(a) It is unlawful for any person to serve in the capacity of mine foreman, mine examiner, shot-firer, hoisting engineer, or mine electrician at any time unless the person is properly certified. However, any person who meets the appropriate experience requirements of this chapter and who is properly certified in one (1) of these capacities or its equivalent in another state which recognizes the certification of Indiana may serve in such a capacity until the next examination by the board, when the person must apply to the board for certification in the person's particular classification. A mine electrician who is properly certified:

1. (1) by the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration; or

2. (2) in another state that recognizes the mine electrician certification in Indiana;

   may serve in the individual's certified capacity and be issued a mine electrician certificate by the director in Indiana without the requirement of applying to the board for examination. However, the individual must obtain an Indiana miner's certificate of competency from the director.

(d) Every inexperienced miner is required to wear an orange hard hat until the miner receives a certificate of competency.

Formerly: Acts 1955, c.168, s.26; Acts 1971, P.L.358, SEC.6. As amended by Acts 1979, P.L.231, SEC.6; P.L.231-1983, SEC.9; P.L.37-1985, SEC.50; P.L.112-1992, SEC.7; P.L.35-2007, SEC.17; P.L.10-2012, SEC.5; P.L.91-2026, SEC.12.