WV Foreman Practice Questions Answered Correctly Latest Update 2025-2026
Can a skid mounted fuel tank be used for transportation of diesel? - Answers No, must be wheeled or
self-propelled
What does "attending diesel equipment" mean? - Answers Diesel equipment operator must be within
sight and sound
What is the maximum concentration of DPM allowed under WV law? - Answers 0.12 mg/m^3
All significant external surface on diesel equipment should not exceed what temp? - Answers 302 deg F
What is the ambient concentration of exhaust gas allowed in the mine atmosphere under WV law? -
Answers CO not to exceed 35 ppm, NO not to exceed 25 ppm, NO2 not to exceed 3 ppm
What shall be done, if necessary, so as to provide clearance and to avoid accidental contact with power
lines when moving equipment? - Answers Equipment shall be insulated and assemblies removed
What is minimum clearance on Trolley side? - Answers 12"
What is the minimum size of shelter holes? - Answers 5' deep, 4' wide, and height of entry
Who shall see that a conspicuous light is placed on the front and rear of trips? - Answers The motorman
and trip rider
Who shall provide conspicuous light for motor/trips? - Answers Mine Foreman
How should the deck of locomotives be protected from loose material in the track entry? - Answers With
shields
What shall be done to regulate the movement of trips? - Answers A proper system of signals should be
provided
From what side shall cars not be coupled? - Answers From the wire side or inside of a curve
If a locomotive is not coupled to the trip ahead, what distance should be maintained between the
locomotive and trip? - Answers 300'
What is the maximum distance between shelter holes? - Answers 100'
What signaling devices shall be provided on locomotives and shuttle cars? - Answers Sounding devices
Is back-poling prohibited? - Answers Yes, however permitted with precaution to the nearest turning
point, not to exceed 80'
Why is back-poling prohibited? - Answers Pole may leave the wire and break, causing serious injury
Bottom drop cars shall not be used as man trips - Answers
,What is required on haulage roads between the end car of trips placed on sidetracks and moving traffic?
- Answers A clearance point shall be marked with an approved device
What are the primary causes of haulage accidents? - Answers Improperly maintained track, insufficient
clearance, and unsafe practices
What safety precaution shall be observed where track is on a steep grade? - Answers Derails shall be
installed
If a pusher locomotive is not used on a trip, what is required? - Answers the locomotive operator shall
have an assistant to assist him in his duties
All self-propelled track haulage shall be equipped with what? - Answers E-stop
What shall be provided where miners load or unload from conveyor belts? - Answers Adequate
clearance of 36", proper illumination, suitable communications
What is the maximum speed of belts which transport miners? - Answers 250 FPM, if clearance is 18",
300 FPM if clearance is 24" or greater
What is the minimum clearance to the roof for miners to ride belts? - Answers Not less than 18" from
the top of the roller. 24" if seam height permits
On belts that do not transport miners, at what intervals are stop/start controls required to be places? -
Answers 1,000'
What shall all belt conveyors be inspected for daily? - Answers Frozen rollers, rock falls, fires
What shall be provided on all UG belts? - Answers slip and sequence switches
If belts are used to transport miners, what must be done after supplies are transported with the belt,
prior to transportation of miners? - Answers examine for unsafe conditions
What advantage does rock dust have over the used of water in extinguishing a mine fire? - Answers Can
be carried by the air, eliminates the formation of steam and water gas, protects the roof from
disintegration caused by steam and water
What changes occur to the mine atmosphere sealed within a fire area? - Answers Carbon Dioxide and
Carbon Monoxide are increased, oxygen is depleted, and explosive gases may accumulate
What is the principal danger while mine fires are being sealed? - Answers The danger of gas explosion
How may the danger of an explosion be minimized while sealing a fire area? - Answers By sealing
sufficiently far away to prevent explosive mixtures from forming before the fire seals can be completed
How can excessive internal pressure be relieved from a sealed area without permitting air to enter? -
Answers By bleeding off through a water trap
