Department of Energy Presentation to The Advisory Board on Toxic Substances and Worker - PowerPoint Presentation

Department of Energy Presentation to The Advisory Board on Toxic Substances and Worker Health Office of Health and Safety Office of Environment, Health, Safety and Security October 18, 2016

Background The work of the DOE is critical to America’s safety and security. But that work wouldn’t be possible with our number one asset, the Department’s workforce. The Department embraces its responsibility for and commitment to the health and well-being of the DOE’s current and former workers, both Federal and contractor employees. 2

DOE’s EEOICPACore Mandate Work on behalf of the program claimants to ensure that all available worker and facility records and data are provided to DOL, NIOSH, and the NIOSH Advisory Board. The program continues to be an extremely important activity not only within my office, but within the entire DOE complex. 3

DOE’s Responsibilities under EEOICPA Respond via the SERT system to DOL and NIOSH requests for information related to individual claims. (employment verification, exposure records). Provide support and assistance to DOL, NIOSH, and the NIOSH Advisory Board on large-scale research and site characterization projects through records research and retrieval efforts at various DOE sites. Conduct research, in coordination with DOL and NIOSH, on issues related to covered facilities designations. 4

Individual Claims Fund and coordinate records retrieval activities at DOE sites in support of individual claims. Employment verifications for DOL Dose records for NIOSH Document Acquisition Requests (DAR) employee work history/exposures for DOL 5

Individual Claims DOE EEOICPA Site POCs: Coordinate all research activities with NIOSH, NIOSH Advisory Board, DOL and various contractors; Set up site visits and tours for NIOSH, NIOSH Advisory Board, DOL as well as other groups; Work with both DOL and NIOSH to identify site subject matter experts and to facilitate interviews with current and former workers; Manage site’s response to individual records requests. Ensure DOE responses are complete and timely; and Provide onsite EEOICPA information to workers. 6

Process - Individual Claims The records search process is different at each DOE site, but at most active sites the process follows a similar outline EEOICPA POC receives the claim through the SERT system Initial development is done on the claim. This may include cross referencing basic site databases to identify a site ID number 7

Process - Individual Claims EEOICPA POC sends the request to responsive records areas: Human resources Medical Industrial hygiene Radiological controls/dosimetry Incident and accident reports Records archive 8

Process - Individual Claims Each of the records areas will conduct an exhaustive search of their holdings There can be many different electronic and physical locations for each type of record The location of responsive records can depend on the type of job category of a worker, the time period of employment, the prime contractor on site at the time, whether the individual was a subcontractor or visitor, etc. 9

Search Procedures 10

Search Procedures 11

Metrics - Individual Claims Volume of records 18,621 records responses last year (3 types) From over 25 different DOE locations (with sub-sites) 12

Metrics - Individual Claims Average # of pages per Employment verification 14 Average # of pages per NIOSH Request 50 Average # of pages per DAR 150 13 Size of Records Packages

Metrics - Individual Claims Timeliness – 60 Day Goal In FY 16 DOE responded in under 60 days to 17,674 out of 18,621 records requests from DOL and NIOSH 95% on time response rate Many sites have a near perfect record K-25 6 late out of 2,112 Richland 6 late out of 1,564 Savannah River 0 late out of 1,316 14

SEM Put together from 2006 to 2008 Teams from DOL went to every DOE site DOE site helped with search process DOL teams reviewed thousands of boxes DOE sites copied and reviewed hundreds of documents at each site The SEM was reviewed for classification in 2009 and released to the public New information is held and reviewed by DOE every 6 months before inclusion in SEM 15

Outreach Continued to participate in all Joint Outreach Task Group meetings that include DOE, DOL and NIOSH, along with the DOL Ombudsman and the DOE Former Worker Medical Screening Programs. 16

Former Worker Medical Screening Program (FWP) History: Established following the issuance of the FY 1993 Defense Authorization Act (P.L. 102-484), authorizing DOE to: “…establish and carry out a program for the identification and on-going medical evaluation of…former DOE employees who are subject to significant health risks as a result of the exposure of such employees to hazardous or radioactive substances during such employment….” Mission: To identify and notify former workers at risk for occupational disease and offer them medical screening that can lead to treatment. First former worker projects initiated in 1996. 17

FWP (cont.) Program now serves all former workers from all DOE sites in locations close to their residences. Identify and notify former workers at risk for occupational disease. Offer medical screening that can lead to treatment. Provide information and assistance about medical follow-up and compensation.As of September 30, 2015, a total of 117,449 medical exams have been conducted through the FWP, 80,780 initial screening exams and 36,669 re-screen exams. 18

Resources for FWP Information FWP website: http://energy.gov/ehss/services/worker-health-and-safety/former-worker-medical-screening-program FWP brochure: http://energy.gov/ehss/downloads/former-worker-medical-screening-program-brochure 19

Thank you! 20