(410 ILCS 15/1) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 3951) Sec. 1. This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Coal Mine Medical Emergencies Act". (Source: P.A. 80-294.)

(410 ILCS 15/2) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 3952) Sec. 2. As used in this Act, unless the context clearly otherwise requires: (a) "Emergency medical technician" means a person who has successfully completed the course on emergency first-aid care and transportation of the sick and injured recommended by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, or the equivalent thereof, and has been licensed by the Department of Public Health to provide emergency care. (b) "Mine" means any surface coal mine or underground coal mine, as defined in Section 1.03 of the Coal Mining Act. (Source: P.A. 100-201, eff. 8-18-17.)

(410 ILCS 15/3) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 3953) Sec. 3. (a) Within 2 years from the effective date of this Act, a person or persons trained and certified as emergency medical technicians shall be made available at all mines by the operator thereof as follows: (1) At least one person trained and certified as an

emergency medical technician shall be on duty at a mine at any time 30 or more persons are working at the mine. Such person or persons may be assigned to their regular mining duties and shall have available to them at the mine at all times the necessary equipment to be in compliance with applicable federal regulations.

(2) Telephone service or equivalent facilities shall

be available which will provide 2-way voice communication from the emergency medical technician in the mine to medical personnel outside the mine who provide emergency medical services on a regular basis.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, a person or persons trained and certified as an emergency medical technician shall be employed in all surface coal mines as follows: (1) If a mine has employees working at different

locations within a radius of not more than 15 miles or a lesser number of miles as may be determined by the Department of Natural Resources and said locations are connected by telephone service or equivalent facilities, a person trained and certified as an emergency medical technician or the equivalent at any location on the shift shall be deemed to be compliance with the provisions of this Act.

(2) If fewer than 20 persons are employed on a shift,

an ambulance service with 1 member certified as an emergency medical technician or the equivalent, not necessarily coal mine employees, located within a radius of 15 miles, or such other distance as may be approved by the Department of Natural Resources upon request for and approval of a variance thereto, shall be deemed to be in compliance with the provisions of this Act.

A shift shall include all persons working at the different locations of a mine. (Source: P.A. 89-445, eff. 2-7-96.)

(410 ILCS 15/4) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 3954) Sec. 4. The Department of Public Health shall make rules and regulations as may be necessary to train and certify emergency medical technicians. (Source: P.A. 80-294.)

(410 ILCS 15/5) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 3955) Sec. 5. Each coal mine operator shall provide every new employee with the opportunity for 8 hours of first-aid training as prescribed by the Department of Natural Resources within 6 months of the date of his employment. Each coal mine employee shall be provided with an opportunity for refresher first-aid training of not less than 4 hours within each 24 months of employment. The employee shall be paid regular wages, or overtime pay if applicable, for all periods of first-aid training. (Source: P.A. 89-445, eff. 2-7-96.)

(410 ILCS 15/6) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 3956) Sec. 6. The Department of Natural Resources, after consultation with the Department of Public Health regarding the content of instruction courses, shall provide for necessary training on a continuing basis of emergency medical technicians in sufficient numbers to satisfy the requirements of this Act and shall propose rules and regulations to implement the operational provisions of this Act to the Mining Board. (Source: P.A. 89-445, eff. 2-7-96.)

(410 ILCS 15/7) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 3957) Sec. 7. The Department of Public Health shall prescribe procedures for the certification of emergency medical technicians and shall consult with the Department of Natural Resources as may be required hereunder. (Source: P.A. 89-445, eff. 2-7-96.)

(410 ILCS 15/8) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 3958) Sec. 8. (a) No physician, who in good faith gives instructions to a certified emergency medical technician or certified mobile intensive care personnel, a registered nurse, or a physician's assistant shall be liable for any civil damages as a result of issuing the instructions, unless guilty of gross or willful negligence. (b) No certified emergency medical technician or certified mobile intensive care personnel, registered nurse, or physician's assistant who in good faith attempts to render emergency care to any sick or injured person in or about a coal mine, or his employer, shall be liable for civil damages as a result of any acts or omissions, unless guilty of gross or willful negligence. This section shall not affect any employer's liability under the Workers' Compensation Act. (Source: P.A. 81-992.)

(410 ILCS 15/9) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 3959) Sec. 9. The Department of Natural Resources may determine that a coal mine operator is presently providing emergency medical care for its employees which is equivalent to or superior to the emergency medical care provided for under this Act; and, in that event, it shall make a finding that such operator is in compliance with this Act. (Source: P.A. 89-445, eff. 2-7-96.)

(410 ILCS 15/10) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 3960) Sec. 10. The Mining Board shall make rules and regulations, after consideration of those proposed by the Department of Natural Resources, to implement the operational provisions of this Act. (Source: P.A. 89-445, eff. 2-7-96.)