, What would continued high oxygen content in a sealed fire area indicate? - Answers Leakage of air into
the sealed area
What would a fluctuating high CO concentration in a sealed fire area indicate? - Answers That there is
leakage of air into the sealed area, keeping the fire active
How would an air analysis indicate that the fire was extinguished? - Answers Low oxygen and absence of
CO
How does teh action of a mine fire cause explosive gases to be formed? - Answers By distillation of
combustible gases from the coal and surrounding carbonaceous shales and by chemical reaction
between the carbon of the coal, oxygen of air, and hydrogen from water at high temperature
What is the danger of reversing the air current in the event of a mine fire? - Answers Flammable gases
formed by the fire may become explosive when drawn across the fire
What combustible and dangerous gas may be formed by the application of water to a mine fire? -
Answers Water gas (CO and H2)
In the event of a mine fire located in the return of an extremely gassy section, what precaution should
be taken? - Answers The air should be short circuited to prevent the gas from being carried across the
fire
In the event of a fire located on the intake, what should be done to protect the miners on the ventilating
current inby from smoke and dangerous gases? - Answers Sealing to exclude oxygen
In the event of a mine fire, how should the fire be approached? - Answers Cautiously, from the intake
side, by a competent person
How long a period is arbitrarily set, after temporary seals are erected, before rescue teams can return to
the seals for investigation? - Answers 72 hours
Why is it not advisable to unseal a fire shortly after the CO has disappeared and O2 content is reduced
to 1%? - Answers Sufficient time should be allowed for the area to cool to minimize the danger of
rekindling, 100 days minimum
To what percent should oxygen be lowered before it is advisable to attempt to open a fire seal? -
Answers 1%
Why is it necessary to have a low oxygen content before a fire seal is opened? - Answers Dilution with
pure air is likely to form an explosive mixture, a low oxygen content will lessen the danger
What preparatory work is necessary, prior to unsealing a fire area? - Answers Preparation should be
made for the fire gases to pass directly to the main return and all entries outby the seals should be
heavily rock dusted
Can a skid mounted fuel tank be used for transportation of diesel? - Answers No, must be wheeled or
self-propelled
What does "attending diesel equipment" mean? - Answers Diesel equipment operator must be within
sight and sound
What is the maximum concentration of DPM allowed under WV law? - Answers 0.12 mg/m^3
All significant external surface on diesel equipment should not exceed what temp? - Answers 302 deg F
What is the ambient concentration of exhaust gas allowed in the mine atmosphere under WV law? -
Answers CO not to exceed 35 ppm, NO not to exceed 25 ppm, NO2 not to exceed 3 ppm
What shall be done, if necessary, so as to provide clearance and to avoid accidental contact with power
lines when moving equipment? - Answers Equipment shall be insulated and assemblies removed
What is minimum clearance on Trolley side? - Answers 12"
What is the minimum size of shelter holes? - Answers 5' deep, 4' wide, and height of entry
Who shall see that a conspicuous light is placed on the front and rear of trips? - Answers The motorman
and trip rider
Who shall provide conspicuous light for motor/trips? - Answers Mine Foreman
How should the deck of locomotives be protected from loose material in the track entry? - Answers With
shields
What shall be done to regulate the movement of trips? - Answers A proper system of signals should be
provided
From what side shall cars not be coupled? - Answers From the wire side or inside of a curve
If a locomotive is not coupled to the trip ahead, what distance should be maintained between the
locomotive and trip? - Answers 300'
What is the maximum distance between shelter holes? - Answers 100'
What signaling devices shall be provided on locomotives and shuttle cars? - Answers Sounding devices
Is back-poling prohibited? - Answers Yes, however permitted with precaution to the nearest turning
point, not to exceed 80'
Why is back-poling prohibited? - Answers Pole may leave the wire and break, causing serious injury
Bottom drop cars shall not be used as man trips - Answers
,What is required on haulage roads between the end car of trips placed on sidetracks and moving traffic?
