Letter: Government program for sick nuclear workers has backfired — terribly

McClatchy recently has been publishing articles about workers in the U.S. weapons complex, highlighting their health problems and the problems they experience trying to get compensation from the government.

The articles do not address the occupational exposure that might have caused the health problems, but give the impression that the health problems are caused by radiation exposure that the workers received while in the workplace. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Very few weapons complex workers have ever experienced occupational radiation exposure in excess of background radiation exposure. Everyone on earth lives in a sea of background radiation all of the time.

The average weapons complex worker is healthier and lives longer than most workers. We have experienced generous income, good health benefits, and a safe work environment.

Government compassion and an desire to err on the side of giving money to sick nuclear workers if occupational exposure is possible but cannot be proven has backfired — terribly. It encourages an entitlement expectation without addressing how to pay for it, and a belief that all radiation exposures are dangerous. Irrational fear of radiation has caused many deaths, mostly due to unnecessary evacuations.

This story was originally published February 3, 2016 at 5:08 PM with the headline "Letter: Government program for sick nuclear workers has backfired — terribly."