Quote of the day
"These are heroes from the Cold War who risked their lives to build nuclear weapons. The bureaucracy has placed so many barriers, it's almost criminal that workers and their families are not being compensated."
New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, who helped create a compensation program for sick Cold War-era nuclear weapons workers
Report: Government Considered Spying on Sick Weapons Workers
A Rocky Mountain News investigation finds that the government has derailed aid to sick nuclear weapons workers by keeping reports secret from them, constantly changing rules and delaying cases until sick workers died. Many ill workers have become mired in a process so adversarial that top program officials considered putting some of them under surveillance. By Laura Frank, Rocky Mountain News [with photo, video] Go to the Full Story…
Did Wife’s Advocacy Work Derail Sick Nuke Worker’s Claim?
George Barrie filed seven years ago for the federal benefits available to sick nuclear weapons workers or their survivors, but the government repeatedly has denied him full compensation. His wife helped establish a national organization for sick workers, and when the couple recently discovered that unrelated advocacy letters she wrote to government officials were contained in George’s official case file, the couple began to fear that her advocacy work has derailed their chances for full compensation. By Laura Frank, Rocky Mountain News [with video, photo] Go to the Full Story…
Study Finds Cancer Spike Among Australia’s F-11 Bomber Techs
A four-year study commissioned by the Australian Defense Force finds a 50 percent increase in cancer among men who worked on the F-111 deseal/reseal program in the country’s Air Force. One former storeman who says he was doused almost daily in aviation fuel describes the horribly painful two decades he’s endured since his exposures. By Matthew Knott, the Australian [with video] Go to the Full Story…
Tahoe Worker Convicted of Grand Theft
Nicholas Jason Beaver came up with a plan in 2004 to turn jumping into a percolation test hole into a nearly $500,000 payday. Instead, the former Sierra-at-Tahoe resort worker now awaits sentencing for stealing more than $65,000 in the failed workers’ compensation scheme. By Andrea V. Brambila, Sacramento Bee
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Empire State Concrete Company Fined for Fraud
The owner of a Long Island, N.Y., concrete and brick company must pay more than $211,000 in restitution to New York State Insurance Fund for concealing the number of workers that it employed. IFAwebnews.com
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Green Mountain State Program Targets Farm Safety
The Vermont Farm Safety Pilot Program started in October with 12 farms as a joint undertaking by the Agency of Agriculture, the University of Vermont Extension Service and the state Department of Labor. One goal is to reduce workers’ compensation costs for farmers. By Bruce Herald, Rutland Herald
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Commentary: Leave WSI Alone
If legislators want to study various options for supplying workers’ compensation coverage in North Dakota, they can study to their hearts’ content but it really isn’t necessary. As an agency, Workforce Safety and Insurance is in good shape, running with a surplus and paying out a dividend to businesses; its functions should not be handed over to the private sector. Bismarck Tribune/Jamestown Sun [may require registration] Go to the Full Story…