such devices. Every miner working inby the last open crosscut shall be certified by the Board of Coal Mining Examiners pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title=" Certification of certain persons employed in coal mines; powers and duties of the Board" href="/45.2-520/">45.2-520</a> to conduct gas testing. <a id="paragraph-257373" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/45.2-847/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Every methane detector shall be maintained in permissible condition. Every methane detector shall be calibrated at least monthly in accordance with the manufacturer&#x2019;s recommendations. A record of such calibration shall be made in a book for this purpose kept at a surface location at the mine and maintained for one year. <a id="paragraph-257374" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/45.2-847/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7;&#xA7; 45-32, 45-33, 45-60.4, 45-68.1, 45-69.7, 45-85.6; 1954, c. 191; 1966, c. 594, &#xA7;&#xA7; 45.1-35, 45.1-65; 1978, cc. 118, 120; 1994, c. 28, &#xA7; 45.1-161.231; 1996, c. 774; 1999, c. 256; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 387.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
