{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/45.2-938.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/45.2-938.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/45.2-938.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/45.2-938.html"}],"law_id":364574,"edition_id":2,"section_id":364574,"structure_id":52046,"section_number":"45.2-938","catch_line":" Safety precautions","history":"1994, c. 28, \u00a7 45.1-161.291; 2011, cc. 826, 862; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 387.","full_text":"A\n\nNo person shall enter an auger hole or highwall miner entry without prior approval from the Chief.\n\nB\n\nEvery auger hole or highwall miner entry shall be blocked with highwall spoil or other suitable material before it is abandoned.\n\nC\n\nEvery auger or highwall mining machine that is exposed to any highwall or explosion hazard shall be provided with worker protection from falling material and a mine explosion.\n\nD\n\nAt least one person shall be assigned to observe the highwall for possible movement while ground personnel are working in a high-risk area in close proximity to the highwall.\n\nE\n\nAll persons shall stay clear of any moving auger or highwall miner train, and no person shall pass over or under a moving train unless adequate crossing facilities are provided.\n\nF\n\nThe ground control plan shall specify any spacing of holes, web design, and use of alignment control devices.\n\nG\n\nThe ground control plan shall include other administrative, engineering, and source controls that are to be provided for safe operations.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1358353,"text":"No person shall enter an auger hole or highwall miner entry without prior approval from the Chief.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":1358354,"text":"Every auger hole or highwall miner entry shall be blocked with highwall spoil or other suitable material before it is abandoned.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":1358355,"text":"Every auger or highwall mining machine that is exposed to any highwall or explosion hazard shall be provided with worker protection from falling material and a mine explosion.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":1358356,"text":"At least one person shall be assigned to observe the highwall for possible movement while ground personnel are working in a high-risk area in close proximity to the highwall.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"4":{"id":1358357,"text":"All persons shall stay clear of any moving auger or highwall miner train, and no person shall pass over or under a moving train unless adequate crossing facilities are provided.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D","next_prefix":"F"},"5":{"id":1358358,"text":"The ground control plan shall specify any spacing of holes, web design, and use of alignment control devices.","type":"section","prefixes":["F"],"prefix":"F","entire_prefix":"F","prefix_anchor":"F","level":1,"prior_prefix":"E","next_prefix":"G"},"6":{"id":1358359,"text":"The ground control plan shall include other administrative, engineering, and source controls that are to be provided for safe operations.","type":"section","prefixes":["G"],"prefix":"G","entire_prefix":"G","prefix_anchor":"G","level":1,"prior_prefix":"F"}},"ancestry":[{"id":52046,"edition_id":2,"name":"Auger and Highwall Mining","identifier":"12","label":"article","depth":5,"order_by":12,"parent_id":52034,"metadata":{"child_laws":4,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:52:28","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:33:53","permalink":{"id":1450959,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52046,"identifier":"12","token":"45.2\/II\/C\/9\/12","url":"\/45.2\/II\/C\/9\/12\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":52034,"edition_id":2,"name":"Requirements Applicable to Surface Coal Mines","identifier":"9","label":"chapter","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":51932,"metadata":{"child_laws":40,"child_structures":13},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:52:25","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:33:51","permalink":{"id":1450923,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52034,"identifier":"9","token":"45.2\/II\/C\/9","url":"\/45.2\/II\/C\/9\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":51932,"edition_id":2,"name":"Surface Coal Mines","identifier":"C","label":"part","depth":3,"order_by":3,"parent_id":51931,"metadata":{"child_laws":93,"child_structures":20},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:51:17","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:33:51","permalink":{"id":1450697,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":51932,"identifier":"C","token":"45.2\/II\/C","url":"\/45.2\/II\/C\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":51931,"edition_id":2,"name":"Coal Mining","identifier":"II","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":2,"parent_id":51927,"metadata":{"child_laws":337,"child_structures":56},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:51:17","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:33:33","permalink":{"id":1449649,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":51931,"identifier":"II","token":"45.2\/II","url":"\/45.2\/II\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":51927,"edition_id":2,"name":"Mines, Minerals, and Energy","identifier":"45.