- Answers A clearance point shall be marked with an approved device
What are the primary causes of haulage accidents? - Answers Improperly maintained track, insufficient
clearance, and unsafe practices
What safety precaution shall be observed where track is on a steep grade? - Answers Derails shall be
installed
If a pusher locomotive is not used on a trip, what is required? - Answers the locomotive operator shall
have an assistant to assist him in his duties
All self-propelled track haulage shall be equipped with what? - Answers E-stop
What shall be provided where miners load or unload from conveyor belts? - Answers Adequate
clearance of 36", proper illumination, suitable communications
What is the maximum speed of belts which transport miners? - Answers 250 FPM, if clearance is 18",
300 FPM if clearance is 24" or greater
What is the minimum clearance to the roof for miners to ride belts? - Answers Not less than 18" from
the top of the roller. 24" if seam height permits
On belts that do not transport miners, at what intervals are stop/start controls required to be places? -
Answers 1,000'
What shall all belt conveyors be inspected for daily? - Answers Frozen rollers, rock falls, fires
What shall be provided on all UG belts? - Answers slip and sequence switches
If belts are used to transport miners, what must be done after supplies are transported with the belt,
prior to transportation of miners? - Answers examine for unsafe conditions
What advantage does rock dust have over the used of water in extinguishing a mine fire? - Answers Can
be carried by the air, eliminates the formation of steam and water gas, protects the roof from
disintegration caused by steam and water
What changes occur to the mine atmosphere sealed within a fire area? - Answers Carbon Dioxide and
Carbon Monoxide are increased, oxygen is depleted, and explosive gases may accumulate
What is the principal danger while mine fires are being sealed? - Answers The danger of gas explosion
How may the danger of an explosion be minimized while sealing a fire area? - Answers By sealing
sufficiently far away to prevent explosive mixtures from forming before the fire seals can be completed
How can excessive internal pressure be relieved from a sealed area without permitting air to enter? -
Answers By bleeding off through a water trap
, What would continued high oxygen content in a sealed fire area indicate? - Answers Leakage of air into
the sealed area
What would a fluctuating high CO concentration in a sealed fire area indicate? - Answers That there is
leakage of air into the sealed area, keeping the fire active
How would an air analysis indicate that the fire was extinguished? - Answers Low oxygen and absence of
CO
How does teh action of a mine fire cause explosive gases to be formed? - Answers By distillation of
combustible gases from the coal and surrounding carbonaceous shales and by chemical reaction
between the carbon of the coal, oxygen of air, and hydrogen from water at high temperature
What is the danger of reversing the air current in the event of a mine fire? - Answers Flammable gases
formed by the fire may become explosive when drawn across the fire
What combustible and dangerous gas may be formed by the application of water to a mine fire? -
Answers Water gas (CO and H2)
In the event of a mine fire located in the return of an extremely gassy section, what precaution should
be taken? - Answers The air should be short circuited to prevent the gas from being carried across the
fire
In the event of a fire located on the intake, what should be done to protect the miners on the ventilating
current inby from smoke and dangerous gases? - Answers Sealing to exclude oxygen
In the event of a mine fire, how should the fire be approached? - Answers Cautiously, from the intake
side, by a competent person
How long a period is arbitrarily set, after temporary seals are erected, before rescue teams can return to
the seals for investigation? - Answers 72 hours
Why is it not advisable to unseal a fire shortly after the CO has disappeared and O2 content is reduced
to 1%? - Answers Sufficient time should be allowed for the area to cool to minimize the danger of
rekindling, 100 days minimum
To what percent should oxygen be lowered before it is advisable to attempt to open a fire seal? -
Answers 1%
Why is it necessary to have a low oxygen content before a fire seal is opened? - Answers Dilution with
pure air is likely to form an explosive mixture, a low oxygen content will lessen the danger
What preparatory work is necessary, prior to unsealing a fire area? - Answers Preparation should be
made for the fire gases to pass directly to the main return and all entries outby the seals should be
heavily rock dusted
