9/11 Workers Have One Week Left To Register
Friday, September 05, 2014
Byron Silva of Laborers' Local 78 called for 9/11
workers, no matter their state or country of origin, to register with
the state.
(Julia Longoria)
Sept. 11 marks the 13th anniversary of the attacks on the World
Trade Center — and the last chance for 9/11 workers to register with
the New York State Worker Compensation Board. After this Thursday at 5
p.m., those who haven’t filled out, notarized and filed a WTC-12 form won't be able to claim benefits for long-term health complications.
Standing on the steps of City Hall on Friday morning, state officials said 41,000 have registered so far. "If anyone is in any doubt, they should register," said Rep. Jerry Nadler, who represents the district surrounding Ground Zero.
But those who worked directly at the site aren't the only ones eligible for benefits.
Any store workers south of Canal Street who were tasked with debris cleanup on Sept. 11-12 as a result of the attacks should also register. Those who worked at the New York City morgue and temporary morgues on the West Side, as well as the barges between the West Side and Fresh Kills Land Fill in Staten Island, are also eligible.
Assemblyman Michael DenDekker led a rescue and cleanup team in the days following 9/11. He said he's worried store workers still don't realize they can register.
"Many of them don't consider themselves responders or heroes,” DenDekker said. "They just worked in the store. But they were exposed. And by being exposed, they should register."
State officials insisted Friday that even those who aren't sick should register, as the health complications covered — certain forms of cancer, as well as upper- and lower-respiratory tract, psychological and gastroesophogal illnesses — have decades-long latency periods.
Guille Mejia, Director of the Safety and Health Department for a public employee's union, said the records kept of who was on the ground Sept. 11 and 12 are unreliable, making it difficult to conduct direct outreach to those who might be eligible.
The eight-question form is available online in eight different languages, and workers can fill in, sign and notarize forms at the downtown Marriott on Sept. 11. Out-of-state workers are also encouraged to apply.
Standing on the steps of City Hall on Friday morning, state officials said 41,000 have registered so far. "If anyone is in any doubt, they should register," said Rep. Jerry Nadler, who represents the district surrounding Ground Zero.
But those who worked directly at the site aren't the only ones eligible for benefits.
Any store workers south of Canal Street who were tasked with debris cleanup on Sept. 11-12 as a result of the attacks should also register. Those who worked at the New York City morgue and temporary morgues on the West Side, as well as the barges between the West Side and Fresh Kills Land Fill in Staten Island, are also eligible.
Assemblyman Michael DenDekker led a rescue and cleanup team in the days following 9/11. He said he's worried store workers still don't realize they can register.
"Many of them don't consider themselves responders or heroes,” DenDekker said. "They just worked in the store. But they were exposed. And by being exposed, they should register."
State officials insisted Friday that even those who aren't sick should register, as the health complications covered — certain forms of cancer, as well as upper- and lower-respiratory tract, psychological and gastroesophogal illnesses — have decades-long latency periods.
Guille Mejia, Director of the Safety and Health Department for a public employee's union, said the records kept of who was on the ground Sept. 11 and 12 are unreliable, making it difficult to conduct direct outreach to those who might be eligible.
The eight-question form is available online in eight different languages, and workers can fill in, sign and notarize forms at the downtown Marriott on Sept. 11. Out-of-state workers are also encouraged to apply.
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