{"data":{"id":"us-ky/krs-351.090","jurisdiction":"us-ky","citation":"KRS 351.090","heading":"Mine safety specialists -- Appointment -- Qualifications -- Oath and bond -","body":"- Background check.\n(1) The Governor shall appoint an adequate number of mine safety specialists to ensure\nat least two (2) inspections annually at all surface mines, pr ovided the mine is in\noperation the entire year or the proportionate thereof, of all mines in the\nCommonwealth and sufficient additional mine safety specialists to enable the\ncommissioner to provide adequate monitoring of coal mines where conditions or\nmanagement policy dictate that more inspections are needed to ensure the safety of\nminers. Underground mines shall be inspected at least six (6) times annually; except\nthat the commissioner shall have the discretion to require up to three (3) of the six\n(6) r equired mine safety inspections to be mine safety analysis visits pursuant to\nKRS 351.242. At least one (1) inspection shall be a full electrical inspection. One\n(1) or more of the appointees shall be designated as electrical mine inspectors. The\nGovernor shall also appoint an adequate number of mine safety specialists to\nperform safety analysis and safety instruction. The term of office of each mine\nsafety specialist shall be during the period of capable, efficient service and good\nbehavior.\n(2) All mine s afety specialists shall have a thorough knowledge of first aid and mine\nrescue and be able to instruct in first aid and mine rescue and shall have a thorough\nand practical knowledge of mining gained by at least five (5) years' experience in\ncoal mines in t he Commonwealth. For the purposes of this subsection, a degree in\nmining engineering from a recognized institution shall be deemed equivalent to two\n(2) years of practical experience in coal mines or an associate degree in mining\ntechnology from a recognized institution shall be deemed equivalent to one (1) year\npractical experience in coal mines. A person desiring to use a mining engineering or\ntechnology degree for practical experience credit shall file proof of having received\na degree prior to examination.\n(3) No person shall be appointed to the office of mine safety specialist unless he or she\nholds a current mine foreman's certificate. A person appointed as mine safety\nspecialist shall pass an examination administered by the department. The\ncommissioner may recommend to the Governor applicants for the positions of mine\nsafety specialist who have successfully passed the examination and are proved by\nworth, training, and experience to be the most competent of the applicants.\n(4) Mine safety specialists sh all be of good moral character and temperate habits and\nshall not, while holding office, act in any official capacity in operating any coal\nmine.\n(5) No reimbursement for traveling expenses shall be made except on an itemized\naccounting for the expenses su bmitted by mine safety specialists who shall verify\nupon oath that the expenses were incurred in the discharge of their official duties.\n(6) Each mine safety specialist shall take oath, which shall be certified by the officer\nadministering it. The oath, in  writing, and the certificate, shall be filed in the office\nof the Secretary of State.\n(7) Each mine inspector, mine safety analyst, electrical inspector, and mine safety\ninstructor shall give bond with surety approved by the Governor.\n(8) Each mine safety specialist shall provide authorization to the division to perform a\ncriminal background check by means of a fingerprint check by the Department of\nKentucky State Police. The results of the state criminal background check shall be\nsent to the director of t he division. Any fee charged by the Department of Kentucky\nState Police shall be an amount no greater than the actual cost of processing the\nrequest and conducting the search.","path":["KRS Chapter 351"],"source_url":"https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=47732","current_through":"Includes enactments through the 2026 Regular Session","vintage":"09/05/2026","retrieved_at":"2026-09-05T20:58:37Z","sha256":"6f944d2718bae6b8b88e85210f7208773b707f3fac1e5212c8890308659ad59d","source_id":"us-ky","stale":false,"prev":"us-ky/krs-351.080","next":"us-ky/krs-351.100"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}