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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

(Source:  Added at 38 Ill. Reg. 22827, effective November 18, 2014)