By Shelly Baskin
Washington, DC – Kentucky Congressman Ed Whitfield says he's "angry and disappointed" that a Department of Labor training manual refers to sick Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant workers by horror movie character names. Whitfield's anger stems from nicknames like "Freddie Kruger" and "Hannibal Lecter" given to former federal workers suffering from skin cancer and dementia.
The employees were claimants in the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program or E-E-O-I-C-P-A. Whitfield wrote to Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis to say the references were offensive. Whitfield's district is home to Paducah's Gaseous Diffusion Plant which carries a legacy of employees exposed to dangerous and deadly materials.
He says this incident only emphasizes his concerns and the need for more transparency and oversight. Secretary Solis hasn't yet issued a response to Whitfield's letter.