Workers' Compensation News

$293 Million in Compensation Paid Out on First Anniversary
of Implementation of Nuclear Weapon Workers Program

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On the first anniversary of the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act, $293 million in compensation payments have been paid out to current and former nuclear weapon workers, or their survivors.

“I am proud of the work the Department of Labor has done to help these men and women who were harmed as a result of their hard work and loyal service to their country,” said Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao. “These workers and their families have paid a terrible price for their role in preserving our freedom. The Department of Labor is helping our country repay these individuals for all their sacrifices."

The Act was implemented on July 31, 2001. It provides for compensation of $150,000 and payment of medical expenses to employees who worked for the Department of Energy and its contractors and subcontractors in the development, testing and production of nuclear weapons. Radiogenic cancers, beryllium diseases and chronic silicosis are covered under this program. Qualified survivors of covered employees, including adult children, are also eligible for compensation.

The Departments of Labor, Energy, Health and Human Services, and Justice were tasked with administering this very complex program. The agencies have been working cooperatively to deliver benefits. As the lead agency, DOL published Interim Final Regulations, developed user-friendly forms to assist claimants, created a Web site and a toll-free Call Center to answer routine program questions and process requests for forms and informational brochures.

In addition, the Departments of Labor and Energy conducted sixty-one public town hall meetings to educate prospective claimants and established Resource Centers in ten locations to assist claimants in filing claims. By the date mandated by Congress for program implementation, July 31, 2001, DOL had set up four district offices, each operational for processing claims. Just nine days after the implementation of the program, the first compensation payment of $150,000 was made.

Thanks to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health having completed its final rules governing the handling of most radiogenic cancer claims, DOL has now made payments in all categories of claims covered under the Act.

In its first year, DOL has received 31,822 claims associated with 25,781 workers, and rendered 6,285 final decisions associated with 5,001 workers. In addition, DOL has referred 6,405 cases to NIOSH for dose reconstruction and has issued 9,741 recommended (initial) decisions associated with 7,810 workers.

If you have suffered personal injuries or emotional distress due to the negligence of workers compensaton laws in New Jersey, contact our Workers Compensation lawyer now and obtain a free case evaluation.

	Did You Know?
	OSHA has developed final "Guidelines for Preventing Workplace Violence OSHA has developed final "Guidelines for Preventing Workplace Violence for Health Care and Social Service Workers" and draft guidelines for night retail establishments. The intent of the guidelines is to educate employers on finding ways to provide a more secure work environment. Consequently, OSHA hopes that employers will voluntarily implement workplace violence protection programs. Workplace violence has emerged as an important safety issue in today's workplaces. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) fatality data, assaults and violent acts caused 20 percent of the fatal occupational injuries in the United States in 1994.