Definitions.

For the purposes of this subpart B--

(a)(1) Miner means, for purposes of § § 48.23 through 48.30 of this subpart B, any person working in a surface mine or surface areas of an underground mine and who is engaged in the extraction and production process, or engaged in shaft or slope construction, or who is regularly exposed to mine hazards, or who is a maintenance or service worker employed by the operator or a maintenance or service worker contracted by the operator to work at the mine for frequent or extended periods. This definition shall include the operator if the operator works at the mine on a continuing, even if irregular, basis. Short-term, specialized contract workers, such as drillers and blasters, who are engaged in the extraction and production process or engaged in shaft or slope construction and who have received training under § 48.26 (Experienced miner training) of this subpart B, may in lieu of subsequent training under that section for each new employment, receive training under § 48.31 (Hazard training) of this subpart B. This definition does not include:

      (i) Construction workers under subpart C of this Part 48;

(ii) Any person covered under paragraph (a)(2) of this section.

(2) Miner means, for purposes of § 48.3 (Hazard training) of this subpart B, any person working in a surface mine, including any delivery, office, or scientific worker or occasional, short-term maintenance or service worker contracted by the operator, and any student engaged in academic projects involving his or her extended presence at the mine. This definition excludes persons covered under paragraph (a)(1) of this section and subpart C of this part.

(b) Experienced miner means:

(1) A miner who has completed MSHA-approved new miner training for surface miners or training acceptable to MSHA from a State agency and who has had at least 12 months of surface mining experience; or

(2) A supervisor who is certified under an MSHA-approved State certification program and who is employed as a surface supervisor on October 6, 1998; or

(3) An experienced surface miner on February 3, 1999.

(4)(i) A person employed as a surface shaft or slope construction worker on the June 28, 2006; or,
(ii) A person who has six months of surface shaft or slope experience within 24 months before June 28, 2006.

(c) New miner means a miner who is not an experienced miner.

(d) Normal working hours means a period of time during which a miner is otherwise scheduled to work. This definition does not preclude scheduling training classes on the sixth or seventh working day if such a work schedule has been established for a sufficient period of time to be accepted as the operator's common practice. Miners shall be paid at a rate of pay which shall correspond to the rate of pay they would have received had they been performing their normal work tasks.

(e) Operator means any owner, lessee, or other person who operates, controls, or supervises a surface mine or surface area of an underground mine; or any independent contractor identified as an operator performing services or construction at such time.

(f) Task means a work assignment that includes duties of a job that occur on a regular basis and which requires physical abilities and job knowledge.

(g) Act means the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977.

For more information : See MSHA's Program Policy Manual