Workers' Compensation News

New Energy Federal Workers Compensation Program

ARVADA, Colo. – U.S. Department of Labor officials will host a series of town hall meetings November 7 and 8 in Arvada, Colo. to explain the interim final rule and other issues related to the implementation of Part E under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA).

Recent EEOICPA amendments abolished Part D and created Part E to provide compensation for certain Department of Energy (DOE) contractor or subcontractor employees who became ill as a result of exposure to toxic substances at certain DOE facilities.  The new law also provides additional compensation for uranium workers covered by the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) and certain survivors of covered employees.

Congress mandated that the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issue regulations governing implementation of Part E.  To speed the start-up of the new program prior to issuing those regulations, DOL identified survivors payable under preliminary procedures issued in December 2004.  To date, more than $207 million has been paid to 1,627 recipients under the new program.  With the May 26 release of the interim final rule, DOL is now able to undertake benefit analysis for complex claims, including wage loss and impairment evaluations.

If you have suffered personal injuries or emotional distress due to the negligence of workers compensaton laws in Montana, 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.