A plan to protect America’s mine workers against job-related exposure to COVID-19 would be developed under bipartisan legislation introduced this week by U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV).
“For centuries, our miners have worked tirelessly to power America and keep the lights on,” Sen. Capito said on Tuesday. “It is vital that we take the necessary steps to provide them safety and job security as we continue to battle COVID-19.”
The COVID-19 Mine Worker Protection Act, S. 184, which Sen. Capito cosponsored on Feb. 2 with bill sponsor U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV), would require the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) to issue an emergency temporary standard requiring mine operators to establish a comprehensive infectious disease exposure control plan.
If enacted, the DOL’s emergency temporary standard authorized under S. 184 also would require that the plan incorporate relevant scientific research, as well as federal guidelines, and that personal protective equipment be provided to miners.
The measure has been referred for consideration to the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee and a companion bill, H.R. 646, was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by U.S. Reps. Brain Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Matt Cartwright (D-PA).