The Department of Energy plans to open a center to help ill current and former Hanford Site workers or their survivors understand the benefits for which they may qualify. The new center, called the Hanford Worker Engagement Center, is one of the steps DOE is taking after hearing worker complaints about difficulty getting help.
The center at 309 Bradley Blvd., Suite 120, in Richland, Wash., is tentatively set to open April 1, if staff can be fully trained by then. A combination of union and nonunion workers will provide assistance at the center, which is planned as “one-stop shopping” for workers to determine which programs or combination of programs would be best for them.
In addition to the federal Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program, which covers medical care and provides compensation for illnesses caused by occupational exposures, a Washington state compensation program covers wages and medical care. A new law that is expected to increase the number of state Department of Labor and Industries claims approved for Hanford workers appears likely to be signed into law within weeks. In addition, some workers might qualify for additional federal employee or veterans’ programs, said Gail Splett, who was named the DOE Hanford program manager for workers’ compensation in October.
The Energy Department is self-insured for state workers’ compensation claims, and contracts with Penser North America to administer those claims. The state Department of Labor and Industries decides whether to accept claims.
The Energy Department notified Penser in early 2017 it would not exercise its option for a second one-year extension on a contract that included a two-year base period and up to three one-year extensions. However, a request for qualifications for a new claims administration contract in spring 2017 yielded limited response, according to DOE. Penser’s contract was extended through September 2018, with the additional year valued at about $894,000. The Energy Department has said it could issue a request for proposals for a new contract this spring.
