House Passes Presumption Bill for Hanford Workers

Washington state lawmakers have revived a bill that would create an occupational disease presumption for workers at the U.S. Department of Energy Hanford nuclear site. House Bill 1723, by the House Labor and Workplace Standards Committee, was reintroduced this week. The House of Representatives passed it on a 76-22 vote on Thursday and it has been sent to the Senate. The bill’s occupational disease presumption would apply to respiratory disease, beryllium disease and neurological disease, as well as heart problems experienced within 72 hours of exposure to fumes or chemicals at th...