COVID-19 Workers First Protection Act of 2020

To direct the Secretary of Labor to issue an emergency temporary standard that requires certain employers to develop and implement a comprehensive infectious disease exposure control plan to protect employees in the health care sectors and other employees at elevated risk from exposure to SARS–CoV–2, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the COVID–19 Workers First Protection Act of 2020 I COVID–19 Emergency Temporary Standard and Surveillance, Tracking, and Investigation of Work-Related Cases 101. Emergency temporary and permanent standards (a) Emergency temporary standard (1) In general In consideration of the grave risk presented by COVID–19 and the need to strengthen protections for employees, pursuant to section 6(c)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 ( 29 U.S.C. 655(c)(1) (A) employees of health care sector employers; (B) employees of employers in the paramedic and emergency medical services, including such services provided by firefighters and other emergency responders; and (C) employees in other sectors and occupations whom the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the Occupational Safety and Health Administration identifies as having elevated risk. (2) Consultation In developing the standard under this subsection, the Secretary shall consult with professional associations and representatives of the employees in the occupations and sectors described in subparagraphs (A) through (C) of paragraph (1) and the employers of such employees. (3) Enforcement discretion If the Secretary of Labor determines it is not feasible for an employer to comply with a requirement of the standard promulgated under this subsection (such as the provision of the necessary personal protective equipment), the Secretary may exercise discretion in the enforcement of such requirement if the employer demonstrates that the employer— (A) is exercising due diligence to come into compliance with such requirement; and (B) is implementing alternative methods and measures to protect employees. (4) Extension of standard Notwithstanding paragraphs (2) and (3) of section 6(c) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 ( 29 U.S.C. 655(c) (5) State plan adoption With respect to a State with a State plan that has been approved by the Secretary of Labor under section 18 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 ( 29 U.S.C. 667 (6) Employer defined For purposes of the standard promulgated under this subsection, the term employer 29 U.S.C. 652 (b) Permanent standard Not later than 24 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Labor shall promulgate a final standard— (1) to protect employees from occupational exposure to infectious pathogens; and (2) that shall be effective and enforceable in the same manner and to the same extent as a standard promulgated under section 6(b) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 ( 29 U.S.C. 655(b) (c) Requirements Each standard promulgated under this section shall— (1) require the employers of the employees in the occupations and sectors described in subparagraphs (A) through (C) of subsection (a)(1) to develop and implement a comprehensive infectious disease exposure control plan; (2) provide no less protection for novel pathogens than precautions mandated by standards adopted by a State plan that has been approved by the Secretary of Labor under section 18 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 ( 296 U.S.C. 667 (3) incorporate, as appropriate, the precautions for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in the 2007 Guideline for Isolation Precautions: Preventing Transmission of Infectious Agents in Healthcare Settings 102. Surveillance, tracking, and investigation of work-related cases of COVID–19 among health care workers The Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in conjunction with the Director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, shall— (1) collect and analyze case reports and other data on COVID–19, to identify and evaluate the extent, nature, and source of COVID–19 among employees in the occupations and sectors described in subparagraphs (A) through (C) of section 101(a)(1); (2) investigate, as appropriate, individual cases of COVID–19 among such employees to evaluate the source of exposure and adequacy of infection and exposure control programs and measures; (3) provide regular periodic reports on COVID–19 disease among such employees to the public; and (4) based on such reports and investigations make recommendations on needed actions or guidance to protect such employees from COVID–19. II Application of the Permanent COVID–19 Standard to Certain Facilities Receiving Medicare Funds. 201. In general (a) In general Section 1866 of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395cc (1) in subsection (a)(1)— (A) in subparagraph (X), by striking and (B) in subparagraph (Y), by striking at the end the period and inserting ; and (C) by inserting after subparagraph (Y) the following new subparagraph: (Z) in the case of hospitals that are not otherwise subject to the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (or a State occupational safety and health plan that is approved under section 18(b) of such Act) and skilled nursing facilities that are not otherwise subject to such Act (or such a State occupational safety and health plan), to comply with the standard promulgated under section 101(b) of the COVID–19 Workers First Protection Act of 2020 ; and (2) in subsection (b)(4)— (A) in subparagraph (A), by inserting and a hospital or skilled nursing facility that fails to comply with the requirement of subsection (a)(1)(Z) (relating to the standard promulgated under section 101(b) of the COVID–19 Workers First Protection Act of 2020 Bloodborne Pathogens Standard) (B) in subparagraph (B)— (i) by striking (a)(1)(U) (a)(1)(V) (ii) by inserting (or, in the case of a failure to comply with the requirement of subsection (a)(1)(Z), for a violation of the standard promulgated under section 101(b) of the COVID–19 Workers First Protection Act of 2020 (b) Effective date The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply beginning on the date that is 1 month after the date of promulgation of the permanent standard under section 101(b).

Summary: COVID-19 Workers First Protection Act of 2020 This bill addresses the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) emergency, including by requiring occupational standards to protect workers from COVID-19 exposure. Within one month of the bill's enactment, the Department of Labor must establish emergency temporary standards to protect health care sector employees, first responders, and other elevated-risk employees from occupational exposure to COVID-19. Labor shall establish permanent standards within 24 months of the bill's enactment. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shall collect data and analyze reports on cases of COVID-19 among the employees covered by the emergency temporary standards. The bill also conditions a medical facility's receipt of certain Medicare funds on the facility's compliance with the permanent standards established under the bill.