Native American Miners Should Receive Workers' Compensation
Native American Miners Should Receive Workers' Compensation
Far beneath the Colorado Plateau, American Indians have labored for tens of years in the mines there. Working in these mines means running drills that will gouge out the yellow uranium ore from the rocks. This uranium was used in the nuclear warheads that the US deployed around the country and that eventually helped win the Cold War.
Most people are unaware of the part these miners played in the Cold War or the terrible tragedy that they are suffering now. They are either dead or drying from cancer and other ailments blamed on exposure to radiation in the mines. Many have lost family members and even those that have survived continue to fight for their life.
A large majority of the miners have patterns of scar on their arms caused by the required dialysis treatments. This is the required treatment by the many workers 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 1990, Congress attempted to repay these miners by passing the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act. The purpose of this law was to help uranium miners and others who have suffered and continue to suffer as a result of the mining work undertaken. It is important to keep in mind that the majority of this work was strictly committed to the nuclear weapons program here in America.
Every underground uranium miner was to be granted $100,000. This was based on the condition that they were experiencing one of six possible lung diseases that are linked to being exposed to radiation. Unfortunately, many of the American Indian miners that are entitled to the benefit have yet to receive any compensation.
The hurdles that an Indian miner must overcome make it almost impossible for them to establish a claim for compensation. One such requirement is that the paperwork required must be filled out in English. Written English is not a strength with these American Indian miners.
While 242 miners have used services at the Office of Navajo Uranium Workers to complete the paperwork, only 96 of those have been approved for their compensation. Since the law went into effect in 1990, the Justice Department has approved over 1300 claims from uranium miners. They have rejected another 1,316 requests.
Documentation, such as check stubs, are required to prove the miners' work hours. However, for many people the damage occurred decades ago and those records have long since been lost or thrown out. In addition, trying to recover the documentation through the authorities has been difficult. The Navajo Indian Reservation saw its first uranium mines around 1947. Many embraced the mines when they opened, as the jobs were needed at the time. Despite the fact that the wages were low and conditions were poor, many were happy to just have a job.
For the miners, one of the greatest dangers was radon. Radon is created when uranium breaks down and decays, but because it is odorless and colorless, it is sometimes difficult to detect. It is believed that most of the lung conditions that qualify for government compensation were caused by radon exposure.
Former miners and tribal officials plan to meet with Congress this fall in hopes of making changes to the compensation law so that it is easier for former miners' claims to be approved. The problem facing the government is that all Navajo miners think that they receive compensation not based on anything else but their work. Jet Airways Provide You The Best Air Travel Experience Disposable Fly Traps Are Just The Beginning: Natural Remedies For Summer Pest Control Some Ways to Plan a Weekend Trip on a Budget Christmas Gift Baskets Brisbane Steps to Prepare for a River Rafting Trip in a Good Way Tips to Save Money on a Spring Break Trip Want to know more on work visa & migrating to Australia? Best Hotels in London London Waterloo Destination Guide Plan Your Holidays on UK Cruises Holiday In India - Explore Its Major Tourism Destinations Campervan in Australia better option for touring Coimbatore – Attractive Investment Destination in South India