BITUMINOUS UNDERGROUND MINE INSPECTOR (EXAM)

THE POSITION

Join the Department of Environmental Protection, the Bureau of Mine Safety, to use your experience and expertise to provide a safe environment for mine workers.

DESCRIPTION OF WORK

Bituminous Underground Mine Inspectors conduct technical inspections of bituminous underground coal mines to enforce and promote compliance with underground mining laws. They are a vital component to ensuring the safety of Pennsylvania's underground bituminous coal mines and mine workers and perform highly responsible work measuring the velocity and oxygen content of the air and testing for noxious and explosive gases; explaining unsafe conditions and ordering corrective action to mine owners and mine officials; and issuing enforcement actions. They also investigate mining accidents to determine causes and preventative action. An important aspect of this work involves the authority to order the withdrawal of mine employees if threatened with imminent physical danger and to close the mine until conditions are corrected.

Work Schedule and Additional Information:

• Full-time employment
• Normal work hours are 8:00 am to 4:00 pm; 40 hrs/week, Mon-Fri.
  • Employees will be on call 24 hrs/day, 365 days/year
• Positions will have a home office.
• Must be willing to travel. Travel expenses will be paid.
• Multiple positions will be filled with this job posting as they become available in one of the following counties: Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Cambria, Clarion, Clearfield, Elk, Fayette, Green, Indiana, Jefferson, Lawrence, McKean, Mercer, Somerset, Venango, Warren, Washington, and Westmoreland counties
• Salary: In some cases, the starting salary may be non-negotiable.
• You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE, TRAINING & ELIGIBILITY

Qualifications:
Minimum Experience and Training Requirements

• Ten years of experience in underground bituminous coal mines, and graduation from high school or certification of equivalent training.

Necessary Special Requirements:

• Possession of a valid Pennsylvania driver's license.
• Possession of a current and valid certificate as a bituminous mine foreman, assistant mine foreman or mine examiner issued by or acceptable to the Department of Environmental Protection.

Conditions of Employment:

• Must be at least 30 years of age.
  

Other Requirements:

• You must meet the PA residency requirement. For more information on ways to meet PA residency requirements, follow the link and click on Residency.
• You must be able to perform essential job functions.

Legal Requirements:

• A conditional offer of employment will require submission of criminal history reports. See hiring agency contact information.
• You must pass a background investigation.

How to Apply:

• Resumes, cover letters, and similar documents will not be reviewed, and the information contained therein will not be considered for the purposes of determining your eligibility for the position. Information to support your eligibility for the position must be provided on the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education).
• If you are claiming education in your answers to the supplemental application questions, you must attach a copy of your college transcripts for your claim to be accepted toward meeting the minimum requirements. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.
• Your application must be submitted by the posting closing date. Late applications and other required materials will not be accepted.
• Failure to comply with the above application requirements may eliminate you from consideration for this position.

Veterans:

• Pennsylvania law (51 Pa. C.S. *7103) provides employment preference for qualified veterans for appointment to many state and local government jobs. To learn more about employment preferences for veterans, go to www.employment.pa.gov/Additional%20Info/Pages/default.aspx and click the Veterans' Preference tab or contact us at ra-cs-vetpreference@pa.gov.

Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS):

• 711 (hearing and speech disabilities or other individuals).

If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodations due to a disability, please discuss your request for accommodations with the interviewer in advance of your interview date.

The Commonwealth is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce. The Commonwealth values inclusion as we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most qualified people to serve the citizens of Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, union membership, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, AIDS or HIV status, disability, or any other categories protected by applicable federal or state law. All diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.
EXAMINATION INFORMATION

EXAMINATION INFORMATION:

IMPORTANT: To schedule this examination, you must first apply to this posting. If you meet eligibility requirements, you will be sent an email notification (separate from the application received notification) regarding how to schedule the exam at a test center.

TESTING ACCOMMODATIONS: IF YOU ARE AN INDIVIDUAL WITH A DISABILITY WHO REQUIRES A TESTING ACCOMMODATION, A REQUEST FOR TESTING ACCOMMODATION FORM MUST BE COMPLETED AND APPROVED PRIOR TO SCHEDULING YOUR EXAMINATION.

Testing Location Information

Test Subject Areas Questions
PART 1
Bituminous Underground Mining Law 50
PART 2
Principles and Techniques of Ventilation 20
Computation of Quantity and Velocity of Air 10
Principles and Practices of Roof Control 15
Effective Interpersonal Relationships 15
Written Communication - Effective Expression 15
Total Questions 125

• You have a maximum of 2 1/2 hours to complete this computerized multiple choice exam
• The test will consist of two parts. You must pass Part 1 in order to move onto Part 2. You must pass both parts and meet the METs and NSRs to receive a final score.
• Part 1 is based on bituminous underground mining laws. It will be to your advantage to study the Safety Laws of Pennsylvania for Underground Bituminous Coal Mines Act 55, SB 949 Session of 2008. A copy may be obtained by contacting the Bureau of Mine Safety at (724) 404-3143; by accessing the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection website http://www.dep.pa.gov/; or by using the following direct link https://files.dep.state.pa.us/Mining/Deep%20Mine%20Safety/DMSPortalFiles/BituminousMiningLaws.pdf
• You may retest one month after the date of your last exam. A new application must be submitted.
• Your results will be provided via email.
• Only your most recent exam score is counted.