Pantex employees eligible for compensation - KFDA - NewsChannel 10 / Amarillo News, Weather, Sports

Pantex employees eligible for compensation

Amarillo, TX - Former Pantex employees will soon receive compensation for their illnesses.

Many current and former Pantex employees have developed cancer due to radiation exposure.

If you worked any job position at Pantex during 1958 to 1983 and developed cancer you could be compensated.

Former workers and their survivors are urged to file for help.

Sarah Ray is a former Pantex employee who lost many loved ones to cancer, including her husband.

"My husband Mike Dorzek was diagnosed with lung cancer and died in 1998. It was determined that his cancer and his death were caused by his work," says Sarah Ray, former Pantex employee.

Now she's on a mission to help others.  

She spread the word at a meeting for Pantex employees today in Amarillo.

"The maximum amount, just straight across the board amount, of compensation for part B which is Radio-genic cancers and beryllium diseases is 150,000 dollars," says Sarah Ray, former Pantex employee.

There are 22 different types of radiogenic caused cancers; including organ cancers, breast cancer, and renal cancer.

Sarah says many people don't know that help is out there.

"Out of a total of over 16,000 people who have been badged and worked at Pantex, only 500 filed claims," says Sarah Ray, former Pantex employee.

You don't have to pay anyone to help you with your claim because there are several people that will do it for free.

Family members of the deceased can file as well.

Sarah is hoping to encourage those who have been denied before to not give up.

"He worked out there, he worked hard, he worked long and he was exposed to chemicals that he should not have been exposed to and he died because of it. There should be some compensation," says Tina Wingrove, family member.

"All we have in this life really is hope, and a little bit of hope for a little bit of extra cash sure wouldn't hurt," says Paul Teichmann, former Pantex employee diagnosed with cancer.

If you didn't go to today's meeting don't worry, you can still file a claim.

Email Sarah Ray at dworay82@yahoo.com for more information.