(a) Each miner shall receive a minimum of 8 hours of annual refresher training as prescribed in this section.

(b) The annual refresher training program for all miners shall include the following courses of instruction:

(1) Mandatory health and safety standards. The course shall include mandatory health and safety standard requirements which are related to the miner's tasks.

(2) Transportation controls and communication systems. The course shall include instruction on the procedures for riding on and in mine conveyances; the controls in effect for the transportation of miners and materials; and the use of the mine communication systems, warning signals, and directional signs.

(3) Escape and emergency evacuation plans; firewarning and firefighting. The course shall include a review of the mine escape system; escape and emergency evacuation plans in effect at the mine; and instruction in the firewarning signals and firefighting procedures.

(4) Ground control; working in areas of highwalls, water hazards, pits, and spoil banks; illumination and night work. The course shall include, where applicable, a review and instruction on the highwall and ground control plans in effect at the mine; procedures for working safely in areas of highwalls, water hazards, pits, and spoil banks; the illumination of work areas; and safe work procedures during hours of darkness.

(5) First aid. The course shall include a review of first aid methods acceptable to MSHA.

(6) Electrical hazards. The course shall include recognition and avoidance of electrical hazards.

(7) Prevention of accidents. the course shall include a review of accidents and causes of accidents, and instruction in accident prevention in the work environment.

(8) Health. The course shall include instruction on the purpose of taking dust measurements, where applicable, and noise and other health measurements, and any health control plan in effect at the mine shall be explained. The health provisions of the Act and warning labels shall also be explained.

(9) Explosives. The course shall include a review and instruction on the hazards related to explosives. The only exception to this course component is when there are no explosives used or stored on the mine property.

(10) Self-rescue and respiratory devices. The course shall include instruction and demonstration in the use, care, and maintenance of self-rescue and respiratory devices, where applicable.

(11) Such other courses as may be required by the District Manager based on circumstances and conditions at the mine.

(c) Refresher training may include other health and safety subjects that are relevant to mining operations at the mine. Recommended subjects include, but are not limited to, information about the physical and health hazards of chemicals in the miner's work area, the protective measures a miner can take against these hazards, and the contents of the mine's HazCom program.

(d) All persons employed as shaft or slope construction workers on June 28, 2006 must receive annual refresher training within 12 months of June 2006.

(e) Where annual refresher training is conducted periodically, such sessions shall not be less than 30 minutes of actual instruction time and the miners shall be notified that the session is part of annual refresher training.

[43 FR 47459, Oct. 13, 1978, as amended at 47 FR 23641, May 28, 1982; 63 FR 53761, Oct. 6, 1998; 70 FR 77728, Dec. 30, 2005]