American Indian Miners Deserve Workers Compensation

Native Americans have worked for decades in the deep mines underneath the Colorado Plateau. Soft, yellow uranium ore was drilled from the rock by the miners. The uranium that was mined was used to create nuclear warheads for the United States during the Cold War, a key factor in its victory. Visit this site for further information on accident at work.

Yet, a great number of these very miners became victims of the Cold War. Most have either died or are dying from cancers and other illnesses as a direct result of their exposure to the uranium radiation inside the mines. Survivors are literally fighting for their lives after losing family members to complications of the radiation exposure.

The majority of these workers have arms that are covered with scars from being on dialysis treatments. The dialysis is the only available treatment for those who suffer from kidney failure. A lot of workers feel that most of their disease comes from the water that they drank when they were in the mines that scientists have discovered contains trace amounts of radioactive minerals.

In 1980, the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act was passed by Congress. This law was intended to help uranium miners and those who suffer as a result of mining work. A vital aspect to remember is that America’s nuclear weapons program was the sole purpose for this mining being conducted. You will gain a deeper understanding about victoria work cover by checking out that resource.

The act allows for each underground uranium miner to receive compensation in the amount of $100,000. Their exposure has made them victim to one of six lung diseases that directly results from radiation. However, of the hundreds of Native Indian miners who are eligible to receive this payment, not one of them as seen a penny of it to this day.

The bill that was passed presents the miners with a range of obstacles to overcome. The paperwork, for example, must be completed in English only. For many American Indians, English is a foreign language that is not easily understood.

Only 96 of the 242 miners who have gone before the Office of Navajo Uranium Workers to make a claim have received the payment due. Overall 1,314 former uranium mines claims have been approved by the Justice Department. But that’s only half the story – 1,316 claims have been rejected.

Proof of working in the mines is required in the form of check stubs to show the amount of time worked in the mines, therefore, proving the length of exposure. Those types of records are seldom kept by the miners who have been working in the mines for decades. Furthermore, these are difficult to obtain through authorities.

In 1947, the Navajo Indian Reservation first had mines opened on and around it. This was a time when any types of jobs or occupations that became available were greatly welcomed. Despite the poor working conditions and low wages.

Radon emerged as one of the most significant dangers in the mines. This colourless, odourless radioactive gas occurred as uranium decayed. It was that exposure to radon that is believed to cause the majority of lung problems that makes these miners eligible for the promised government compensation.

Tribal officials and former miners plan to lobby Congress this fall for changes in the compensation law making it easier for former miners to get payments. The problem facing the government is that all Navajo miners think that they receive compensation not based on anything else but their work.