WV Mine Foreman Test UPDATED Exam
Questions and CORRECT Answers
Methane (CH4) - CORRECT ANSWER- What is the principle gas contained in coal?
It increases the explosibility - CORRECT ANSWER- What effect does the presence of small
amounts of methane have upon the explosibility of coal dust?
When hoisting more than 20 persons at a time - CORRECT ANSWER- What approval is
required relative to the hoisting of men?
Written permission from the Director of MHST - CORRECT ANSWER- What permit is
required for blasting with regular or short interval detonators?
To remove coal within 200ft of an oil or gas well - CORRECT ANSWER- What permit is
required to remove coal near an oil or gas well?
To work a limited number of men, 20 or less, when there is no second outlet - CORRECT
ANSWER- What is required relative to second openings?
Within 30 days after Jan 1 of each year - CORRECT ANSWER- When must the operator
apply for an extension of the approval to open a mine?
Immediately - CORRECT ANSWER- When must the Director of MHST and the district
mine inspector be notified of an explosion, death, or serious personal injury?
MHST and the well operator - CORRECT ANSWER- Who must be notified before coal is
removed within 500ft of an oil or gas well?
A daily record of inspection - CORRECT ANSWER- What record of man-hoists should be
kept?
,The Director of MHST - CORRECT ANSWER- Who shall be notified before sealed areas,
temporary or permanent, are reopened?
Operator or superintendent and the Director of MHST - CORRECT ANSWER- Who shall a
mine foreman notify, in writing, of his inability to comply with any of the requirements of the
mining laws?
A record of weekly examinations & monthly tests shall be kept and made available to reps of
MHST & the miners at such time - CORRECT ANSWER- What records of electrical
equipment examinations are required to be kept?
State certifications containing name & social security numbers of all current employees -
CORRECT ANSWER- What records shall be made available by the operator without 5 days
of request by the Director of MHST?
The operator - CORRECT ANSWER- Who is required to furnish maps of coal mines?
Not less than 100ft & not more than 500ft to the inch - CORRECT ANSWER- What must be
the scale of maps of coal mines?
Twice annually, on or before 1st of March & 1st of Sept. - CORRECT ANSWER- How often
must the map of the coal mine be brought up to date?
A certified engineer - CORRECT ANSWER- Who must certify the map of a coal mine to be
correct?
Not nearer than 200ft from the oil or gas well - CORRECT ANSWER- After filing with a
well operator & the MHST the required maps showing an intention to mine in the vicinity of
an oil or gas well, how close to the well may the mine operator remove the coal?
On shift exam made between 3rd & 5th hour - CORRECT ANSWER- In addition to the pre-
shift exam, what else is required of all construction & rehabilitation work areas?
On the surface - CORRECT ANSWER- Where shall all main fans be installed?
,Fireproof - CORRECT ANSWER- The main fan must be enclosed in what kind of housing?
If the ventilation is not restored within 15 minutes - CORRECT ANSWER- When shall all
employees be removed from the mine when the fan stops?
200ft - CORRECT ANSWER- What is the maximum distance that mines may be developed
underground before mechanically operated fans are required?
Blowing & exhaust - CORRECT ANSWER- What are the 2 systems of ventilation?
With pressure-recording gages or water gages - CORRECT ANSWER- How is the ventilating
pressure measured?
The quantity is decreased - CORRECT ANSWER- What affect do obstructions in airways
have upon the quantity of air circulated, the fans speed remaining constant?
The quantity is increased - CORRECT ANSWER- What affect do short circuits have upon
the quantity of air circulated, the fans speed remaining constant?
A saving in power can be affected be reduced fan speed - CORRECT ANSWER- What is the
benefit of decreased mine resistance when it is not necessary to increase the quantity of air in
circulation?
By explosion doors, or a weak wall - CORRECT ANSWER- How must a mine fan
installation be protected from an explosion?
They should be offset not less than 15ft from the nearest side of the mine opening &
connected to the opening by means of air ducts - CORRECT ANSWER- Where shall fans be
located with respect to mine openings?
9,000 cubic feet of air per minute - CORRECT ANSWER- What quantity of air must be
delivered to the intake of a pillar line?
, At least 20,000 cubic feet of air per minute - CORRECT ANSWER- How much air must be
delivered to the intake of the pillar line if a bleeder return is closed as a result of roof falls or
water during pillar recovery operations?
By keeping the ventilating current along the pillar line - CORRECT ANSWER- How should
pillar lines be ventilated?
Bleeders will be found around pillared areas - CORRECT ANSWER- Where are bleeders
found?
For the ventilation of gob areas - CORRECT ANSWER- What are bleeders used for?
The director of MHST - CORRECT ANSWER- Before sealed areas are opened, who shall be
notified?
9,000 cubic feet of air per minute - CORRECT ANSWER- In all mines what shall be the
quantity of air passing through the last open crosscut between the intake and return in any
pair or set of entries?
3,000 cubic feet of air per minute - CORRECT ANSWER- What is the minimum quantity of
air allowed at all working faces in the working section?
12,000 cubic feet of air per minute - CORRECT ANSWER- How much air shall be delivered
to the last open crosscut when places are driven up to 200ft without providing a connection
that will allow the free flow of air currents?
By sealing them - CORRECT ANSWER- How can the ventilation of large abandoned areas
be avoided?
50ft - CORRECT ANSWER- What is the minimum distance permitted between slope & drift
openings?
100ft - CORRECT ANSWER- What is the minimum distance between shaft & slope
openings?
