Workers Exposed to Toxic Chemicals Will be Compensated

Former workers at a Pennsylvania chemical lab may be entitled to compensation under an 8-year-old law that compensates employees of former nuclear weapons plants.

The U.S. Department of Labor recently ruled that former employees at Vitro Manufacturing, Co. in Canonsburg, Pa, would be treated as a "special exposure" group under the law.

The designation allows Vitro workers, like Jane Wagner, or their surviving family members to receive $150,000 lump sum payment and coverage of certain medical expenses if they were employed at the plant for more than 250 days between 1942 and 1957, and if they were later diagnosed with at least one of 22 different cancers.

Jane Wagner learned she had breast cancer about seven years ago, and underwent a mastectomy.  Wagner worked in the lab at the former Vitro Manufacturing Co. during the 1950s. She told reporters that she didn't know the tests she was running were of radioactive materials.

"We knew we were dealing with uranium, but nobody ever mentioned radiation," said Wagner. "The bosses probably knew, but we didn't know."

Even though Wagner is now cancer-free, she might still be able to qualify for the $150,000 in compensation from the federal government.

The 8-year-old law is part of the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program, which was drafted during the Clinton administration and took effect in 2001.

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