805 KAR 7:080. Training, certification, and annual retraining of mine emergency technicians

      Section 1. Definitions.

      (1) "Current", as applied to training and its certification, means the present status of training, as certified by the agency that reviews or attests to it.

      (2) "Emergency medical technician" or "EMT" means a person who is certified by the Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services.

      (3) "Licensee" is defined by KRS 351.010(1)(o).

      (4) "Mine emergency technician" or "MET" means a person certified by the Office of Mine Safety and Licensing.

      (5) "OMSL" means the Office of Mine Safety and Licensing.

 

      Section 2. MET Certification Requirements. (1) Each applicant for certification as a MET shall:

      (a) Hold a surface or underground miner’s certification in the Commonwealth of Kentucky;

      (b) Successfully complete the standard program of training and education established by this administrative regulation and a series of written and practical skills examinations prescribed by the OMSL, in accordance with 805 KAR Chapter 7;

      (c) Be eighteen (18) years of age or older; and

      (d) Understand and be able to read, speak, and write in the English language.

      (2) A Kentucky certified miner who is an emergency medical technician with a current CPR course completion card may apply for initial certification as a mine emergency technician.

 

      Section 3. MET Training Course Requirements. (1) The training course curriculum for certification as a MET shall include:

      (a) Instruction in cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and adult one (1) and two (2) rescuer CPR, approved by at least one (1) of the following organizations:

      1. The American Red Cross;

      2. The American Safety and Health Institute;

      3. The American Heart Association; or

      4. The Nation Safety Council; and

      (b) The following subjects from textbooks as prescribed by the Office of Mine Safety and Licensing;

      1. Roles and responsibilities;

      2. The human body;

      3. Patient assessment;

      4. Airway and Pulmonary Resuscitation;

      5. Cardiac emergency;

      6. Breathing aides and oxygen therapy;

      7. Bleeding and shock;

      8. Soft tissue and internal organs;

      9. Upper and lower extremity muscular and skeletal injuries;

      10. Skull and spine injuries;

      11. Chest, abdominal, and genital injuries;

      12. Medical emergency;

      13. Hazardous materials;

      14. Environmental and electrical emergencies;

      15. Special patterns and behavioral problems;

      16. Disaster management;

      17. Lifting and moving;

      18. Extrications;

      19. Infection control; and

      20. Burns.

      (2) The training course shall also:

      (a) Be not less than forty (40) hours in duration;

      (b) Be taught by an instructor certified by the OMSL, in accordance with 805 KAR Chapter 7;

      (c) Include equipment, texts, audio-visual and other materials approved by the OMSL, in accordance with 805 KAR Chapter 7 as adequate to train METs;

      (d) Be limited to thirty (30) students per instructor; and

      (e) Be conducted in a training facility approved by the OMSL, in accordance with 805 KAR Chapter 7 as adequate to train METs.

 

      Section 4. MET Certification Examination. (1) When the MET applicant takes the MET certification examination, applicant shall provide verification on a Certificate of Training form, Federal Form 5000-23, that the applicant has successfully completed the standard program of MET training and education prescribed by the OMSL, in accordance with 805 KAR Chapter 7.

      (2) The Certificate of Training form, Federal Form 5000-23, shall be signed by the MET applicant, be embossed with the MET instructor certification number, and signed by the MET instructor who administered the MET course to the applicant.

      (3) The initial MET certification exam shall be taken within sixty (60) days of completion of the MET training course required in Section 3 of this administrative regulation.

      (4) The MET certification examination, shall be prescribed and administered by OMSL, in accordance with 805 KAR Chapter 7 and shall consist of the following two (2) parts:

      (a) A written examination with an overall grade of eighty (80) percent shall be required to pass; and

      (b) A practical examination, which shall consist of the following two (2) parts:

      1.a. The first part shall consist of mandatory stations in which the applicant shall be tested on one (1) or more required skills.

      b. The applicant shall demonstrate proficiency in all mandatory stations.

