MSHA, OSHA, DOL, and the Coronavirus/COVID-19

Written by Bjorn Ansbro in General Mining

The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is the division of the U.S. Department of Labor focused on “preventing death, illness, and injury from mining and promoting safe and healthful workplaces for U.S. miners.” More familiar to most U.S. workers is MSHA’s counterpart organization, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). And while the two organizations tend to stay in their respective lanes, there is some overlap that’s generally managed through their 1979 Interagency Agreement intended to delineate areas of authority, facilitate administration, outline jurisdiction procedures, and provide for coordination in areas of mutual interest. Managing information around the coronavirus and COVID-19 appears to be one of those “areas of mutual interest.”

So, what is MSHA’s official information on coronavirus and COVID-19? MSHA’s official information on coronavirus and COVID-19 is provided by its parent organization, the Department of Labor at www.DOL.gov/Coronavirus. This DOL site offers details on the “coronavirus disease 2019,” abbreviated as COVID-19, related to workplace safety, wages and leave, injured federal workers, news, and other resources, including a link to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

By now, with the rising number of reported cases and deaths, we all know that this outbreak is a big deal. But with the current market volatility, schools across the nation closing, state governments placing limits on gatherings, and professional sports organizations suspending their seasons, most of us are only just now starting to see how much of our daily lives are becoming affected by the spread of this highly communicable respiratory illness. And as miners and mining contractors, I’m sure you all have questions about MSHA’s specific stand on your safety and health. So in this article, we’ll do our best to reinforce the information provided to the mining industry.

What is the coronavirus and how is it different from COVID-19?

You’ve likely heard a variety of terms used to describe what the World Health Organization (WHO) has recently deemed a global pandemic, or “the worldwide spread of disease.” And it’s not uncommon for terminology to change as the situation develops.

But it’s important to draw the distinction between the names used for the specific virus as opposed to the disease that the virus causes. For example, the virus is officially called “severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2,” or SARS-CoV-2. But how often do you hear anyone dropping that mouthful? Right, never. So, most people just refer to it as “coronavirus.”

And to simplify communication, the WHO has begun using the abbreviation of “COVID-19” for “COronaVIrus Disease 2019,” the disease previously called the “novel coronavirus 2019.” The word “novel” just means “new.”

So for practical purposes, it’s the coronavirus that causes the disease now known as COVID-19.

What is MSHA recommending to prevent COVID-19?

(UPDATE – 8 April 2020: MSHA recently added a page titled “MSHA Response to COVID-19” to their site. You can find it HERE.)

As of the writing of this article (3/13/2020), MSHA’s landing page, News section, and Alerts and Hazards link display no reference to COVID-19. However, typing “COVID-19” in msha.gov’s search field produces a single result, the DOL’s Twitter account with several references and links to coronavirus resources.

Considering that MSHA is a division of the DOL, we’ll assume that the DOL’s messaging and MSHA’s standpoint are currently one and the same. With that said, let’s take a deeper dive into the DOL’s information provided on its DOL.gov/coronavirus page.

What resources are provided by the DOL.gov/coronavirus page?

The DOL’s Coronavirus Resources page provides a selection of links that lead to:

How is Coronavirus spread?

Coronavirus is highly communicable and is spread person-to-person through respiratory droplets expelled by an infected person’s cough, sneeze, or hand contacting commonly used surfaces, such as handrails, door handles, and counter tops.

People can become infected with coronavirus and contract COVID-19 is two common ways:

1 – Direct Contact – ingesting or inhaling the virus directly through the mouth or nose from someone carrying the virus (whether the virus host shows symptoms or not) with whom you are either in direct contact or within 6 feet of.

2 – Indirect Contact – touching your nose or mouth after touching a surface that has been infected by a person carrying the virus.

What are common COVID symptoms?

Two to 14 days after exposure and becoming infected by the coronavirus, you may exhibit these symptoms:

  • Fever
  • Coughing
  • Shortness of breath

Although these symptoms are common to other types of illnesses, these are not common times. Your wisest course of action is to seek medical attention immediately.

The next section covers some additional suggestions for what to do if you become sick.

What should you do if you become sick?

If you feel sick and you exhibit symptoms commonly associated with COVID-19, you should:

  • Call your doctor immediately for guidance on getting tested, especially if you have other respiratory health conditions or issues that comprise your immune system.
  • Stay home and self-quarantine after testing and treatment if it’s safe to do so.
  • Cover your mouth and nose with a fresh tissue and throw it away each time.
  • Wear a surgical mask if possible, to reduce the spread of infected droplets.
  • Wash your hands frequently.
  • Avoid touching your face.
  • Clean and disinfect your home with alcohol and a bleach solution.

What are some common Coronavirus / COVID-19 myths?

