45.1-161.292:70 - Reports of violations - Virginia Statutes

§ 45.1-161.292:70. Reports of violations.

A. Any person aware of a violation of this chapter and Chapters 14.5 (§45.1-161.293 et seq.) and 14.6 (§ 45.1-161.304 et seq.) may report theviolation to a mine inspector or to any other employee of the Department, inperson, in writing, or by telephone call, at the mine, at an office of theDepartment or at the mine inspector's residence.

B. Each operator, or his agent, shall deliver a copy of this chapter andChapters 14.5 (§ 45.1-161.293 et seq.) and 14.6 (§ 45.1-161.304 et seq.) toevery miner in his employ upon the commencement of the miner's work at amine, unless the miner is already in possession of a copy.

C. The licensed operator of every mine, or his agent, shall display on a signplaced at the mine office, at the bath house, and on a bulletin board at aprominent place at the mine site where it can be read conveniently by theminers, a notice containing the office and home telephone numbers of mineinspectors and other Department personnel, and office addresses, which may beused to report any violation of this chapter and Chapters 14.5 (§45.1-161.293 et seq.) and 14.6 (§ 45.1-161.304 et seq.).

D. The Department shall keep a record, on a form prepared for such purpose,of every alleged violation of this chapter and Chapters 14.5 (§ 45.1-161.293et seq.) and 14.6 (§ 45.1-161.304 et seq.) which is reported and the resultsof any investigation. The Department shall give a copy of the complaint form,with the identity of the person making the report being omitted or deleted,to the licensed operator of the mine or his agent and to any independentcontractor who is alleged to have committed the violation. The Departmentshall not disclose the identity of any person who reports an allegedviolation to the owner or operator of the mine or his agent, or to any otherperson or entity. Information regarding the identity of the person reportingthe violation shall be excluded from access under the provisions of theVirginia Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et seq.).

(1997, c. 390; 1998, c. 695.)