The U.S. Department of Labor confirmed new updates to deal with benefit claims for federal firefighters struggling with specific occupation related illnesses.
The U.S. Department of Labor updated the Federal Employees’ Compensation Program, implementing provisions of the Federal Firefighters Fairness Act to streamline claims processing for federal firefighters with certain occupational diseases, according to a March 20 news release.
“The policy changes we are making will help us improve our service and make sure federal firefighters injured or sickened on the job are treated fairly,” Department of Labor Office of Workers’ Compensation Director Christopher Godfrey said in the release.
The changes ease the requirements for evidence provided by federal firefighters to connect their toxic substance exposure with certain diseases and illnesses, according to the release.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported cancer is a leading cause of death among firefighters, and research suggests an increased risk of certain types of cancers for firefighters compared to the general population, the release said.
Each year, the Office of Workers Compensation Programs receives approximately 2,600 compensation claims from federal firefighters, according to the release. About 175 of these claims include conditions such as cancer, heart disease and lung disease.
Before the 2022 policy change, OWCP accepted about 29% of these claims, on average. Since the change, the agency has accepted more than 90% of processed claims as of February 2023, the release reported.
The updated bulletin provides details on additional actions by FECA, such as promoting ongoing research by giving firefighters the opportunity to voluntarily register with the National Firefighter Registry and regularly reviewing the best scientific evidence to determine if additional conditions should be added to the list of high-risk diagnoses, the release said.
The updates also include supporting the work of the departments of the Interior and Agriculture as well as NIOSH to comprehensively study long-term health effects experienced by federal wildland firefighters after work exposures to fires, smoke and toxic fumes, the release reported. Additionally, the updates include giving claimants 60 days to submit evidence for initial injury or disease claims, an increase of 30 days.
