(a) On and after the effective date of this act, the secretary with the consent of the Governor, shall appoint one first-aid instructor and one mine rescue instructor to carry on the work of instructing mine employes how to care for persons injury in and about the anthracite coal mines of this Commonwealth, and to train such other employes of the various coal companies, who may voluntarily seek training in the use of self-contained breathing apparatus, gas masks, first aid to the injured and such other things or practices essential to the safe and efficient conduct of the work of first aid and mine rescue.

(b) The secretary, with the consent of the Governor, shall have the authority to purchase, through the Department of Property and Supplies,¹ one truck equipped with the necessary breathing apparatus, gas masks, first-aid supplies, analytical apparatus and such other chemical and scientific instruments commonly used and necessary in the work of first aid and mine rescue.

The secretary, with the consent of the Governor, shall also have the authority to purchase, through the Department of Property and Supplies, such emergency mine rescue trucks and equipment as in his opinion shall be deemed necessary for use in mine catastrophies.

(c) The persons appointed to the position of first-aid instructor and mine rescue instructor shall not be under twenty-five years of age or over fifty-five years of age on the date of their appointment. They shall be citizens of this Commonwealth and shall devote their whole time and attention to the duties of their office. They shall have a mine foreman's certificate, issued by the department, and shall be in possession of a first aid certificate issued by the department, the Red Cross, the Federal Bureau of Mines, or any other recognized authority on the subject of first aid. They shall also undergo an examination arranged and conducted by the secretary. The examination, so conducted by the secretary, shall pertain to the applicant's knowledge and experience in the use of such instruments and equipment as are commonly used in mine rescue work.

(d) The salaries of first-aid instructors and mine rescue instructors shall be as established by the executive board.

(e) The persons so trained in the work of first aid and mine rescue shall, upon completion of a course of training and instruction as may be prescribed by the secretary, be granted a certificate of competency. Such certificate shall be issued by the secretary upon written notice from the “chief of crew” that the applicant has completed, in a satisfactory manner, the course of training and instruction prescribed by the said secretary.