The WHO provides some helpful information to refute some common myths circulating about coronavirus. Here are some facts based on myths and rumors about coronavirus:

  • Coronavirus is not expected to go away in hotter environmental temperatures.
  • Coronavirus is not killed by cold weather and snow.
  • Taking a hot bath will not prevent COVID-19.
  • There is no evidence that mosquitoes carry or spread the coronavirus.
  • There is no evidence that pets carry or spread the coronavirus.
  • Bathroom hand dryers do not kill the coronavirus.
  • UV lamps are not effective forms of hand sanitization.
  • Flu and pneumonia vaccines are not effective against the coronavirus.
  • Saline nose rinses are not effective prevention from coronavirus infection.
  • Antibiotics are not effective prevention from coronavirus infection.
  • You cannot get COVID-19 simply from eating Chinese food.
  • Gargling bleach is not only ineffective in preventing COVID-19, but also a serious health risk. Do not do it!
  • Thermal scanners cannot detect COVID-19, they simply help determine if someone has an elevated body temperature or fever.
  • Eating garlic will not prevent COVID-19.
  • Colloidal silver is ineffective in preventing coronavirus infection and curing COVID-19.

There will most definitely be more myths arising from this pandemic as people become more frantic for options. But please continue to seek the facts from reputable sources and avoid spreading rumors, myths, and misinformation.

What should I do to help prevent the spread of COVID-19?

Since there is currently no COVID-19 vaccine, our most effective option is to take actions to prevent the spread of the virus. Common guidance from healthcare and infectious disease professionals to prevent the spread of coronavirus and the growing effects of COVID-19 include instruction to:

  • Wash Your Hands – Wash your hands frequently for at least 20 seconds with antibacterial soap and as soon as you get home. Use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol whenever available.
  • Avoid Touching High-Contact Surfaces – Use elbows, wrists, and hips to open doors whenever possible. In bathrooms, use paper towels to avoid direct contact with door levers and knobs, throwing the towel away immediately after opening the door.
  • Avoid Touching Your Face – This is a tough one because MOST of us habitually touch our faces without even knowing it. Pay attention to your hands. Keep them in your pockets whenever possible to help change common face-touching habits.
  • Avoid Large Gatherings – Many gatherings, meetings, school events, and professional sports seasons throughout the country are already being canceled. So, this one’s a bit easier to do. Just be cautious for the time-being when entering any situation where you may come into close contact with the public.
  • Social Distancing – In the context of communicable disease prevention, this is a range of practices intended to reduce the rate and severity of disease spread. In addition to avoiding large social gatherings, other social and interpersonal customs, such as hugs and handshakes should be avoided in favor of maintaining a distance of at least 6 feet (2 meters) from each other.
  • Self-Quarantine – If you’re sick, STAY HOME! Going to work, the grocery store, or other areas where you can spread COVID-19 is unwise.
  • Limit or Avoid Contact With Vulnerable Individuals – In the near-term, you should avoid contact with senior citizens and people with health problems who may be highly susceptible to contraction of COVID-19. This can be exceptionally difficult, knowing that many vulnerable communities include assisted living facilities that rely on outside help from family members.

Additional Resources

In addition to the range of resources offered by the DOL, here are some links you may find helpful.

Final Thoughts

Growing up on the Gulf Coast, I lived directly in the path of nearly every hurricane to pass through the area. I have vivid memories of hunkering down with the family and playing board games to candlelight after losing power. As a seeker of adventure from a very early age, it was exciting and fun in its unique way. The night would be continuously punctuated by the howling winds and surreal whipping of massive tree limbs, cracking and shaking the house on impact. It never lasted too long. A couple of days, maybe. We’d ultimately wake one morning to stillness, high water, and the serene carnage of trees pulled up with their roots.  

This isn’t like that at all. It’s quiet. And for all the assumed hysteria, it’s calm. There are no familiar cues of what we’re all going through at this moment and the unknowns that we’ll face in the coming months loom beyond our visible horizon. This is uncharted territory.

I urge everyone to take a step back and consider all the advice, not from those with a political position to advance, but from those who have dedicated their professions to the understanding and prevention of infectious diseases.

Listen to the facts, not the opinions. And when making decisions about changing behaviors on behalf of yourself and your families, please remember that this situation is affecting all of us. Let’s work together. And be kind.

Bjorn Ansbro

With a background that spans technical writing, instructional design, marketing, publishing, and business development, Bjorn has been turning highly technical and complicated material into easy-to-understand training content for a couple decades. Since 2008, Bjorn has been writing MSHA eLearning courses and helping mine operators and mining contractors comply with Part 46 surface miner training regulations. He's written and overseen development of many hours of online content for MSHA Part 46 new miner and annual refresher training. So when miners, mine operators, and mining contractors have questions about regulations and compliant documentation for Part 46 training, he's happy to help.

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