3.1
General Criteria and
Qualifications
The following general criteria apply to all
applicants.
(1) The applicant must
submit a complete and accurate application to be qualified by the Board to take
an examination.
(2) Any application
fee required must be received prior to the application deadline set by the
Office.
(3) An applicant must be
able to demonstrate to the examiners, that at the time of the examination, the
applicant has adequate hearing and/or eyesight for and safe competent
performance of the position for which he or she is being examined; or the
applicant must be able to subsequently verify the same by demonstration or
medical examination.
(4) An
applicant should be knowledgeable of the job requirements for which he or she
is testing, including knowledge of state and federal laws applicable to general
mine health and safety and that certified position.
(5) An applicant must have completed mine
safety training, including first aid.
(6) As requested, the applicant must be able
to produce verification for all qualifications and references presented as part
of the application including verification of work experience, training and
retraining, and education as applicable.
3.2
Specific Criteria and
Qualifications
An applicant must have as a minimum, the following
qualifications in order to take the examination for certification for that
position. On a case by case basis, the Board may allow substitution of college
education for experience according to Rule 3.2 . The applicant must then pass
said examination, including any on-site demonstration required, to the
satisfaction of the Board to receive a certificate of competency for that
position.
(1) All applicants for
certification must have been previously qualified by MSHA as a methane and
oxygen deficiency tester.
(2) For
underground mine certification, the following criteria apply:
(a) Underground Mine Foreman:
(i) The applicant must have performed in the
capacity of underground mine examiner (fire boss), and
(ii) must have a minimum of three years
working experience in coal mines, or in mining determined to be equivalent by
the Board, at least one of which years shall have been in a underground coal
mine. (34-22-112(2) and 34-22-112(3))
(b) Underground Assistant Mine Foreman:
(i) The applicant must have performed in the
capacity of underground mine examiner (fire boss), and
(ii) must have a minimum of three years
working experience in coal mines, or in mining determined to be equivalent by
the Board, at least one of which years shall have been in a underground coal
mine.
(c) Underground
Mine Examiner:
The applicant must have proof of training and at least three
years of practical experience in gassy underground mining, at least one of
which years shall have been in an underground coal mine. (34-22-112(4))
(d) Underground Electrician:
(i) The applicant must provide proof of
training and experience to perform electrical work, and
(ii) must provide proof of at least one year
of experience performing electrical work in an underground coal mine, or in
underground mining determined to be equivalent by the Board. (34-22-112(5))
(e) Underground
Hoistman:
(i) The applicant must provide proof
of at least 30 days experience as a hoisting engineer.
(ii) The applicant shall also demonstrate to
an examiner or advisor, at the mine site, that he or she has the competency and
skills to safely operate hoisting equipment. (34-22-112(6), 34-22-112(7), and
34-21-109)
(f)
Underground Shot Firer:
(i) The applicant
must provide proof of previous training, as a shot firer, and
(ii) must have at least 1 year of practical
field experience in underground mining, and
(iii) may be required to perform a practical
demonstration for the examiner. (34-22-112(6))
(g) Underground Methane and Oxygen Deficiency
Tester:
(i) a person who has been qualified by
MSHA as an underground methane and oxygen deficiency tester shall be recognized
by the state as a qualified person to perform those tests.
(ii) This qualification may also be obtained
as part of the Colorado certification process.
(3) For surface mine certification, the
following criteria apply:
(a) Surface mine
foreman:
The applicant must have a minimum of three years working
experience in coal mines, or in mining determined to be equivalent by the
Board, at least one of which years shall have been in a surface coal
mine.
(b) Surface Assistant
Mine Foreman:
The applicant must have a minimum of three years working
experience in coal mines, or in mining determined to be equivalent by the
Board, at least one of which years shall have been in a surface coal
mine.
(c) Surface Mine
Examiner:
The applicant must have a minimum of three years working
experience in coal mines, or in mining determined to be equivalent by the
Board, at least one of which years shall have been in a surface coal
mine.
(d) Surface
Electrician:
(i) The applicant must provide
proof of training and experience to perform electrical work, and
(ii) must provide proof of at least one year
of experience performing electrical work in a surface coal mine, or in surface
mining determined to be equivalent by the Board. (34-22-112(5))
(e) Surface Blaster:
(i) The applicant must have Colorado
certification as a surface shot firer, and
(ii) must provide proof of at least one year
of practical experience in the use and handling of explosives.
(iii) must provide proof of U.S. Office of
Surface Mining training as a surface blaster.
