Dr. Silver Serves on Federal Advisory Board

Thousands of east Tennesseans employed at the K-25 gaseous diffusion plant
from 1943 to 1985 are among those covered by the EEOICPAct.

Ken Silver, Associate Professor of Environmental Health, participated in a three-day meeting of the federal Advisory Board on Toxic Substances and Worker Health held in Oak Ridge, Tennessee from October 17th through 19th.  Silver was appointed to the board for a two year term by Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez in February 2016.

The board advises the Department of Labor on implementing the toxic chemical provisions of the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA).  Medical benefits and financial compensation for lost wages, physical impairment, and survivorship are provided to claimants who can show that illnesses were associated with exposures at Department of Energy facilities.  Over $1 billion has been provided for Tennesseans’ care and compensation since the law was passed in October 2000.

“Many of these national security workers were highly exposed to toxic substances during the era of Cold War weapons production.  It’s imperative the federal system deliver fair compensation on a timely basis,” Silver said.  “But claimants face many tough problems stemming from non-existent or classified records, lack of independent expertise on occupational health, and the passage of time,” he said.  “Also, bureaucracies can be especially brutal on folks who are ill or may be advancing in years,” he added.

Chartered under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the board conducted all of its business in Oak Ridge in public.  More than two hours of the agenda were devoted to public comments from affected workers and family members.  Meetings of the board and its subcommittees are announced in the Federal Register to allow for public participation.

Silver’s fellow board members include DOE workers who have become claimant advocates, as well as experts from Georgetown, Duke, Yale, Boston University, UMass Lowell, George Washington University, Bellevue Hospital and the CUNY Graduate Center.