Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and Mining

• Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol. Avoid touching your face, nose, and eyes.
• Cover coughs and sneezes. Always cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or use the inside of your elbow.
  • To protect others, wear a cloth face covering to block respiratory droplets made by coughs, sneezes, talking, or breathing when you aren’t wearing your respiratory PPE.
• Put distance between yourself and others. Stay at least 6 feet away, which is about two arm’s length. This includes not crowding personnel carriers, hoists and elevators, or other means of transportation at a mine to maintain 6 feet of distance between you and others.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and equipment.
• Continue wearing and properly cleaning your personal protective equipment (PPE). Facemasks should not be worn if the miner is wearing a tight-fitting respirator.

People of any age with certain underlying medical conditions are at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19. See People Who Are at Increased Risk for Severe Illness to find out who is at increased risk.

• Have at least a 2-week supply (preferably a 90-day supply) of prescription and non-prescription medications. Talk to your healthcare provider, insurance company, and pharmacist about getting an extra supply of prescription medications, if possible, to reduce trips to the pharmacy.
• Talk to your healthcare provider about whether your vaccinations are up to date.
• Do not delay getting emergency care for your underlying condition because of COVID-19.
• Do not travel unless you absolutely have to.
• Call your healthcare provider or local health department if you think you may have COVID-19 or if you have concerns about COVID-19 and your underlying conditions.

People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported, ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19:

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

This list does not include all COVID-19 symptoms. Please call your health care provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you.

• Call your healthcare provider (doctor, nurse, or clinic), or local health department if you think you may have COVID-19 or if you have concerns about COVID-19 and any underlying conditions.
• Stay home, except to get medical care, and avoid close contact with others.
• Separate yourself from other people and pets in your home.
• Monitor your symptoms. Follow the care instructions from your healthcare provider and your local health department.
• Keep taking your current medications, including those with steroids in them (“steroids” is another word for corticosteroids). Do not change your treatment plan or medications without talking to your doctor.
• Avoid triggers that make your symptoms worse.

If you develop any of the following emergency warning signs for COVID-19, call 911 and get medical help immediately:

• Trouble breathing
• Pain or pressure in the chest
• New confusion
• Can’t wake up or stay awake
• Bluish lips or face

Notify the operator that you have, or think you might have, COVID-19. If possible, put a cloth face covering on before medical help arrives.

Stay informed. Talk to your employer, supervisor, or union representative who are responsible for responding to COVID-19 concerns. See these sources for more information on worker exposures to COVID-19:

CDC Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers to Plan and Respond to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
NIOSH Workplace Safety and Health Topic
CDC COVID-19
OSHA COVID-19
MSHA Response to COVID-19external iconexternal icon

CDCINFO: 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636)