The Regulation of the Minister of Energy of 16th March 2017 on mining rescues was published in the Journal of Laws on 31st May 2017 (Journal of Laws of 2017, item 1052) [hereinafter: the Regulation].
The Regulation was issued on the basis of art. 124 of the Act of 9th June 2011 - Geological and Mining Law (Journal of Laws of 2016, item 1131 and 1991, and of 2017, items 60 and 202) and regulates:
1) the organization, specific tasks and requirements applicable to an entrepreneur’s mining rescue services and entities that are professionally engaged in mining rescue;
2) detailed requirements for specialist medical examinations, specialist psychological examinations and specialist mining rescue training, including where such training is conducted by the entrepreneur;
3) detailed requirements for documentation concerning mining rescues and mining rescue plans;
4) methods of co-operation between entrepreneurs and entities professionally engaged in mining rescue, in the event of concluding an agreement referred to in art. 122 sec. 15 of the Act of 9th June 2011 – the Geological and Mining Law;
5) situations in which preventative works are required;
6) methods for conducting rescue actions depending on the type and intensity of threats occurring in mining plants.
The Regulation’s provisions apply to all types of mining plants, except for the provisions of chapters 2-5, which do not apply to open-pit mines.
The new Regulation was adopted following consultations with the representatives of entrepreneurs and the mining supervision authorities. According to representatives of the Ministry, the Regulation’s entry into force will help to reduce the number of applicable documents and procedures, while guaranteeing the maximum safety of underground miners.
The Regulation will enter into force on 1st July 2017.