West Virginia House Bill HB5002

West Virginia 2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/30/26
• Refer: 1/30/26

Caption

In cases of mine rescues, designate miners as first responders

Summary

House Bill 5002 amends West Virginia’s mine safety law to require that mandatory safety program rules for underground mines include the designation of first responders from among the mine crew. These designated miners must be trained to prevent, detect, and fight fires and to respond to emergencies. The required training would also cover emergency evacuation, communication, operation of mine ventilation systems, and cooperation with mine rescue crews and teams. The bill also preserves the existing framework for mine safety programs: coal operators must develop and submit comprehensive safety programs for each mine after the rules are finalized, employees must have an opportunity to review and comment, and the director of the Office of Miners’ Health, Safety and Training must approve, reject, or modify the program within 90 days. The bill keeps the current enforcement structure, including misdemeanor penalties for violations, and retains provisions allowing annual review after a fatality, serious injury, or a pattern of safety violations.

Impact

HB5002 would directly amend West Virginia Code §22A-1-36 governing mandatory mine safety programs. Its main legal effect is to require the state’s mine safety rules for underground mines to include crew-based first responders and specific emergency-response training, expanding the content of operator safety programs and the duties of the director when promulgating rules. The bill would affect coal operators, underground mine employees, the Office of Miners’ Health, Safety and Training, and mine rescue teams by formalizing emergency preparedness expectations within existing safety program requirements.

Sentiment

Based on the bill text and caption, the measure appears to be framed as a mine safety and emergency preparedness bill, with an emphasis on improving response capability in underground mines. There is no recorded committee debate or vote history provided, so no direct evidence of opposition or support is available from the context. The overall tone of the legislation is preventive and safety-oriented, suggesting likely support from proponents of stronger mine emergency readiness.

Contention

The main potential point of contention is the added operational burden on coal operators and the requirement to train and designate miners as first responders, which may involve costs, staffing adjustments, and compliance obligations. Another possible issue is the scope of the director’s rulemaking authority, since the bill directs emergency rules and allows different safety program requirements based on mine characteristics. Because no committee transcript or vote record is provided, no specific member or stakeholder objections can be identified from the available context.