Office of Compensation Analysis and Support (OCAS)

Phone Interview Information

This interview provides claimants with the opportunity to inform OCAS of any additional information regarding the work history of the energy employee that might not be contained in the exposure monitoring information we receive from the Department of Energy (DOE) or Atomic Weapons Employer (AWE). While we encourage all claimants to participate in the interview process, participation is voluntary. Even though some claimants may not be able to answer all of the questions during the interview or have limited answers to the questions, any information provided during the interview may be useful in the dose reconstruction process.

Interviews with survivors will seek more general information while the interviews with energy employees will contain more detailed questions. In order to assist claimants in preparing for this interview, we have posted a list of the type of information that will be covered in the interview.

When we reach the point in our process where we are ready to conduct the interview, we will contact the claimant to arrange a convenient date and time for the telephone interview. Prior to the interview, we will send a detailed copy of the information found on this Web page. Please DO NOT send responses to these questions to OCAS. It is not intended for that purpose. They are for informational purposes only.

Before the interview begins, the interviewer will ask whether the claimant has any questions or concerns about the process before proceeding. While we believe that most dose reconstructions can be completed without discussing classified information, we will arrange for a secure interview for those claimants who believe such an arrangement is necessary to complete the interview.

Top of Page

General Information

• NIOSH is responsible for estimating the occupational radiation doses received by persons with cancer applying for compensation from the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program.
  
  
• We will be interviewing each claimant (energy employee or survivor).
  
  
• This interview will help ensure that the information NIOSH uses to estimate radiation doses is as complete and precise as possible.
  
  
• This interview should take no more than an hour, although we may have to call you back for additional information. If we need to divide this interview into a couple of shorter calls, we can do that as well.
  
  
• While we encourage all claimants to participate in the interview process, participation is voluntary. Even though some claimants may not be able to answer all of the questions during the interview or have limited answers to the questions, any information provided during the interview may be useful in the dose reconstruction process.
  
  
• Should you choose to be interviewed, the information you provide will be treated in a confidential manner, unless otherwise compelled by law. The information you provide will be shared with NIOSH staff working on your dose reconstruction and with staff of the Department of Labor (DOL) involved in adjudicating your claim.

Top of Page

List of Information to be Covered in the Dose Reconstruction Telephone Interview

• General Employment History
  
  
  • List jobs held with DOE, DOE contractors, or AWEs (include job title, start date, end date, and supervisor's name)
  
  
  
• Detailed Work History
  
  For EACH of the jobs listed above, please provide information on the following:
  
  
  • Number of hours worked per week
    
    
  • Number of hours per week the job involved potential exposure to radiation and/or radioactive materials
    
    
  • Buildings/locations in which you worked (include the type of duty performed at each location)
    
    
  • Types of radioactive material(s) present or processed, and what form(s) (solid, liquid, gas)
    
    
  • Amount of radioactive materials present or processed (ounces, pounds, kilograms, drums, etc.) over what time period
    
    
  • Types of production processes involving radioactive materials in the areas you worked
    
    
  • Types of radiation-generating equipment that were present or used (include description of specific task performed and include information on types of radioactive materials and in what quantities they were used)
    
    
  • Exposure/contamination control measures used (hoods, gloves, respirators, etc.)
    
    
  • Whether or not the work was done under a radiation work permitting system (if yes, state the time frame this occurred)
  
  
  
• Radiation Monitoring Information
  
  
  • State whether you or co-workers (working in the same area as you) routinely wore radiation dosimetry badges
    
    
  • Badge information: how often worn, how often exchanged, and where it was worn
    
    
  • State whether or not you participated in a biological radiation monitoring program (nasal smears, urine samples, fecal samples, whole body counts)
    
    
  • State whether you have copies of your dosimeter badge or biological monitoring records
    
    
  • State whether you routinely surveyed yourself (frisked) for external contamination (if yes, indicate if it was before or after showering)
    
    
  • State whether there was general area air monitoring for radiation performed in the work environment (if yes, indicate when this occurred)
    
    
  • State whether there were any radiation surveys taken to characterize potential for external exposure (if yes, indicate when these occurred)
    
    
  • For claimants who worked with radium and/or thorium (Fernald, Mallinckrodt, or FUSRAP claimants in particular), state whether there was radon monitoring in any of the buildings or areas you worked
    
    
  • State whether you were ever restricted from the workplace or certain job duties because you had reached a radiation dose limit
  
  
  
• Radiation Incidents
  
  
  • State whether you were ever involved in a criticality incident involving radiation exposure or contamination
    
    
  • If yes, indicate:
    
    
    • what happened
      
      
    • when it happened
      
      
    • which radioactive materials were involved
      
      
    • what form was the radioactive material in, what quantity or radioactive material was present
      
      
    • which radiation-generating equipment was involved
      
      
    • where it took place
      
      
    • who was involved
      
      
    • what actions were taken to remedy the exposure contamination
      
      
    • your location and activities during the incident, precautions taken to protect you
      
      
    • types of personal protective equipment used
      
      
    • length of time exposed during the incident
      
      
    • chelation therapy or other medical treatments, type of biological monitoring after the incident
      
      
    • indicate whether you have records of the monitoring
  
  
  
• Required Medical Screening X-Rays
  
  
  • State whether you were ever required to have medical x-rays for this job, as a condition of employment
    
    
  • State whether you have records of these x-rays
  
  
  
• Other Relevant Information
  
  
  • State whether we have missed asking you about any conditions, situations, or practices that occurred during this job which you think may be useful to us in estimating your radiation doses (if yes, describe what has been missed with as much detail as possible, in terms of what occurred, where, when, for how long, and who was involved)
    
    
  • State whether you are aware of any records related to the information you have provided that may help us estimate your doses (if yes, indicate the source and/or type of information)
  
  
  
• Identifying co-workers and Other Witnesses
  
  
  • Identify any co-workers or other witnesses, such as radiation safety specialists from the site where you worked, who can confirm or expand upon the information you have provided

Top of Page