By The Associated Press
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A union representing U.S. coal miners has asked a court to force the federal government to take unspecified measures to protect them from the coronavirus.
The petition Tuesday asked the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia for an expedited order against the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration. It was filed by the United Mine Workers and the United Steelworkers unions.
If MSHA fails to issue an emergency temporary standard for infectious diseases that would be legally binding on all mine operators, it would put the lives and health of tens of thousands of miners in "grave danger," the petition said.
"The situation confronting miners is urgent," the petition said. "Miners have largely been designated as `essential' workers and thus are currently working at mine sites across the country. Further, as government-imposed stay-at-home orders are lifted and demand for mine-produced resources increases, more miners will return to work at pre-pandemic levels."
A U.S. Department of Labor spokeswoman said the agency is confident it will prevail in the court action.