      2.a. The second part shall consist of "wild card" stations in which one (1) or more skills shall be tested.

      b. The applicant shall randomly draw the skills on which he shall be tested when the examination is given.

      (5)(a) If the applicant for certification fails to pass the written or practical portion of the examination, he shall be permitted one (1) opportunity to retake the portion or portions failed.

      (b) The reexamination shall be conducted within sixty (60) days of the initial examination date.

      (6) If the applicant for certification fails to pass the written or practical portion after reexamination, he shall retake the entire MET training course before being eligible for subsequent examination.

 

      Section 5. Certification Renewal Continuing Education Requirements. (1)(a) For a MET to remain certified, the applicant shall receive continuing education or retraining in a period not to exceed one (1) year from the last day of the month in which the most current retraining was completed.

      (b) A MET shall earn at least eight (8) continuing education or retraining hours annually, with at least half being devoted to practical skills in a structured instructional setting.

      (2) Continuing education and retraining courses for mine emergency technicians shall be taught by certified MET instructors.

      (3)(a) A MET shall maintain a current course completion card in adult foreign body airway obstruction and adult one (1) and two (2) rescuer CPR.

      (b) The card shall be presented to the MET instructor at the time of the MET recertification.

      (4) An applicant for recertification shall receive credit for completion of continuing education and retraining hours in subjects required by the OMSL's MET curriculum listed in Section 3 of this administrative regulation.

      (5) Each subject or training course for which credit is claimed shall be countersigned by the MET instructor teaching the subject or course.

      (6) The applicant for recertification shall submit evidence of successful completion of instruction in at least four (4) different subject areas of the approved MET curriculum, with a maximum of two (2) hours per subject area.

      (7)(a) The MET shall submit to an OMSL district office a copy of the Mine Emergency Technician Recertification form, EF-16, within thirty (30) days of the MET retraining completion dates if the eight (8) hours training was received from multiple locations.

      (b) The Mine Emergency Technician Recertification form, EF-16, shall be signed by the MET, be embossed with the MET instructor certification number, and signed by the MET instructor who administered the continuing education claimed for purposes of recertification.

      (c) A copy of the Mine Emergency Technician Recertification form, EF-16, shall be maintained at the mine site.

 

      Section 6. Expiration of Certification. (1) A MET certification shall expire one (1) year from the last day of the month in which the certification was issued, unless the person holding the MET certification satisfies the recertification and continuing education requirements detailed in Section 5(1) of this administrative regulation.

      (2) Upon the expiration of the MET certification, the holder shall not function in the capacity of a mine emergency technician.

 

      Section 7. Reinstatement of Certification. A former MET may reinstate an expired certification as follows:

      (1) If the certificate has expired within the past one (1) year, the applicant may apply for certification reinstatement by:

      (a) Successfully completing eight (8) hours of MET training and reeducation classes as established in Section 5(1) through (7) of this administrative regulation;

      (b) Providing a copy of a current CPR certification as established in Section 3(1)(a) of this administrative regulation; and

      (c) Submitting proof of prior MET certification.

      (2) If the certificate has been expired for more than one (1) year but less than three (3) years, the applicant may apply for certification reinstatement by:

      (a) Successfully completely eight (8) hours of MET training and reeducation classes as established in Section 5(1) through (7) of this administrative regulation;

      (b) Providing a copy of current CPR certification as established in Section 3 of this administrative regulation;

      (c) Submitting proof, in accordance with KRS 351.182 that he or she is drug and alcohol free;

      (d) Submitting proof of prior MET certification; and

      (e) Completing the initial MET certification examination requirements established in Section 4(4) of this administrative regulation.

 

      Section 8. Designation of a MET. (1) A person designated by the licensee to function as a MET in an underground coal mine shall:

      (a) Hold an underground miner’s certification in the Commonwealth of Kentucky;

      (b) Hold a mine emergency technician certification from OMSL; and

      (c) Maintain verification of MET certification at the mine site.

      (2) A person designated by the licensee to function as a MET at a surface coal mine shall:

      (a) Hold a surface miner’s certification in the Commonwealth of Kentucky;

      (b) Hold a mine emergency technician certification from the OMSL; and

      (c) Maintain verification of MET certification at the mine site.

