NIOSH eNews FLASH

NIOSH’S PARTNER OWCP SEEKS NOMINATIONS FOR NEW ADVISORY BOARD
SEPTEMBER 4 DEADLINE

One of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health’s (NIOSH) Federal Agency partners, the Office of Workers Compensation Programs (OWCP) in the U.S. Department of Labor, is seeking nominations for its new Advisory Board on Toxic Substances and Worker Health for Part E of the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA).

Nominations are due by September 4, 2015.

The new board will advise the Secretary of Labor on technical aspects of the EEOICPA program, with respect to:

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Site Exposure Matrices (SEM) database, which is used in establishing causal links between a vast array of toxic substances, diseases that could be related to the substances, and location and job categories of covered workers;
Medical guidance for claims examiners under the Energy program, with respect to the weighing of the medical evidence of claimants;
Evidentiary requirements for claims related to lung disease; and
The work of industrial hygienists, staff physicians, and consulting physicians, and their reports, to ensure quality, objectivity, and consistency.

OWCP notes that the Advisory Board is mandated by Section 3687 of EEOICPA and will consist of 12-15 members to be appointed by the Secretary of Labor. Membership will be balanced between the scientific, medical, and claimant communities. People interested in being nominated for the Board are encouraged to review the Federal Register notice on nominations for membership and submit the requested information by September 4, 2015. The Federal Register notice appears athttps://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2015/08/18/2015-20408/advisory-board-on-toxic-substances-and-worker-health.

Questions about the Board can be submitted to OWCP via email to EnergyAdvisoryBoard@dol.gov.