Metals and Controls Corp. workers who fell ill may be eligible for benefits

Metals and Controls Corp. workers who fell ill may be eligible for benefits

By Gerry Tuoti, Staff Writer
GateHouse News Service
Posted Jan 28, 2010 @ 11:37 PM

People who worked with radioactive materials at the former Metals and Controls Corp. — including those from Taunton — and were diagnosed with certain types of cancer may be eligible for up to $150,000 in compensation and benefits under a federal program administered by the U.S. Department of Labor.

“Essentially, this program is designed to provide compensation and medical benefits for workers who became ill as a result of working in the atomic weapons industry,” Department of Labor spokesman Ted Fitzgerald said.

Metals and Controls’ Attleboro facility, which was later acquired by Texas Instruments, employed people from across the Taunton area in the 1950s and 60s. The plant created uranium foils for reactor experiments and fuel components, built complete reactor cores for the Naval Reactors program, and fabricated uranium fuel elements for experimental and research reactors.

Former employees who worked there for at least 250 days between 1952 and 1967 and have one of 22 specific types of cancer may be eligible for benefits or compensation. If the employee is no longer living, his or her qualified survivors, including spouses, children, parents, grandparents or grandchildren, may also be eligible for compensation.

The Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act, which provides compensation for people who became ill due to working in the nuclear industry, recently extended coverage to former Metals and Controls employees.

Former employees or survivors can get additional information about the program or make an appointment for assistance with filing a claim by calling the Labor Department’s resource center.