W. Va. Code R. § 48-8-4 - Initial Training

4.1. Each apprentice electrician shall complete an initial 8-hour electrical hazards class. Upon completion of the class, the instructor shall submit required documentation to the West Virginia Office of Miners' Health, Safety and Training for issuance of apprentice electrician cards. The class shall include but not be limited to:

(a) Lockout and tag procedures -- apprentice electrician shall receive a lock, tag and multi-hole lockout device.;

(b) Electrical hazards identification -- apprentice electrician shall receive a 1000VAC rated voltage detector;

(c) Electrical grounding;

(d) Voltage effects on the human body;

(e) High voltage power systems;

(f) Electric arc welding safety;

(g) PPE - Personnel Protective Equipment; and

(h) Fatal electrical accidents.

4.2. Once the initial training is completed, the apprentice electrician will begin a formal training class. Each apprentice electrician shall be offered 360 total classroom and lab training hours as described in 48-8-6 of this rule. Each apprentice electrician shall be required to attend and document 90% of these hours for a minimum total of 324 hours. The training shall be conducted in a classroom and practical lab environment. All classroom and practical training shall be completed by a Mine Safety and Health Administration certified electrical instructor. All classroom and lab training shall be documented and cosigned by a West Virginia certified mine electrician, see appendix A. The training session shall be in progress for a minimum of six calendar months and shall not exceed nine calendar months. During the training period, the apprentice electrician shall document all hands-on practical electrical mine experience, both underground and in the lab. All electrical experience shall be cosigned by a West Virginia certified mine electrician. The apprentice electrician shall maintain a low/medium and high voltage experience log, see appendix B.

4.3. Electrical contractors, employees of preparation plants and employees working on the surface areas which do not require miner certification, may become certified as an apprentice electrician provided they are enrolled in an approved electrical training program for twelve (12) month period or in an alternative apprentice electrical program as set forth in 8.1. After completion of the approved twelve (12) month electrical training program, the apprentice may file an application and take the electrical certification test to become a certified electrician. After becoming a certified electrician if he or she seeks employment in an underground mine, which requires a miner certification and works in the capacity of an electrician, all work must be under the direct supervision of a certified electrician who is also a certified miner. A written record shall be kept at the mine site reflecting the work being performed. After the employee has obtained a valid miner certification, working at least six (6) months and one hundred and eight (108) shifts, he or she would be qualified to perform the duties as a certified electrician unsupervised.

4.4. The apprentice electrician shall:

(a) Work at an underground mine, surface mine or preparation plant. The apprentice electrician shall complete and log a minimum of 277 electrical experience hours with 56 hours of this to be high voltage. The mine electrical experience shall be on low, medium, and high voltage mine systems that he or she has worked on both at the mine site or in the practical hands on labs. All electrical work experience shall be logged as required in 48CSR7-4.

(b) 20% of the 56 hours of high voltage electrical training shall be hands-on training.

Notes

W. Va. Code R. § 48-8-4