Low Registration for Workers Comp Claims
New York, NY —
Only 100 days remain for people to register for workers compensation claims related to work done at or near the World Trade Center site post 9/11. WNYC's Fred Mogul has more.
REPORTER: The 1 year registration period expires in August. Workers and volunteers in rescue, recovery and cleanup operations are clearly eligible. Joel Shufro, of the New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health says it's less clear whether lower Manhattan office workers or residents could be covered by workers compensation - but they should register now anyway, just in case.
SHUFRO: There are issues that are going to be litigated in the future as to who is actually covered. But to fail to register, means you won't have a chance of being considered in the process.
REPORTER: Shufro estimates more than 100,000 people may be eligible, and only about 14,000 have registered so far. The registry is not for people who are currently ill or injured but for people who might experience problems down the road that could lead to workers compensation claims. About 10,000 people or their families have done so already. For WNYC, I'm Fred Mogul.
Meanwhile, a new study has for the first time linked exposure to World Trade Center dust to severe and potentially fatal illness. The report, published in the medical journal Chest, found that in the 5 years since the attacks, 26 firefighters developed rare lumps and inflammations in their lungs.
