Hanford workers’ comp given generally favorable review

YAKIMA – The workers’ compensation system established for workers at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation is being appropriately administered but could be improved in several areas, according to a new study commissioned by the state Department of Labor and Industries.

The review followed complaints by workers last year that their claims were being mishandled by the Texas-based company hired to oversee the program for the U.S. Department of Energy, which manages cleanup at the highly contaminated Hanford site.

The Energy Department asked the state to look at its self-insured program, and the state in turn hired Seattle auditing firm Miller & Miller to conduct a three-month review. The results were released at a public meeting Thursday night in Richland before a crowd of more than 100 people.

Some workers have complained about long delays in getting payments or having to hire lawyers to ensure their claims were processed by Contract Claims Service Inc., of Irving, Texas.

The review compared the program with other self-insured workers’ compensation programs in Washington state. CCSI’s performance was in line with those programs, said Steve Miller of the audit firm.