Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee on Wednesday signed into law a bill that is expected to increase the number of Hanford Site workers’ compensation claims approved by the state Department of Labor and Industries.
The legislation would require the state to presume a wide range of illnesses were caused by working for as little as eight hours at Hanford. Currently, workers must show a disease arose from employment at the former plutonium production complex and current cleanup site, even though it is difficult to prove what toxin might have caused the illness, particularly those that could be linked to exposure to chemical vapors associated with radioactive tank waste.
Diseases covered by the law include respiratory and neurological diseases; beryllium sensitization or disease; heart problems if symptoms develop within 72 hours of exposure to toxins; and many cancers. The presumption that the illness is tied to Hanford could be rebutted by clear and convincing evidence of a connection to factors such as smoking, weight, hereditary factors, or lifestyle.
The law will take effect 90 days after the adjournment of the state Legislature, which could be as soon as today.
“Washington state has recognized the often terrible price Hanford workers on the front lines of nuclear production and cleanup have to pay for their service to the nation,” said Tom Carpenter, executive director of Hanford Challenge, which promoted the bill, in a statement. The bill removes unfair barriers that have prevented employees from qualifying for state workers’ compensation, he said.
Business and insurance organizations have opposed the bill. “The bill is breathtaking in its scope and inclusivity,” according to a summary of their concerns prepared by legislative staff for the final bill report. “The bill does not take into account any nexus between conditions and any particular class of workers or exposures.”
The U.S. Department of Energy is self-insured for state worker compensation at Hanford.