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":99,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":627,"child_structures":120},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:51:17","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:33:32","permalink":{"id":1449541,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":51927,"identifier":"45.2","token":"45.2","url":"\/45.2\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":364571,"structure_id":52046,"section_number":"45.2-935","catch_line":" Inspection of electric equipment and wiring; checking and testing methane monitors","url":"\/45.2-935\/","token":"45.2\/II\/C\/9\/12\/45.2-935","metadata":false},{"id":364572,"structure_id":52046,"section_number":"45.2-936","catch_line":" Highwall inspections","url":"\/45.2-936\/","token":"45.2\/II\/C\/9\/12\/45.2-936","metadata":false},{"id":364573,"structure_id":52046,"section_number":"45.2-937","catch_line":" Penetration of underground mines; testing","url":"\/45.2-937\/","token":"45.2\/II\/C\/9\/12\/45.2-937","metadata":false},{"id":364574,"structure_id":52046,"section_number":"45.2-938","catch_line":" Safety precautions","url":"\/45.2-938\/","token":"45.2\/II\/C\/9\/12\/45.2-938","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":364573,"structure_id":52046,"section_number":"45.2-937","catch_line":" Penetration of underground mines; testing","url":"\/45.2-937\/","token":"45.2\/II\/C\/9\/12\/45.2-937","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/45.2-938\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1994. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 28<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. It has been modified 1 time. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. That modification is as follows: in 2011, chapters 826<\/a> and 862<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":1450973,"object_type":"law","relational_id":364574,"identifier":"45.2-938","token":"45.2\/II\/C\/9\/12\/45.2-938","url":"\/45.2-938\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/45.2-938\/","token":"45.2\/II\/C\/9\/12\/45.2-938","dublin_core":{"Title":" Safety precautions","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 45.2-938","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> No person shall enter an auger hole or highwall miner entry without prior approval from the Chief<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Every auger hole or highwall miner entry shall be blocked with highwall spoil or other suitable material<\/span> before it is abandoned. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> Every auger or highwall mining machine that is exposed to any highwall or explosion hazard shall be provided with worker protection from falling material<\/span> and a mine explosion. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> At least one person shall be assigned to observe the highwall for possible movement while ground personnel are working in a high-risk area in close proximity to the highwall. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> All persons shall stay<\/span> clear of any moving auger or highwall miner train, and no person shall pass over or under a moving train unless adequate crossing facilities are provided. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

F.<\/span> The ground control plan shall specify any spacing of holes, web design, and use of alignment control devices. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

G.<\/span> The ground control plan shall include other administrative, engineering, and source controls that are to be provided for safe operations. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\n SAFETY PRECAUTIONS (\u00a7 45.2-938)\n\nA. No person shall enter an auger hole or highwall miner entry without prior\napproval from the Chief.\n\nB. Every auger hole or highwall miner entry shall be blocked with highwall spoil\nor other suitable material before it is abandoned.\n\nC. Every auger or highwall mining machine that is exposed to any highwall or\nexplosion hazard shall be provided with worker protection from falling material\nand a mine explosion.\n\nD. At least one person shall be assigned to observe the highwall for possible\nmovement while ground personnel are working in a high-risk area in close\nproximity to the highwall.\n\nE. All persons shall stay clear of any moving auger or highwall miner train, and\nno person shall pass over or under a moving train unless adequate crossing\nfacilities are provided.\n\nF. The ground control plan shall specify any spacing of holes, web design, and\nuse of alignment control devices.\n\nG. The ground control plan shall include other administrative, engineering, and\nsource controls that are to be provided for safe operations.\n\nHISTORY: 1994, c. 28, \u00a7 45.1-161.291; 2011, cc. 826, 862; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c.\n387.","edition":{"id":2,"name":"2026","slug":"2026","date_created":"2026-07-16 18:40:23","date_modified":"2026-08-02 15:14:36","current":1,"order_by":2,"last_import":"2026-08-02 12:37:30"}}