NIOSH is the U.S. federal agency that conducts research and makes recommendations to

prevent worker injury and illness. NIOSH was established under the Occupational Safety

and Health Act of 1970. It is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

For more information

DIVISION OF COMPENSATION ANALYSIS 

AND SUPPORT

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

The Division of Compensation Analysis and 

Support (DCAS) is a part of the National Institute 

for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). DCAS 

provides scientific support for claims involving workers 

with cancer due to radiation exposure.

Since World War II, many workers have taken part in 

nuclear weapons-related activities for the Department 

of Energy, its contractors and subcontractors, and 

atomic weapons employers. Many jobs at sites involved 

in these activities worked with radiation and radioactive 

materials. The Energy Employees Occupational Illness 

Compensation Program Act (the Act) of 2000, enables 

current and former workers in the nation’s nuclear 

weapons program, or their survivors, to file claims for 

compensation if they believe they have an illness due 

to workplace exposures to hazardous substances or 

radiation. DCAS is primarily responsible for estimating 

work–related radiation exposure (dose reconstruction) 

for certain workers with cancer who filed claims 

under Part B of the Act. Part B is a portion of the Act 

that provides compensation and medical benefits to 

employees (or their survivors) for illness caused by 

exposure to radiation, beryllium, and silica during their 

employment at DOE, its contractor, or subcontractor 

facilities.

Additionally, DCAS is responsible for the following 

activities:

• Developing methods to estimate worker exposure 

to radiation 

• Developing scientific guidelines to determine the 

likelihood that an employee’s cancer is related to 

their occupational exposure to ionizing radiation 

• Applying a process for adding classes of 

employees to the Special Exposure Cohort 

• Providing staff support to an independent 

advisory board 

Technology & Product Highlights

Probability of Causation

DCAS developed guidelines to 

determine the probability that a 

worker’s cancer was the result of 

occupational radiation exposure. 

This probability is determined 

by combining risk analysis and 

the worker’s reconstructed radiation dose. When the 

probability is fifty percent or greater that the cancer 

was caused by radiation the U.S. Department of Labor 

awards compensation.

Radiation Dose Reconstruction

DCAS established radiation dose-estimation methods 

using available sampling data, radiation sources 

used, and facility production records from the sites to 

determine radiation doses of individual claimants.

Special Exposure Cohort

DCAS developed guidelines for 

adding classes to the Special 

Exposure Cohort (SEC) and 

evaluates petitions for adding 

classes. The SEC is a designation 

created by the Energy Employees 

Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act of 

2000. NIOSH makes recommendations to add classes 

of workers to the SEC when it is not possible to reliably 

estimate the workers’ radiation exposure. Additions to 

the SEC usually involve workers at a specific site who 

worked during a defined period of time. SEC members 

are awarded compensation without requiring a dose 

reconstruction if they developed certain cancers.

www.cdc.gov/niosh/ocas

1 (877) 222-7570
To receive NIOSH documents or more information about occupational safety and health topics, please contact 

NIOSH: Telephone: 1–800–CDC–INFO (1–800–232–4636) TTY: 1–888–232–6348 

CDC INFO: www.cdc.gov/info or visit the NIOSH Web site at www.cdc.gov/NIOSH 

For a monthly update on news at NIOSH, subscribe to NIOSH eNews by visiting www.cdc.gov/niosh/eNews.

This document is in the public domain and may be freely copied or reprinted

https://doi.org/10.26616/NIOSHPUB2018136

DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2018-136

July 2018

OUR SAFETY AND HEALTH RESEARCH AREAS

This image depicts the entities, inputs and activities involved in reconstructing radiation 

doses. It illustrates the interconnectedness of these elements, but is not intended to be a 

flowchart of the process.

OUR STAFF

DCAS has 36 full time positions and has offices in Cincinnati, Ohio. Staff have experience in the following areas:

Health Physicists| Statisticians | Health Communication Specialists | Program Specialists | 

Records Management Specialists | Information Technology Specialists | Research Scientists