CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A bill that would significantly change the operation of the state Office of Miners’ Health Safety and Training was approved by members of the House Government Organization Committee Thursday afternoon on a 16-6 vote.
The bill, originated Thursday by Committee Chairman Brandon Steele, R-Raleigh, changes the goal of the office from enforcement to training.
The bill’s language describes the measure in part as “converting the office to a compliance agency to assist mine operators; providing for alternative mechanisms of enforcement or removing certain enforcement language; requiring compliance visits to mines as often as the director deems necessary.”
The current duties of the mine safety office include inspections where if violations are found there can be fines levied against the mine operator. The office also joins federal investigators to investigate mining accidents including mining fatalities.
The committee attorney told delegates that under the bill the office would become more proactive than reactive and would offer mine operators additional training for their workers.
A few Democrats on the committee criticized the bill.
“I’m not sure we should have the word ‘safety’ on this bill anymore,” Del. Barbara Fleischauer said.
One part of the bill reduces required training to be an underground miner from six months to three months which mirrors current requirements for surface miners.
Fleischauer also balked at that move.
“You say we are focusing more on training but isn’t it true that we are decreasing the amount of training in half? We are cutting the amount of training required for underground miners by half in this bill,” Fleischauer said.
There were no representatives of the Office of Miners’ Health Safety and Training at the meeting to answer questions. A committee staff member said the Department of Commerce was contacted but a representative couldn’t attend.
The bill now goes to the full House of Delegates for consideration.