U.S. Department of Labor improves energy employees Web pages by adding information about occupational diseases to listing of toxic substances

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that it has added to its Web site information about occupational diseases associated with toxic substances found at facilities covered under Part E of the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA).

The department has made a list of toxic substances found at facilities covered by EEOICPA available for viewing and comment. This information was derived from the Labor Department's Site Exposure Matrices (SEM). In addition to exposure data, the SEM contains information documenting relationships between certain toxic substances and recognized occupational illnesses. Today, the department is making that information available to interested parties online at www.sem.dol.gov.

"We want to get benefits to eligible claimants as quickly as possible," said Shelby Hallmark, director of the Labor Department's Office of Workers' Compensation Programs. "The department created this database to help injured workers and their families get information they need, as well as to provide an avenue for workers to offer comments or evidence on toxic substance usage and established occupational illness links."

Documentation of the relationships between toxic substances and occupational illnesses in the SEM are derived from records of research from recognized medical authorities maintained by the National Library of Medicine. The Labor Department is listing these findings along with toxic substance exposure data in one place for ease of inquiry.

The SEM Web pages will be continually updated as new exposure evidence is identified and additional covered sites are evaluated. The Labor Department is interested in obtaining new information to supplement and enhance the SEM database. Individuals can send information or comments regarding the site via a form provided there, or by sending e-mail to info@dol-sem-public.com. Those who wish to submit comments by mail should write to the Site Exposure Matrices Administrator, P.O. Box 1375, Hilliard, OH 43026-1375.

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.