Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #117391

Richard Miller, Government Accountability Project, 1612 K Street, N.W., Suite 400, Washington, DC 20006, 413-536-3858, RickUDana@aol.com

Radiation dose estimates are, with certain exceptions, required under EEOICPA for determining whether a radiation related cancer claim is compensable. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is performing dose reconstructions under EEOICPA, and has contracted for technical services through Oak Ridge Associated Universities. Dose estimates are subject to wide ranging uncertainty due to several factors: employers' failure to monitor workers or monitor for isotopes of concern; inability to recover records; and alteration of records out of concern for liability.

EEOICPA established the Advisory Board on Radiation and Worker Health to advise the Secretary of Health and Human Services on the methods used for radiation dose reconstruction, and to "assess the validity and scientific quality" of a reasonable sample of dose reconstructions. This Board is also charged with advising the Secretary on adding classes of individuals to the Special Exposure Cohort (SEC), wherein the claimants receive an unrebuttable presumption of work related illness without need for dose reconstruction if it is not feasible to estimate dose with sufficient accuracy. The Board is appointed by the president and must have a balance of scientific, medical and worker perspectives.

This presentation will review the Board's initial audit findings, challenges faced by the Advisory Board in carrying out its independent audit functions, and tensions between the sponsoring agency and the Board. The author will share his impressions as to whether this public oversight process has improved the quality of the science and the credibility of the decisions underpinning compensation claims.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to

• Recognize the central role of NIOSH dose reconstructions in determining the compensabilty of most claims for radiation-related cancer under EEOICPA
• Describe the role of the Advisory Board on Radiation and Worker Health
• Evaluate how the public oversight process has influenced the quality of the science underpining compensation claims

Keywords: Radiation, Workers' Compensation

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.