SECTION 460:15-1-6. Mine foreman

(a)   In order to secure the efficient management and the proper ventilation of the mines of this state and promote the health and safety of the persons employed therein, the operator shall employee a duly qualified overseer for each and every coal mine, to be called mine foremen, who shall have charge of the underground operations of the mine and shall see that the provisions of this Chapter relating thereto are complied with. The mine foreman shall be under the direction of the mine superintendent. No person shall act in the capacity of mine foreman unless possessing a certificate of competency as such from the Oklahoma Mining Commission.

(b)   When the mine workings become so extensive that the mine foreman is unable to personally carry out the requirements of this title pertaining to his duties, the operator of the mine shall employ a sufficient number of duly qualified and certified persons to act as assistant mine foremen, who shall be under the direction of the mine foreman in carrying out the provisions of this Chapter. The assistant mine foreman shall be under the direction of the mine superintendent. No person shall act in the capacity of assistant mine foreman unless possessing a certificate of competency from the State Mining Commission as a mine foreman or fire-boss.

(c)   In the case of temporary absence of the mine foreman, he may deputize his work for the time being to his assistant, or assistants, who shall perform all the duties of the mine foreman. The assistant mine foreman shall have a certificate of competency from the State Mining Commission as mine foreman. The assistant mine foreman may be temporarily relieved by a fire-boss.

(d)   The mine foreman shall devote the whole of his time to his duties while the mine is in operation and either he or his assistants, or fire-boss shall visit each working place and traveling way at least once daily. Mine foreman, or his assistants, are not required by this section to visit working places unoccupied or temporarily idle.

(e)   The mine foreman shall give prompt attention to the removal of all dangers observed by or reported to him by his assistants, the fire-boss, or any other person; and in case it is impractical to remove the danger at once, he shall notify every person whose safety is menaced thereby, the area shall be dangered off to all employees other than those engaged in making the condition safe.