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Ex-Nuclear Plant Workers Want Government Compensation
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Published: May 6, 2008
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TAMPA - John Pool wants to know why the U.S. Department of Labor is saying no.
Pool, 79, worked at the former General Electric Plant in Largo from 1970-73. The facility produced triggers for nuclear bombs, and former employees say they may have been exposed to radiation and carcinogenic chemicals.
Pool, a janitor, said he handled and disposed of classified waste. He said he worked in areas where workers used protective clothing during the day shift, although he wore no special equipment.
Pool said he is now battling cancer of the throat, kidney and prostate.
Although the government implemented an illness compensation program to cover former workers' medical expenses, Pool said he was denied benefits.
The Department of Labor is sending an ombudsman to meet with former plant employees this week to address concerns such as Pool's.
The meetings will be held Wednesday from 6 to 9 p.m. and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Radisson Hotel and Conference Center in St. Petersburg, 12600 Roosevelt Blvd. N.
Pool said he will attend the meeting to get answers. He said the Department of Labor denied his claim based on a doctor's analysis.
Anne Block, who examined claims for the Department of Labor, said claimants should question denials because she found mistakes in 90 percent of the cases she examined.
Block said she thinks the person who examined Pool's case mistakenly sent him to the wrong doctor. Pool was sent to a neurologist and a psychiatrist.
"They should've went to an oncologist," Block said. "It's cancer. That's what they're there for."
Reporter Ray Reyes contributed to this report. News Channel 8 reporter Steve Andrews can be reached at (813) 221-5779.
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Reader Comments
Posted by ( RichB ) on May 6, 2008 at 11:58 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Typical governmental incompetence and disgraceful treatment of the elderly.
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Posted by ( Old_FL_Crab ) on May 7, 2008 at 8:14 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Mixed feeling on this. Crab wore radiation dosimetery for many years. No ill effects, except for this diagonal walking stuff.
I can't believe that even in the early seventies, anybody working in nuke plant was not monitored for total exposure.
But going to an Oncologist, instead of Neurologist and Psychiatrist, Lady is absolutely right on that one.
Radiation stuff not to bad over all, Crab dosen't need flashlight or nite light, this 'glow in the dark' thing comes in handy ;-)
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Posted by ( ron ) on May 7, 2008 at 9:28 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
I am just confused by this entire story. He is 79yo and now has cancer. So why is this cancer associated with his job that he has not been at in 35 year? Is medicare/medicaid paying for his medical bills? Why is the government paying for any of GE's past employees bills in the first place? I just do not get what this whole story is about. My impression is that he wants the DOL to pay his bills instead of the medicare/medicare. Either way the government is paying his bills.
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Posted by ( lattitudes ) on May 7, 2008 at 9:33 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
I have worked in the early days of the Nuke industry. I can agree with him 100%. In the late 50's and early 60's when I was involved it was a pretty lax enviorment, unlike today. Many I knew were exposed to unknown toxins as well as medium to hi levels of radiation at a research lab. Dosimetry was not issued to every worker and signage of dangerous areas was lax. I can even recall taking filters loaded with the by products of radiation to the on-site furnace for burning to help reduce the load of solids that needed to be processed and disposed of. Ahh lots of Iodine, Strontium etc went airborne with no monitoring at all. I hope the government does what is right for these guys.
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