(f) Surface Shot Firer:
(i) The applicant must provide proof of at
least one year of practical experience in surface mining, and
(ii) may be required to perform a practical
demonstration for the examiner.
(g) Surface Methane and Oxygen Deficiency
Tester:
A person, who has been qualified by MSHA as a methane and
oxygen deficiency tester, shall be recognized by the state as a qualified
person to perform those tests. This qualification may also be obtained as part
of the Colorado certification process.
(4) Education as a Substitute for Experience
On a case-by-case basis, the Board may allow substitution of
college education in approved mining degree programs as partial satisfaction of
mining experience for the positions of surface or underground mine foreman, and
assistant mine foreman.
(5)
Reciprocity
The Board may recognize certification by another state if
such certification requirements are substantially similar to those required in
the Colorado program. The Board will consider requests for reciprocity on a
case-by-case basis. (34-22-106)
(a)
On a case by case basis, the Board may recognize certification obtained
directly from MSHA as valid certification in Colorado for the positions of
underground electrician, surface electrician, or hoistman.
(b) On a case by case basis, the Board or
Office may grant temporary certification to an individual for the following
certified positions:
(i) underground or
surface mine foreman
(ii)
underground or surface assistant mine foreman
(iii) underground or surface
electrician
(iv) underground
hoistman
(c)
consideration shall be based upon such factors as employment history and
confirmation of qualifications.
(d)
any temporary certification granted by the Board shall expire two weeks after
the date of the next immediate quarterly examination for that position, and is
not renewable.
(6)
Recognition of Formerly Colorado Certified Positions as Equivalent to Currently
Certified Positions
Fire-boss: a Colorado certified fire-boss shall be considered
by the Board to be equivalent to a certified Underground Mine Examiner.
3.3
Application
and Examination Process
Application forms and test materials shall be prepared and
approved by the Board.
(1)
Examinations are organized into several parts, each part designed to test
different areas of competency for a specific certification. Each part is graded
as a unit and carries an individual test score.
(a) An examination may include a practical
demonstration of competency at the applicant's mine site.
(2) If an applicant fails a single part or
multiple parts of an examination, the part or parts of the examination failed
may be retaken one time during the next 12 months at a regular quarterly
examination by the applicant. The applicant will not be reexamined on the parts
for which the applicant received a passing grade.
(a) The Board or Office may discuss the tests
results with an applicant, and advise the applicant of any special areas of
training or study that may be needed to gain competency in a particular
examination area.
(3) At
the discretion of the examiners conducting the examination, applicants may be
disqualified from the examination for impropriety.
(a) If such action is taken by the examiners,
a written report shall be filed with the Board, for consideration of further
Board action.
(4) If an
applicant is applying for an upgrade of a current position, he or she may
retake portions of an examination already passed, in order to achieve a higher
score to meet the requirements for the upgraded position.
3.4
Examination Results, Issuance of
Certification
(1) The Office shall
notify the applicant in writing of the examination results. Applicants who pass
the examination will receive certification in the form of a letter and an
identification card of certification.
(2) The Office shall maintain permanent
records of all persons certified by the state of Colorado through the Board.
Permanent records shall be maintained at the office in the Division of
Reclamation, Mining and Safety. The Office shall also maintain an active record
of all certified individuals.
3.5
Upgrading, Eligible Positions and
Process
(1) The Board recognizes two
situations in which a certified person may be eligible for upgrading of their
existing certification:
(a) The certified
position of Surface or Underground Assistant Mine Foreman may be upgraded to
Surface or Underground Mine Foreman, as applicable.
(b) The certified position of Underground
Mine Examiner may be upgraded to Underground Mine Foreman, after the individual
has worked in the position of Underground Mine Examiner.
(2) Requests for upgrading as provided for in
Rule 3.5, above, are allowed on a case-by-case basis, at the discretion of the
Board. Requests for upgrading should be sent to the Board in the form of a
written letter from the employer, requesting that the Board review the
requestor's qualifications and determine if the requestor meets the Board's
requirements for an upgrade.
(a) If the Board
determines that the requestor is eligible for an upgrade, the Board may
schedule an examination which may include written or oral examination or a
hands on demonstration by the applicant.
(b) If the Board determines that the
requestor is not eligible for an upgrade, the Board will send the requestor a
letter stating the Board's conclusion, and also stating what measures would be
necessary for the requestor to obtain the necessary qualifications for the
desired position.
(c) The
application fee for upgrading shall be the same as for an application for
certification.
