COVID-19 Mine Worker Protection Act

To require the Secretary of Labor to promulgate an emergency temporary standard to protect miners of coal or other mines from occupational exposure to SARS–CoV–2, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the COVID–19 Mine Worker Protection Act 2. Definitions In this Act, the terms coal or other mine miner operator 30 U.S.C. 802 3. 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 miners, pursuant to section 101(b) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 ( 30 U.S.C. 811(b) (2) Operator requirements The standard promulgated under paragraph (1) shall require operators to provide to miners the necessary personal protective equipment, ancillary medical supplies, and other applicable supplies determined necessary by the Secretary to reduce and limit exposure to SARS–CoV–2 in coal or other mines. (3) Extension of standard Notwithstanding paragraphs (2) and (3) of section 101(b) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 ( 30 U.S.C. 811(b) (4) Inapplicable provisions of law and Executive order The requirements of chapter 6 Regulatory Flexibility Act chapter 35 Paperwork Reduction Act 2 U.S.C. 1501 (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 miners from occupational exposure to infectious pathogens, including novel pathogens; and (2) that shall be effective and enforceable in the same manner and to the same extent as a standard promulgated under section 101(a) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 ( 30 U.S.C. 811(a) (c) Requirements Each standard promulgated under this section shall include— (1) the incorporation of guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration that are designed to prevent the transmission of infectious agents in occupational settings; and (2) a requirement for the recording and reporting of all work-related COVID–19 infections and deaths as set forth in part 50 of title 30, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act). (d) Anti-Retaliation (1) Policy Each standard promulgated under this section shall require operators to adopt a policy prohibiting the discrimination and retaliation described in paragraph (2) by any person (including an agent of the operator). (2) Prohibition No operator (including an agent of the operator) shall discriminate or retaliate against a miner for— (A) reporting to the operator or to a local, State, or Federal Government agency— (i) a violation of a standard promulgated pursuant to this Act; or (ii) a good faith concern about a workplace infectious disease hazard; (B) seeking assistance or intervention from the operator or a local, State, or Federal Government agency with respect to such a report; or (C) voluntary use of personal protective equipment with a higher level of protection than is provided by the operator, if the operator determines that use of such personal protective equipment will not in itself create a hazard. (3) Enforcement This subsection shall be enforced in the same manner and to the same extent as any standard promulgated under section 101 of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 ( 30 U.S.C. 811 4. Surveillance, tracking, and investigation of mining-related cases of COVID–19 The Secretary of Labor, acting through the Assistant Secretary for Mine Safety and Health and in coordination with the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, shall— (1) collect and analyze case reports, including information on the work status, occupation, and industry classification of an individual, and other data on COVID–19, to identify and evaluate the extent, nature, and source of COVID–19 among miners and the prevalence of COVID–19 among miners with previous symptoms of pneumoconiosis; (2) investigate, as appropriate, individual cases of COVID–19 among such miners to evaluate the source of exposure and adequacy of infection and exposure control programs and measures; (3) provide regular periodic reports on COVID–19 among such miners to the public; and (4) based on such reports and investigations, make recommendations on needed actions or guidance to protect such miners from COVID–19.

Summary: COVID-19 Mine Worker Protection Act This bill requires the Department of Labor to promulgate health and safety standards to protect coal miners from occupational exposure to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). Labor shall promulgate emergency standards within seven days of this bill's enactment. Such emergency standards shall be in force until Labor establishes permanent standards to protect miners from occupational exposure to infectious pathogens, including novel pathogens. The emergency and permanent standards shall prohibit mine operators from discriminating or retaliating against a miner for (1) reporting a violation of this bill or a good-faith concern about a workplace infectious disease hazard, or (2) voluntarily using personal protective equipment that provides a higher level of protection than the equipment provided by the mine operator if the miner's equipment does not create a hazard. Labor shall also collect data to track and investigate cases of exposure to COVID-19 among coal miners.