DOL Adds Disease Info to Energy Employees Web Site
The U.S. Department of Labor said Wednesday it has added information about occupational diseases associated with toxic substances found at facilities covered under Part E of the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act to its online pages. DOL's Site Exposure Matrices Web site contains information about the DOE sites; workers suffering diseases linked to radiation exposures during the Cold War are eligible for compensation through the program.
In addition to exposure data, SEM contains information documenting relationships between certain toxic substances and recognized occupational illnesses. The department now makes that information available at www.sem.dol.gov. "We want to get benefits to eligible claimants as quickly as possible," said Shelby Hallmark, director of the department's Office of Workers' Compensation Programs. "The department created this database to help injured workers and their families get information they need, as well as to provide an avenue for workers to offer comments or evidence on toxic substance usage and established occupational illness links."
The relationships between toxic substances and occupational illnesses in the SEM are derived from records of research from recognized medical authorities maintained by the National Library of Medicine. DOL is listing these findings along with toxic substance exposure data in one place for easier searching.
The SEM pages will be continually updated as new exposure evidence is identified and additional covered sites are evaluated, DOL said. Individuals can send information or comments via a form provided there or by e-mailing [email protected]. To comment by mail, write to the Site Exposure Matrices Administrator, P.O. Box 1375, Hilliard, OH 43026-1375.