Document DM43pazEYB4krvOJ7GXnVpz6a

Will the government provide examinations or treatment, or will the government pay for these? What about insurance coverage? Medical services related to as bestos exposure are available through the government only for certain groups of eligible individ uals. In general, medical services are available through non-govern mental doctors and facilities and paid for by the individuals af fected, unless they are covered by private or government health insur ance programs. Check your poli cies. Medicare will reimburse peo ple with symptoms of asbestosrelated diseases for the costs of appropriate diagnosis and treat ment. Victims of asbestos-related dis ease also may qualify for financial aid, including medical payments, under state worker compensation laws. Eligibility requirements vary from state to state, so contact the state worker compensation pro gram in the state where last expo sure occurred. If exposure resulted from em ployment in a federal agency (mil itary or civilian), those affected be covered for medical ex poses and other compensation by the Federal Employees' Com pensation Act (FECA). Shipyard private employer em ployees may be covered under the Longshoremen and .Harbor Workers Compensation Act. For information about eligibility for these two com pensation programs, contact the U.S. Department of labor. Office of Workers Compensation Pro gram, Employment Standards Ad ministration, 200 Constitution Ave., N.W., Washington, DC 20210. Military and eligible dependents may receive health care at any Department of Defense medical facility. If no such facility is avail able within 40 miles of Home, care may be obtained at a Veterans Administration or Public Health Service hospital- Where no federal facility is available, seek care at a civilian facility under the Civil ian Health and Medical Program for the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS). Those more than 65 yrl rf age must obtain medical care through Medicare. Former military who believe they may have a service-related medical problem, can inquire about care at a Veterans Administration facility or telephone the local Vet erans Administration office. Workers also may wish to con tact their international unions or the Industrial Union or Metal Trades Departments of the AFLCIO, 815 16th St., N.W., Washing ton, DC 20006 for information on other sources of medical help and insurance matters. For information about non-occupational exposure from foods, drugs, and cosmetic products pos sibly contaminated with asbestos particles, write to Consumer In quiries, FDA, 5600 Fishers Lane, HFJ-10, Rockville, MD 20857. For questions about the potential hazards of commercial products, contact CPSC at (800) 638-2666 or (800) 492-2937. Inquiries about air and water contamination should be made to the Public Information Center, PM215, 401 M St., S.W., Washington, DC 20460. Cancer Information Services (CIS) offices around the nation provide toll-free telephone answers to questions about cancer and oth er asbestos-related diseases, their causes, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Check with local tele phone operators for the nearest OS office. For further information from labor or industry sources, contact: Labor--international union, or the Industrial Union or Metal Trades Departments of the AFLQO, 815-16th St., N.W., Washing ton, DC 20006; industry--Asbestos Information Association, North America, 1745 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arling ton, VA 22202. Other sources of information on lung disease, cancer, and how to quit smoking are provided by local offices of the American Lung Association and the American Lung Society. These organizations have offices throughout the. United States. 0 BIBLIOGRAPHY Asbestos Exposure--What It Means; What to Do, DHEW Publication No. (NIH) 78-1594. National Cancer Insti tute, Bethesda, MD 20014. This Imprinted polyethylene beg Is a workable solution to the problem o1 labeling asbestos waste. In contormance with OSHAct regulation 1910.1001 (formerly ,93a), and aids In complying with EPA Emission Standard 01.22. (Photo: Courtesy ot Nancol Enterprises, Inc.). Asbestos Exposure--A Desk Reference for Communicators, DHEW Publication No. (NIH) 78-1622. National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20014. Standard on Worker Exposure to Asbes tos, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Office of Information, Washington, DC 20210. Cancer and the Worker, New York Academy of Sciences, 2 E. 63rd St., New York 10021. ($2). Good Practices Manual, Clearinghouse for Occupational Safety and Health Information, NIOSH, 4667 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati 45226. Sprayed Asbestos-Containing Materials in Buidings, Standards Development Branch, EPA, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711. "Asbestos," National Safety News, National Safety Council, 444 N. Michi gan Ave., Chicago 60611. Vol. 108, No. 2, August 1973, pp. 54-60. Also available as a reprint; see page 128 of this issue. RECOMMENDED READING USPHS/NIOSH Membrane Fitter Method for Eoaluating Airborne Asbestos Fibers (NIOSH Report No. 79-127). NIOSH Publications Dissemination, 4676 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati 45226. The report describes the recom mended method for sampling and evaluating airborne asbestos fibers. The report details the equipment and procedures for collecting, mounting, sizing, and counting asbestos fibers on cellulose ester membrane filters for the evaluation of personal samples. July 1979, NATIONAL SAFETY NEWS 8006 0690 55 HFM - 003985