Politics & Government

Former Energy Employees May Be Eligible for Worker's Comp

Robin Materials in Mountain View on list with potential former employees.

The U.S. Department of Labor recently announced that some former employees of Mountain View-based may be eligible for compensation through the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Act (EEOICPA) program.

Employees at Robins Material–and at another 24 companies in California–who supplied raw metals to the high-tech, defense, research and development industries, if diagnosed with chronic beryllium disease or beryllium sensitivity, may be eligible for compensation and or medical benefits. According to a department statement, more than $313 million in EEOICPA compensation and medical benefits have to 3,008 eligible claimants living in California.

Over the years, Mountain View-based Robin Materials provided materials, like beryllium copper, to Sandia National Laboratory, a U.S. government contractor in the national security sector, located in Livermore.

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Robin Materials has also provided titanium, molybdenum, tungsten/tungsten alloys, tantalum, invar, kovar, high strength steel, stainless steel, aluminum and magnesium to other Silicon Valley companies for 25 years.

Paul Greene, the owner of Robins Material for 31 years, told Patch that he wasn't aware of any former employee diagnosed with cancer. The potential eligible workers for Robin Materials would have worked there from 1985 through 1997.

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"None of the employees here have been ill," Greene said about his four-person staff with an office at 1951 Colony St. "We don't handle the materials directly. We may be on the list because they [Sandia] may have bought beryllium copper."

When asked for comments from Sandia, Patch was referred to the Labor Department's websites.

On July 31, 2001, the Department of Labor began to administer Part B of the EEOICPA. Part B covers current and former workers diagnosed with cancer, beryllium disease. Exposure to beryllium mist, dust or fumes can cause lung damage. Individuals or their survivors found eligible under Part B may receive a lump sum compensation payment of $150,000 and medical expenses for their covered conditions.

Part E, created by an amendment to the EEOICPA on Oct. 28, 2004, and also administered by the Department of Labor, provides federal compensation and medical benefits to DOE contractors and subcontractors who worked at covered facilities during a covered time period and sustained an illness as a result of exposure to toxic substances. Robin Materials is considered a covered facility.

The department urges all potential eligible former workers and their survivors to contact its California Resource Center in Livermore, Calif., at 866-606-6302 or visit DEEOIC’s website at http://www.dol.gov/owcp/energy for more information.


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