Why Native American Miners Have The Right To Workers Compensation
For decades, the mines deep under the Colorado Plateau has been worked by American Indians. Soft, yellow uranium ore is obtained by drilling it out of rock in the mine. The very uranium unearthed by countless American Indians helped produce the nuclear warheads that propelled America to victory during the Cold War. If you like this article on lawyers visit altona personal injury lawyer for more education.
This mining of uranium comes at a price and many of the miners are paying that price with their health. The radiation exposure in the uranium mines was so great that many miners have died or are dying from cancer and other similar diseases. There are many Native Americans who have lost their families, and those who have survived are still fighting for their lives.
A large majority of the miners have patterns of scar on their arms caused by the required dialysis treatments. Since kidney failure is a pervasive component of their failing health, the dialysis is a necessary part of their lives. Blame has been placed on the mines' drinking water, which has been proven to contain traces of radioactive minerals in scientific testing.
In 1990, Congress passed the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act. This law recognized the dangers that were faced by uranium miners, and was designed to help those who have suffered and continue to suffer due to the work they performed. This mining was undertaken strictly for the advancement of the American nuclear weapons program. More information on the topic of lawyers is located at box hill personal injury lawyers.
Under the provisions of the law, every underground uranium miner is entitled to $100,000. They must meet the condition that they suffer from a specific variety of lung ailments that have been associated with exposure to radiation. Countless miners of American Indian descent still have not been compensated, despite being eligible.
The language of the compensation law creates a lot of difficult red tape for the miners to go through. The paperwork, for example, must be completed in English only. For many American Indians, English is a foreign language that is not easily understood.
Of the 242 miners who have applied for compensation through the Office of Navajo Uranium Workers, only 96 have been approved. The Justice Department has approved a total of 1,314 claims of former uranium miners suffering from health problems. An equal number of applicants have also been denied their compensation.
Documentation, such as check stubs, are required to prove the miners' work hours. Workers who spend time mining, decades ago, do not usually keep stubs from their paychecks. Authorities that could provide this information to the workers are not helpful.
In 1947, the first uranium mines opened near the Navajo Indian Reservation. Many embraced the mines when they opened, as the jobs were needed at the time. This was despite the low wages and poor conditions offered.
Radon in the mines was one of the worst dangers. Radon is a colourless, odourless radioactive gas created by decaying uranium. It is believed that most of the lung conditions that qualify for government compensation were caused by radon exposure.
This fall tribal officials along with former miners will actively and strongly encourage Congress to make the changes necessary to allow these other miners to receive their payments. One problem facing the government is the common idea among Navajo miners that they will receive compensation based only on their work.


