Cutting off liability for 911 First Responders: Do you think they know something bad is in the air?

9/11 responders urged to sign up for state registry
Larkin: Aim is to help with health-care costs

Residents of Orange and Ulster counties who participated in rescue, recovery or clean-up work after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks need to register by Aug. 14 with the New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health - even if they are not sick now, state Sen. William Larkin, R-New Windsor, said.

"Without a second thought, tens of thousands of people rushed to help after the terrorist attacks," Larkin said. "Thousands of others worked at the site in the year after 9/11 - and now, over five years later, many of those responders are becoming sick and some are dying. This is why it is so important for people to register with NYCOSH."

New law enacted

Until recently, New York state Workers' Compensation Law prevented most workers from filing a claim after two years. The Legislature enacted a law extending the deadline for filing a claim.

If workers and volunteers who were exposed to toxic dust or psychological trauma register before Aug. 14, they can file a claim if they become sick in the future. So far, less than 5,000 people have registered. Thousands of people will slip through the cracks if they miss the deadline.

"If you do not register and are sick or become sick later, you will not be able to file a claim," Larkin said.

Original article posted here.