Class B mines and service contractors shall have at least which positions?

• A. 1 Full-time Safety Engineer and 1 Full-time Safety Inspector
• B. 2 Full-time Safety Engineers
• C. 1 Part-time Safety Engineer and 1 Full-time Safety Inspector
• D. 1 Full-time Safety Engineer and 0 Inspectors

Answer: (A)

Minimum safety staffing for Class B mines and service contractors requires at least one full-time safety engineer and one full-time safety inspector. The safety engineer is responsible for shaping and maintaining the safety program, performing risk assessments, ensuring engineering controls are in place, reviewing changes to equipment and processes, and coordinating training and compliance with applicable standards. The safety inspector focuses on on-site enforcement, conducts regular inspections, investigates incidents, and monitors everyday operations to ensure rules are followed.

Having both roles ensures there is solid engineering oversight plus hands-on, daily safety enforcement. Without an inspector, routine compliance issues may go unnoticed during daily work. Without an engineer, the safety program could lack thorough risk analysis and robust controls. The remaining options either add unnecessary staffing or omit a critical role, making the one engineer and one inspector combination the appropriate minimum.