Differing Perspectives
Rocky
Flats inevitably damaged the dignity, integrity, and health of its
workers by the use of radiation caused by plutonium, beryllium, and
uranium. Workers developed cancers and other life-threatening
diseases caused by radiation in Rocky Flats, resulting in the deaths of countless former atomic workers (Draper, 2014). It was inevitable that the government had to step
in sooner or later in helping those who were affected by Rocky Flat’s
crimes to the environment and health of its workers. The
Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act
(EEOICPA) known as the 2000 Act, was ultimately made to
“deliver benefits to eligible employees and former employees of the U.S.
Department of Energy (DOE), its contractors and subcontractors, or to
certain survivors of such individuals, as provided in the Energy
Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act...to include
benefits for certain beneficiaries of Section Five of the Radiation
Exposure Compensation Act" (U.S., 2014). This type of compensation includes receiving
a lump sum payment of $150,000, and in some cases, even up to “$250,000
based on wage loss, impairment, and survivorship” (Rocky, 2014). Although promising,
this compensation program has sparked controversy and developed into
two perspectives.
Click the side tabs to learn more about these differing perspectives.
Click the side tabs to learn more about these differing perspectives.
1.Draper, Electra. "Rocky Flats Workers Turn out to Hear Rules for New Compensation." The Denver Post. Denver Post, n.d. Web. 26 Feb. 2014.
2."Rocky Flats Workers Earned Justice." The Denver Post. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Feb. 2014.
3."U.S. Department of Labor - Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) - Key Personnel in OWCP." U.S. Department of Labor. DOL, n.d. Web. 26 Feb. 2014.
2."Rocky Flats Workers Earned Justice." The Denver Post. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Feb. 2014.
3."U.S. Department of Labor - Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) - Key Personnel in OWCP." U.S. Department of Labor. DOL, n.d. Web. 26 Feb. 2014.