      (3) A certified MET instructor designated by the licensee to function as a mine emergency technician shall:

      (a) Meet the requirements of subsections (1)(a) or (2)(a) of this section;

      (b) Maintain verification of MET certification at the mine site; and

      1. Teach an eight (8) hour MET retraining class during the period of certification; or

      2. Meet the recertification continuing education requirements established in Section 5 of this administrative regulation.

 

      Section 9. MET Instructor Certification Requirements. MET instructors, in addition to being certified as a MET, shall:

      (a) Hold a mine instructor certification issued by the OMSL; and

      (b) Hold a current instructor card to teach adult foreign body airway obstruction and adult one (1) and two (2) rescuer CPR issued by at least one of the organizations listed in Section 3(1)(a) of this administrative regulation; or

      (2) Be an EMT instructor who is also qualified in accordance with subsection (1) of this section.

 

      Section 10. Responsibilities of the MET Instructor. The MET instructor shall:

      (1) Utilize equipment, texts, audio-visual and other materials deemed appropriate by the department;

      (2) Notify the district office of the OMSL prior to his commencement of MET classes;

      (3) Verify on a Mine Safety and Health Administration Certificate of Training form, Federal Form 5000-23, that the MET applicant has successfully completed the standard MET program of training and education prescribed by the OMSL, in accordance with 805 KAR Chapter 7;

      (4) Verify on a Mine Emergency Technician Recertification form, EF-16 that the MET has successfully completed each subject or training course for which credit shall be approved;

      (5) Immediately upon completion of initial training or continuing education courses, the completed form, Mine Emergency Technical Recertification form, EF-16, shall be provided to the student; and

      (6)(a) Shall submit copies of all Mine Emergency Technician Recertification form EF-16, forms within thirty (30) days of MET retraining completion dates, to the Office of Mine Safety and Licensing.

      (b) The Mine Emergency Technician Recertification form, EF-16, shall be signed by the MET, embossed with the MET instructor certification number, and signed by the MET instructor who administered the continuing education claimed for purposes of recertification.

 

      Section 11. Denial, Revocation, and Suspension of MET Certification. (1) The Mine Safety Review Commission may revoke, suspend, or probate the MET certification or MET instructor certification of a person who the commission determines, based upon allegations substantiated by the OMSL, has responded or acted inappropriately in the capacity of a mine emergency technician or MET instructor by failing to:

      (a) Follow appropriate standards of care in the management of a patient;

      (b) Administer treatment in a responsible manner in accordance with the mine emergency technician's or MET instructor's level of certification;

      (c) Maintain patient confidentiality;

      (d) Respond timely to an emergency.

      (2) All actions taken by the commission regarding the revocation, suspension, or probation of a MET certification or MET instructor certification shall be so taken in accordance with KRS 352.390.

 

      Section 12. Material Incorporated by Reference. (1) The following material is incorporated by reference:

      (a) The Mine Safety and Health Administration Certificate of Training form 5000-23, January 1999; and

      (b) Mine Emergency Technician Recertification Form EF-16, April 2006.

      (2) This material may be inspected, copied, or obtained, subject to applicable copyright law, at Kentucky Office of Mine Safety and Licensing, 300 Sower Boulevard, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601. (23 Ky.R. 1293; Am. 2499; eff. 12-11-96; 35 Ky.R. 1604; 1762; eff. 3-6-09; TAm eff. 7-6-2016.)

Notation

      RELATES TO: KRS 351.010(1)(o), 351.127, 351.182, 352.390

      STATUTORY AUTHORITY: KRS 351.070(13), 351.127(1), (5)

      NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY: KRS 351.070(13) authorizes the secretary to promulgate administrative regulations necessary and suitable for the proper administration of this chapter. KRS 351.127(1) requires the department to promulgate administrative regulations establishing training requirements for mine emergency technicians. This administrative regulation establishes standards by which mine emergency technicians shall be trained, certified, and retrained.