19. Qualification and appointment of fire officer.
(1)The owner, agent or manager of every mine shall appoint a fire officer for fire fighting and to assist the manager on fire prevention measures:Provided that, where in a mine, the owner, agent or manager of the mine is of the opinion that, due to large size of the mine, or due to large number of installations in the mine, or due to other conditions existing in the mine, it is not possible for one fire officer to attend to his duties effectively by himself, the owner, agent or manager of the mine shall appoint such additional number of fire officers, clearly specifying their areas of jurisdiction, as may be adequate in carrying out duties effectively.(2)No person shall be appointed as fire officer unless he:-(a)holds degree or diploma in fire and safety engineering of an educational institution recognized by the Central Government and having experience in dealing and management of fire services for a period of one year in case of degree or two years in case in diploma; or(b)holds degree or diploma in engineering or degree in science and shall also have undergone divisional officers course of an educational institution recognised by the Central Government and having experience in dealing and management of fire services for a period of one year in case of degree or two years in case in diploma; or(c)has undergone station officer's or sub-officer's course from an institute specified by the Chief Inspector of Mines for the purpose and having experience in dealing and management of fire services for a period of ten years.
