                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

 HOISTING ENGINEERS (§ 45.2-741)

A. If miners are transported into or out of an underground area of a mine by a
hoist or on a surface incline, a certified hoisting engineer shall be either on
duty continuously or available within a reasonable time, as determined by the
Chief, to provide immediate transportation while any person is underground.

B. When any miner is being hoisted or lowered in a shaft or on a slope or
surface incline, the loading and unloading of any miner and the movement of the
cage, car, or trip shall be under the direction of an authorized person.

C. Subsections A and B shall not apply to automatically operated elevators that
can be safely operated by any miner; however, a person qualified as an automatic
elevator operator shall be available at any such elevator within a reasonable
time, as determined by the Chief.

D. An operator or agent of such operator of any mine worked by shaft, slope, or
surface incline shall place a competent and sober hoisting engineer in charge of
any engine or drum used for lowering or hoisting miners. No hoisting engineer in
charge of such machinery shall allow any person, except a person who is
designated for such purpose by the operator or his agent, to interfere with any
part of the machinery. No person shall interfere with or intimidate a hoisting
engineer or automatic elevator operator who is engaged in the discharge of his
duties.

HISTORY: Code 1950, §§ 45-7, 45-12, 45-68.4, 45-69, 45-73, 45-75, 45-78,
45-79, 45-81, 45-83; 1950, p. 156; 1954, c. 191; 1966, c. 594, §§ 45.1-21,
45.1-68, 45.1-69; 1972, c. 784; 1976, c. 598; 1978, cc. 222, 489, 729; 1982, c.
255; 1984, cc. 178, 590; 1988, c. 577; 1993, cc. 171, 442; 1994, c. 28, §
45.1-161.159; 1999, c. 256; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 387.