AN ACT relating to mines and minerals.
     Amend KRS 352.010 to define "hazardous voltage," "suitable," and "workmanlike manner"; amend KRS 352.220 to include requirements for the use of nonconductive materials for suspending trailing cables or high voltage feeder cables, suitable circuit interrupting devices for power circuits and equipment at the mine, and grounding or insulating frames for hand-held electrically driven tools and pumps; include specifications for underground high-voltage cables used in resistance grounded systems and for power circuits and disconnecting devices; require underground transformer stations, battery charging stations, substations, rectifiers, and water pumps be housed in noncombustible structures and include specifications for ventilation, monitoring, and warning systems for noncombustible structures; provide an exemption from the requirements for noncombustible structures, for certain rectifiers and power centers; provide fire safety requirements for flame resistant belting and underground belt conveyors; require insulation and electric shock protection on communication wires and cables; require weekly testing for ground wires in trailing cables; specify procedures for testing and working on underground power circuits and electrical equipment; require switch boxes, contactors, controllers, and other similar devices to be free of accumulations of combustible dust; provide electrical safety requirements and procedures for trolley wires and trolley feeder wires; delete requirements for protective barriers between high voltage wires and other conveyor wires in surface mining operations and delete requirements for four wire circuits to minimize wire damage; prescribe electrical safety requirements including de-energizing and lock and tag procedures for testing or troubleshooting power circuits or electrical equipment located on the surface; amend KRS 352.230 to permit all electric driven equipment, except intrinsically safe equipment taken or used in by the last open crosscut and in return airways in underground mines; delete existing requirements for operators in charge of electrical face equipment in mines and for certain inspection procedures of electrical face equipment being used next to the working face; prescribe examination and testing procedures for electrical equipment and circuits; prescribe maintenance requirements for electrical equipment utilized in intake airways; prohibit accumulations of combustible materials, including grease and other lubricants, to prevent fire hazards; create new section of KRS Chapter 352 to establish qualification requirements for persons in charge of electrical face equipment; specify the types of mine workers that are permitted to conduct tests for gas; prescribe examination requirements for approval to test for gas; prescribe gas detection and testing requirements for electric face equipment being used near the working face; require 20 minute interval testing for gas and safety requirements when electric equipment is being used at the face.

     (Prefiled by the sponsor(s).)

     Jan 6-introduced in House
     Jan 7-to Labor and Industry (H)
     Jan 12-posted in committee
     Jan 27-reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute
     Jan 28-2nd reading, to Rules
     Feb 2-posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Tuesday, February 3, 2004
     Feb 3-3rd reading, passed 90-1 with Committee Substitute
     Feb 4-received in Senate
     Feb 9-to Agriculture and Natural Resources (S)