Title: Efficacy of the Compensation Program for Nuclear Workers The nuclear industry has established a notorious reputation among the public since the first uranium deposits were mined during the Cold War. In fact, the majority of the population is not supportive of the whole nuclear weapons and energy industries because of labor issues.

1. Efficacy of the
Compensation Program
for Nuclear Workers
Nuclear Care Partners
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2. The nuclear industry has established a notorious reputation among the public since the
first uranium deposits were mined during the Cold War. In fact, the majority of the
population is not supportive of the whole nuclear weapons and energy industries because
of labor issues.
There have been many findings revealing that nuclear workers who are exposed to
excessive doses of radioactive materials become extremely ill and develop multiple
cancers. The fertility of these workers have also been affected, either resulting in
miscarriages or conceiving babies with bizarre birth defects. Other labor issues include
low wages, forced labor and even physical abuse, especially in other countries.
Time and again, the government
reiterates the importance of these
kinds of jobs, and since these
workers are pressured by socio-
economic constraints, they willingly
take the risk. Activists point out that
nuclear facilities break labor laws and
do not protect the well-being of their
workers.
In 2000, the Department of Energy
introduced the Energy Employees
Occupational Illness Compensation
Program Act (EEOICPA). Since its
implementation, the efficacy of this
compensation program has been in
scrutiny. Fifteen years later, the
much-heated topic has slipped into
the cracks.

3. The Department of Energy and the Department of Labor report that much has been
done to optimize radiation protection and reduce occupational exposure to levels “as
low as achievable.” Apparently, they still have not figured out a way to eliminate the
need for human labor in these types of operations.
Arguably, the compensation program is not enough to forgive the mistakes of the past,
but the government is firm in promising the public that improvements are underway.
The EEOICPA now mandates the use of the upper 99% confidence limit to its
distribution of the compensation program, which means that all energy workers are
qualified to receive the benefits, regardless of the degree of exposure.
The Department of Labor kept silent regarding these issues in the past, but today, we
are seeing some degree of effort in protecting the interests of workers who became ill on
the job. They provide prompt payment of benefits and make appropriate and accurate
decisions with regard to occupational safety.
Trade unions now have the voice to improve their working conditions, and they work
actively to educate other workers and train them for the special demands of the nuclear
energy industry.

4. SOURCES:
http://www.nuclearcarepartners.com
http://www.nei.org/News-Media/News/News-Archives/Unions-Drive-Training-Programs-
For-Nuclear-Work-Fo
http://www.dol.gov/owcp/energy/
http://www-pub.iaea.org/mtcd/publications/pdf/te_1209_prn.pdf