(a) Whenever loss of life or serious personal injury shall occur by reason of any explosion or of any accident whatever in or about any mine, it shall be the duty of the person having charge of the mine to report the facts thereof without delay to the State Mine Inspector and, if any person is killed thereby, to notify the coroner or some justice of the peace of the county.
(b)
(1) It shall be the duty of the mine inspector to investigate and ascertain the cause of the explosion and file a report thereof with the other records of his or her office.
(2) To enable him or her to make the investigations, he or she shall have power to compel attendance of witnesses, take depositions, and administer oaths, and the cost of the examination shall be paid by the county as costs of coroners' inquests are now paid.
(c) Failure of the person in charge of the mine where the accident occurred to give the mine inspector notice thereof shall be a misdemeanor.