Site Exposure Matrices
In 2010 after a review by Department of Energy, Department of Labor began allowing public access to their database the Site Exposure Matrices (SEM). Not all facilities have the expanded access yet but DOE and DOL are committed to expanding the public SEM as quickly as possible. DOL also has a SEM Website Help Guide to help you with searches.
In October 2011 DOL announced that they have contracted with the National Academy of Sciences to review the SEM and HazMap, the database that DOL uses for much of the information the SEM is based on. The Institute of Medicine will be reviewing the scientific rigor and organization of the SEM. The first IOM Committee meeting was held January 23, 2012. Speakers included:
Karoline Anders, Policy Analyst, Policy, Regulations & Procedures
Unit, Department of Labor
Rachel Leiton, Director, Division of Energy Employees Occupational
Illness Compensation, Department of Labor
Keith Stalnaker, Site Exposure Matrix contractor
Jay Brown, Haz-Map developer
Terrie Barrie, Alliance of Nuclear Worker Advocacy Groups
Ms. Barrie and Dr. Laurence Fuortes spoke during the public comments session as well.
The SEM can be very helpful to claimants as long as it is remembered that it is incomplete and has mistakes in it. It is a great tool to begin research into a claim but claimants need to remember that it is only a beginning tool.
Because the SEM is a living tool it will never be complete. This is not a problem unless Claim Examiners or claimants treat it as if it is complete and all-inclusive.
For example: the SEM for Mound in Ohio lists 113 buildings on site but only 30 Labor Categories (Jobs). Logically a person knows that there were more than 30 types of jobs in 113 buildings. A person who worked at Mound as a janitor would not find that job listed. Obviously Mound had janitors.
Where the lack of SEM detail can cause problems for claimants is when a Claim Examiner cannot find information on a claimant’s job, location, or exposure within the SEM. This can lead to valid claims being denied.
So what do you do if your job, location, or exposures are not within the SEM? You should provide the Claim Examiner with whatever documentation you have on what your job was, where you worked, and what you were exposed to. You can do this through your records, statements by co-workers, or documents from your site if you can find them.
EECAP has collected documentation of over 1,700 chemicals that were at Mound but are not in the Mound SEM as well as an additional 500 jobs and 33 job descriptions. If you need documentation for where and when the chemicals were at Mound or the Dayton Project please contact us for a look-up.