(1) The department shall employ an adequate number of qualified coal mine inspectors for the enforcement of this chapter and shall prescribe their duties.
(2) A person is not eligible to be a state coal mine inspector unless the person is a citizen of the United States, is a resident of this state, and has been actually employed in coal mining for 5 years before the appointment.
(3) A state coal mine inspector may not act as the agent for a corporation, superintendent, or manager of a mine and may not be in the employ of mining companies or interested in any way in coal mining operations, either as owner, lessee, or otherwise.