9/11 Cleanup Crew urged to Register

New York, NYEveryone involved in the "toxic" 9/11 cleanup are urged to register immediately for New York State workers' compensation.

A pro-labor organization is sending out the message: If you or someone you know worked on the post-9/11 clean up in New York City, whether paid or as a volunteer, between September 11, 2001, and September 12, 2002, you need to register promptly to preserve the right to file for 9/11-related workers' compensation.

And it doesn't matter whether you have as yet developed any illness or injury.

Registration Deadline
The New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health (NYCOSH) issued a [release] on May 7 stating that the deadline for filing for the workers' compensation is August 14, 2007, and that thousands of eligible people are unaware of their rights and may well miss out on filing.

"Thousands worked in the toxic brew of the World Trade Center's dust and fumes," says NYCOSH executive director Joel Shufro. "Now these same people are scattered across the state, unaware that they may qualify for 9/11 related workers' compensation. They must register and they need to help let others know."

Apply whether you were hurt or not
NYCOSH says that at least 100,000 workers and volunteers who performed any rescue, recovery or cleanup work in the vicinity of the World Trade Center, and at certain other cleanup related sites, are eligible to register with the New York State Workers' Compensation Board, whether or not they have yet developed any 9/11 related physical or mental illness or disorder. But so far, fewer than 14,000 of these people have done so.

The NYCOSH release includes the following points:

• New York City's official estimate is that more than 21,000 people have been injured as a result of their exposure to toxic substances and psychologically trauma



• Right now, hundreds more are developing new-onset symptoms



• No one knows how many more who are now healthy will become sick, or when they will first develop symptoms -- and many of those eligible are unaware that they could still become ill



• If you don't register by August 14 you won't be able to file a claim later, even if you develop a 9/11 related physical or mental illness in the future



• You don't have to be a New York resident or even a U.S. citizen to be eligible for this compensation



• The compensation pays eligible claimants 100 percent of the cost of treatment, including prescriptions and hospitalization, regardless of the date symptoms or illnesses show up.

For more information, go to [nycosh website] to learn about the eligibility requirements and registration procedure, or call the toll-free, 24-hour hotline at 1-866-WTC-2556.