Coal Mine Safety

Coal Mine Safety Program

The primary mission of Coal Mine Safety is to protect the lives and health of all people employed at surface and underground coal mining operations, and to ensure mine operator compliance with mine safety requirements. We perform regular coal mine inspections, investigates accidents and fatalities, conducts training and certification of coal mines and provides technical assistance to mine operators.

Licensing

Coal Mine Safety's Enforcement and Licensing Section issues mine licenses, performs inspections, investigations and other health and safety related activities at coal mines within the Commonwealth.
Learn more about Licensing Requirements
Learn more about Enforcement

• 
• 
• 

Operator Assistance

Coal Mine Safety's Operator Assistance Section provides assistance to underground mine operators in the areas of roof control, ventilation and electrical systems. Technical specialists in this section help mine operators solve problems in addition to providing advice on health and safety matters within their field of expertise. This includes reviewing and evaluating required health and safety plans submitted by the mine operator. Technical specialists do not perform enforcement activities, such as issuing notices of violations. However, they may issue closure orders in cases of imminent danger. Additional duties of the technical specialist staff include conducting mine site safety talks and participating in investigations of complaints and accidents. Click the links below to learn more about opportunities.

• Generic Mine Plans
• Mapping Plans
• Electrical
• Reopening Inspections
• Roof Control
• Ventilation
• Small Mine Safety Service/Accident Reduction Program

• 
• 

Certification

Coal Mine Safety administers the Certification program for persons working in coal mines whose duties require competency, skill and knowledge to perform consistently and safely. Click the following links to learn more about our program.

• Certification Requirement Sheets
• Exam Schedule 2023
• Reciprocity

• 
• 

Education and Training

We offer a variety of services in addition to formal classroom training, including online training , HALT safety alerts and bulletins,  study guides and video resources. 

Coal Mine Safety provides is now offering online training for Electrical Retraining, Diesel Diesel Continuing Education and Advanced First Aid Continuing Education. Learn by clicking below.

• 
• 
• 
• 

Mine Rescue

Virginia Mine Rescue team serves as first responders to Virginia's underground mining industry. These individuals have special training and equipment that is specific to responding to underground mining emergencies. This first-ever state team in the Commonwealth's history was formed in 2016. Required training includes competing in mine rescue contests and Virginia Energy's team competes annually on a national level.

Virginia's Mine Rescue team competed at Harlan County Safety Days in Cumberland, Kentucky on July 17-18, 2024. They finished in third place on day one and fourth place on day two, finishing fourth overall! Years of training and adding key staff has been essential to the team becoming top notch in the mine rescue world.

The team will compete in the National Mine Rescue contest held In Lexington, Kentucky the week of August 12. This team has the potential to be the first EVER state team to finish in the top three at the national competition! Let's cheer them on and encourage them before they head to Lexingto

Thank you to those that serve and support the mine rescue team!

Learn more about mine rescue here »

Safety Award Program

Congratulations to 15 mines and over 70 individuals for Excellence in Worker Safety! Read press release here »