Section 230.40 Procedure for Conducting Mine Electrician Examinations

Section 230.40  Procedure for Conducting Mine Electrician

Examinations

a)         Candidates

seeking Certificates of Competency as Mine Electricians must complete an

application provided by the Department and provide evidence of at least one

year of experience in performing electrical work in a coal mine or acceptable

related industry and pass an Illinois Mine Electrical Examination.

1)         Evidence

of experience must include details of electrical work, including but not

limited to:  dates of work, work performed and types of equipment upon which

electrical work was conducted and the names of persons supervising the work.

2)         An

acceptable related industry can be one of the following:  a non-coal mine, mine

equipment manufacturing industry or any other industry using or manufacturing

similar equipment.

b)         Illinois

Mine Electrical Examinations for Certificates of Competency as Mine

Electricians will be in three categories:

1)         Coal Mine Electrician –

Surface and Underground;

2)         Coal Mine Electrician –

Surface Only; and

3)         Coal Mine Electrician –

Underground Only.

c)         Candidates

must submit to the Department evidence of eligibility at least 30 days prior to

the scheduled examination.

d)         Examinations

will be conducted at least twice a year and additional examinations will be

scheduled if needed.  A public notice shall be given through the press or

otherwise, not less than 10 days in advance, announcing the time and date for

the examination.

e)         Candidates

may be eligible to take the Illinois Mine Electrical Examination if the candidate:

1)         Is classified

as an Apprentice Mine Electrician and have met the requirements for an

apprentice

tions will be

scheduled if needed.  A public notice shall be given through the press or

otherwise, not less than 10 days in advance, announcing the time and date for

the examination.

e)         Candidates

may be eligible to take the Illinois Mine Electrical Examination if the candidate:

1)         Is classified

as an Apprentice Mine Electrician and have met the requirements for an

apprentice.

A)        An

Apprentice Mine Electrician is an individual who has successfully completed the

Illinois Basic Electrical Safety Training (IBEST), has completed or is in the

process of completing the Illinois Initial Mine Electrical Training program and

is in or has completed an approved Coal Mine Maintenance Training Program.

B)        The

IBEST is an 8-hour safety class approved by the Department.  Satisfactory

completion of the class requires attaining a minimum score of 80% on a written

examination.

C)        The

Illinois Initial Mine Electrical Training Program is a 112-hour program

approved by the Department that includes, but is not limited to:  DC Theory, AC

Theory, Mine Electrical Equipment, Permissibility, and State and Federal

Regulations.

D)        The

Coal Mine Maintenance Training Program is a program approved by the Department in

which the Apprentice Mine Electrician is working as a maintenance person.  A

log is kept of electrical repair and maintenance activities;

2)         Possesses

a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering and provides proof of

electrical experience as outlined in subsection (a)(1); or

3)         Is qualified

as a mine electrician but has not taken the examinations required in 30 CFR

75.153(a) and 77.103(a)(3).

f)         The

examination will be in three parts:  written, oral and practical.  The

candidate must attain a minimum score of 80% on the written examination.  The

practical and oral examinations are pass/fail.  The practical and oral

examinations may be scheduled separately from the written examination

ctrician but has not taken the examinations required in 30 CFR

75.153(a) and 77.103(a)(3).

f)         The

examination will be in three parts:  written, oral and practical.  The

candidate must attain a minimum score of 80% on the written examination.  The

practical and oral examinations are pass/fail.  The practical and oral

examinations may be scheduled separately from the written examination.

g)         Candidates

failing to achieve 80% on any portion of the written examination will be given

two additional opportunities to retake and pass the failed portion.  Candidates

failing the practical or oral examination will be given one additional

opportunity to pass the failed examination.  Candidates wishing to retake a

failed portion of the written examination or the practical or oral examination

may do so at the next subsequent scheduled examination.

h)         Candidates

failing to achieve a passing grade on the written, practical or oral

examinations after the allotted number of opportunities to retake the

examination will be required to retake the entire examination.

i)          A

Certificate of Competency will be provided to a candidate upon successfully

passing all three examination parts.

j)          An

Illinois Mine Electrical Examination is not required if an individual possesses

a current coal mine electrical certification from a Mine Safety and Health

Administration (MSHA)-approved State coal mine electrical program or holds an

MSHA electrical qualification card.  These candidates must complete an 8-hour

IBEST class provided by an Illinois-approved electrical instructor and attain a

minimum score of 80% on a written examination administered by a representative

from the Department.  The written examination is 30 questions pertaining to

State laws/regulations and arc flash.  A Certification of Competency will be

provided to the candidate upon completion of the class and successfully passing

the written examination

by an Illinois-approved electrical instructor and attain a

minimum score of 80% on a written examination administered by a representative

from the Department.  The written examination is 30 questions pertaining to

State laws/regulations and arc flash.  A Certification of Competency will be

provided to the candidate upon completion of the class and successfully passing

the written examination.

k)         A

person possessing a current coal mine electrical certification from an

MSHA-approved State coal mine electrical program or holding an MSHA electrical

qualification card may receive temporary certification as a Mine Electrician

until the next 8-hour electrical safety IBEST class and until the required

examination has been administered by a representative from the Department.

l)          To

maintain Illinois Mine Electrician certification, an individual must annually

complete an 8-hour electrical refresher class provided by an Illinois-approved

electrical instructor and a renewal fee must be paid to the Department either

prior to or at the time of the class.

1)         An

individual who fails to attend the required annual refresher training will have

his/her certification revoked.

2)         To

reinstate the Illinois Mine Electrician certification, an individual is

required to comply with subsection (j).

m)        Illinois

Mine Electrician certification may be cancelled, revoked or suspended by the

Illinois State Mining Board if it is established the holder of the

certification has obtained the certification by fraud or misrepresentation of

experience or becomes unworthy of certification by reason of violation of the

law or regulation, intemperate habits, incapacity, abuse of authority or any

other similar cause.  The person against whom charges or complaints are made

shall have the right to appear before the State Mining Board (see 62 Ill. Adm.

Code 100)

tification has obtained the certification by fraud or misrepresentation of

experience or becomes unworthy of certification by reason of violation of the

law or regulation, intemperate habits, incapacity, abuse of authority or any

other similar cause.  The person against whom charges or complaints are made

shall have the right to appear before the State Mining Board (see 62 Ill. Adm.

Code 100).

n)         Persons

employed in the Illinois coal industry on January 1, 2015 who hold an MSHA

electrical qualification card are exempt from the requirements of this Section until

their first annual refresher class under subsection (l).  Upon completion of

the annual refresher class, individuals who wish to obtain Illinois Mine

Electrician certification will receive an application.  The completed

application and fee shall be submitted to the Department and a Certificate of

Competency as Mine Electrician will be issued.