Ensuring Worker Health and Safety: Department of Energy's Commitment

Department of Energy Presentation to The Advisory Board on Toxic Substances and Worker Health Office Office of Health and Safety of Health and Safety Office of Environment, Health, Safety and Security Office of Environment, Health, Safety and Security November 5, 2020 November 5, 2020

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. Office of Environment, Health, Safety and Security 2

DOEs EEOICPA Core 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. Office of Environment, Health, Safety and Security 3

DOEs 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. Office of Environment, Health, Safety and Security 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 Office of Environment, Health, Safety and Security 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. Office of Environment, Health, Safety and Security 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 triage is done on the claim. This may include cross referencing basic site databases to identify a site ID number Office of Environment, Health, Safety and Security 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 Office of Environment, Health, Safety and Security 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. Office of Environment, Health, Safety and Security 9

Search Procedures Office of Environment, Health, Safety and Security 10

Search Procedures Office of Environment, Health, Safety and Security 11

Metrics - Individual Claims Volume of records Approximately 16,000 records responses per year (all three types) From over 25 different DOE locations (with sub-sites) Office of Environment, Health, Safety and Security 12

Metrics - Individual Claims Size of Records Packages Average # of pages per Employment verification 15 pages Average # of pages per NIOSH Request 50 Pages Average # of pages per DAR 150 pages Office of Environment, Health, Safety and Security 13

Metrics - Individual Claims Timeliness 60 Day Goal In FY 19 DOE had a 98% on time response rate FY 20 will be much different due to the pandemic Despite maximum telework and limited access to certain records collections, DOE is now current with records requests at most DOE sites Office of Environment, Health, Safety and Security 14

SEM Initially created 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 Office of Environment, Health, Safety and Security 15

SEM DOE continues to support DOL in adding data to the SEM DOL is working their way through all of the major sites in SEM filling in gaps and adding activities from 2008 to present DOL will also come to DOE if claimants, claimant advocates or members of the public have submitted specific requests for inclusion in the SEM Office of Environment, Health, Safety and Security 16

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. Office of Environment, Health, Safety and Security 17

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. Office of Environment, Health, Safety and Security 18

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. Office of Environment, Health, Safety and Security 19

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 Office of Environment, Health, Safety and Security 20

Thank you! Office of Environment, Health, Safety and Security 21