Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program facts for kids

The Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA) is a special law passed in the year 2000. It was created to help people who got sick because they worked in nuclear weapons factories. These workers were exposed to dangerous things while building nuclear defenses for the country.

This law was signed by President Bill Clinton on October 30, 2000. It makes sure that these brave workers, or their families, can get financial help and medical care for their illnesses.

Why the Program Was Needed

For many years, hundreds of thousands of Americans worked to build the nation's nuclear defenses. They faced huge scientific and technical challenges. However, many of these workers became very sick or even died. This was because they were exposed to dangerous materials like beryllium and radiation.

Often, these workers were not fully protected or told about the risks they faced. Existing worker compensation programs did not help them enough. It was hard for them to get help from state programs because their illnesses took a long time to show up. Also, there wasn't enough information about their exposure.

The government decided it was important to recognize and help these workers. They deserved support for their sacrifices. The goal was to provide fair and timely help to these workers and their families.

How the Program Works

Four different government agencies help run this program. The Department of Labor (DOL) is the main agency in charge.

The EEOICPA law has different parts that cover various situations:

• Part B helps workers or their families if they got specific illnesses. These include beryllium sensitivity, chronic beryllium disease, chronic silicosis, or certain cancers caused by radiation. If approved, people get a payment of $150,000. They also get medical benefits from the day they apply.
• Part E helps workers or their families if they worked at a Department of Energy (DOE) site or a uranium mine. This part covers any illness caused by exposure to toxins from their work. The payment amount can change, up to $250,000. This depends on how much income they lost and how much their health was affected.

The Department of Labor and the Department of Energy decide which work sites are covered by this law.

Understanding Radiation Exposure

For some cancer claims under Part B, the Department of Labor sends the case to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). NIOSH helps figure out how much radiation a worker was exposed to. This is called a "radiation dose reconstruction."

NIOSH collects records about the worker's exposure from the Department of Energy. They also talk to the worker or their family to get more information. Once NIOSH finishes this review, they send it back to the Department of Labor. Then, the Department of Labor makes the final decision about the claim.

Getting Help and Support

To make it easier for workers and their families to apply, special "Energy Employee Compensation Resource Centers" were opened. These centers help people fill out their claims. The Department of Energy provides information about work history and exposure data. There are currently eleven of these Resource Centers available to help.

Program's Impact

As of September 15, 2019, the EEOICPA program has provided a lot of help. It has paid over $16.9 billion in compensation and medical bills to sick workers and their families. This shows how important the program is in supporting those who served the nation.

See also

In Spanish: Programa de compensación de enfermedades profesionales de los empleados de Energía para niños