Questions and CORRECT Answers
Methane (CH4) - CORRECT ANSWER- What is the principle gas contained in coal?
It increases the explosibility - CORRECT ANSWER- What effect does the presence of small
amounts of methane have upon the explosibility of coal dust?
When hoisting more than 20 persons at a time - CORRECT ANSWER- What approval is
required relative to the hoisting of men?
Written permission from the Director of MHST - CORRECT ANSWER- What permit is
required for blasting with regular or short interval detonators?
To remove coal within 200ft of an oil or gas well - CORRECT ANSWER- What permit is
required to remove coal near an oil or gas well?
To work a limited number of men, 20 or less, when there is no second outlet - CORRECT
ANSWER- What is required relative to second openings?
Within 30 days after Jan 1 of each year - CORRECT ANSWER- When must the operator
apply for an extension of the approval to open a mine?
Immediately - CORRECT ANSWER- When must the Director of MHST and the district
mine inspector be notified of an explosion, death, or serious personal injury?
MHST and the well operator - CORRECT ANSWER- Who must be notified before coal is
removed within 500ft of an oil or gas well?
A daily record of inspection - CORRECT ANSWER- What record of man-hoists should be
kept?
,The Director of MHST - CORRECT ANSWER- Who shall be notified before sealed areas,
temporary or permanent, are reopened?
Operator or superintendent and the Director of MHST - CORRECT ANSWER- Who shall a
mine foreman notify, in writing, of his inability to comply with any of the requirements of the
mining laws?
A record of weekly examinations & monthly tests shall be kept and made available to reps of
MHST & the miners at such time - CORRECT ANSWER- What records of electrical
equipment examinations are required to be kept?
State certifications containing name & social security numbers of all current employees -
CORRECT ANSWER- What records shall be made available by the operator without 5 days
of request by the Director of MHST?
The operator - CORRECT ANSWER- Who is required to furnish maps of coal mines?
Not less than 100ft & not more than 500ft to the inch - CORRECT ANSWER- What must be
the scale of maps of coal mines?
Twice annually, on or before 1st of March & 1st of Sept. - CORRECT ANSWER- How often
must the map of the coal mine be brought up to date?
A certified engineer - CORRECT ANSWER- Who must certify the map of a coal mine to be
correct?
Not nearer than 200ft from the oil or gas well - CORRECT ANSWER- After filing with a
well operator & the MHST the required maps showing an intention to mine in the vicinity of
an oil or gas well, how close to the well may the mine operator remove the coal?
On shift exam made between 3rd & 5th hour - CORRECT ANSWER- In addition to the pre-
shift exam, what else is required of all construction & rehabilitation work areas?
On the surface - CORRECT ANSWER- Where shall all main fans be installed?
,Fireproof - CORRECT ANSWER- The main fan must be enclosed in what kind of housing?
If the ventilation is not restored within 15 minutes - CORRECT ANSWER- When shall all
employees be removed from the mine when the fan stops?
200ft - CORRECT ANSWER- What is the maximum distance that mines may be developed
underground before mechanically operated fans are required?
Blowing & exhaust - CORRECT ANSWER- What are the 2 systems of ventilation?
With pressure-recording gages or water gages - CORRECT ANSWER- How is the ventilating
pressure measured?
The quantity is decreased - CORRECT ANSWER- What affect do obstructions in airways
have upon the quantity of air circulated, the fans speed remaining constant?
The quantity is increased - CORRECT ANSWER- What affect do short circuits have upon
the quantity of air circulated, the fans speed remaining constant?
A saving in power can be affected be reduced fan speed - CORRECT ANSWER- What is the
benefit of decreased mine resistance when it is not necessary to increase the quantity of air in
circulation?
By explosion doors, or a weak wall - CORRECT ANSWER- How must a mine fan
installation be protected from an explosion?
They should be offset not less than 15ft from the nearest side of the mine opening &
connected to the opening by means of air ducts - CORRECT ANSWER- Where shall fans be
located with respect to mine openings?
9,000 cubic feet of air per minute - CORRECT ANSWER- What quantity of air must be
delivered to the intake of a pillar line?
, At least 20,000 cubic feet of air per minute - CORRECT ANSWER- How much air must be
delivered to the intake of the pillar line if a bleeder return is closed as a result of roof falls or
water during pillar recovery operations?
By keeping the ventilating current along the pillar line - CORRECT ANSWER- How should
pillar lines be ventilated?
Bleeders will be found around pillared areas - CORRECT ANSWER- Where are bleeders
found?
For the ventilation of gob areas - CORRECT ANSWER- What are bleeders used for?
The director of MHST - CORRECT ANSWER- Before sealed areas are opened, who shall be
notified?
9,000 cubic feet of air per minute - CORRECT ANSWER- In all mines what shall be the
quantity of air passing through the last open crosscut between the intake and return in any
pair or set of entries?
3,000 cubic feet of air per minute - CORRECT ANSWER- What is the minimum quantity of
air allowed at all working faces in the working section?
12,000 cubic feet of air per minute - CORRECT ANSWER- How much air shall be delivered
to the last open crosscut when places are driven up to 200ft without providing a connection
that will allow the free flow of air currents?
By sealing them - CORRECT ANSWER- How can the ventilation of large abandoned areas
be avoided?
50ft - CORRECT ANSWER- What is the minimum distance permitted between slope & drift
openings?
100ft - CORRECT ANSWER- What is the minimum distance between shaft & slope
openings?
