Basic Claims Examiner Training Course SEM Demonstration Session

Instructor Guide Page 1

SITE EXPOSURE MATRIX (SEM)

OVERVIEW AND DEMONSTRATION SESSION

Basic Claims Examiner Training Course SEM Demonstration Session

Instructor Guide Page 2

SESSION BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Session Title SEM Overview and Demonstration

Instructional Time

20 minutes

Session Description

This session is a demonstration of how to conduct SEM searches.

Instructional Objectives

• List the steps to conduct a SEM search with less than full information

• List the steps to conduct a SEM search for construction workers

Instructor Materials

For this session, the following materials are required:

SEMDemoSession.PPT

In addition to the slide presentation, the instructor must also access the SEM and conduct the searches as defined in the presentation.

SEM Records

The slide presentation includes criteria for the conduct of specific searches. The instructor should ensure that results are returned for each of the searches before the conduct of the session.

Participant Guide

SEM Demonstration Session

Basic Claims Examiner Training Course SEM Demonstration Session

Instructor Guide Page 3

SEM DEMONSTRATION SESSION INSTRUCTIONAL CONTENT

#1

SEM Overview

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#2

Site Exposure Matrices (SEM) Training

Searching SEM with less than full information Construction Questions and answers

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Basic Claims Examiner Training Course SEM Demonstration Session

Instructor Guide Page 4

SEM DEMONSTRATION SESSION INSTRUCTIONAL CONTENT, CONTINUED

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Searching SEM With Less Than Full InformationThe ideal situation . . . Labor category: known and in SEM Building: known and in SEM Work process performed: known and in SEM Toxic substances used: known and in SEM Time period of work: known and in SEM Claimed illness: known and in SEM

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#4

Searching SEM With Less Than Full Information, continued Be flexible when using SEM Do not stop because the labor category is not found

• Try the building • Check out the aliases• Search work processes• Use SEM to find out where a substance was used• The more you know about the site, its mission and its activities, the

more beneficial use you can make of SEM

Ask questions

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Basic Claims Examiner Training Course SEM Demonstration Session

Instructor Guide Page 5

SEM DEMONSTRATION SESSION INSTRUCTIONAL CONTENT, CONTINUED

#5

Searching SEM With Less Than Full Information, continued Site documentation does not always indicate who (labor

category) is performing a work process or using a toxic substance

Labor categories are sometimes known at the site level, but cannot be linked to work processes or toxic substances• These labor categories are included in SEM

o 395 at Savannah River• Can be used to verify an occupational title• Cannot be used to start a search

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#6

Searching With Less Than Full Information: Example A Savannah River Site Labor category: Utility Operator Supervisor C-Area What can SEM tell us?

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Basic Claims Examiner Training Course SEM Demonstration Session

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SEM DEMONSTRATION SESSION INSTRUCTIONAL CONTENT, CONTINUED

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Searching With Less Than Full Information: Example A, continued Savannah River Site Labor category: Utility Operator Supervisor C-Area What can SEM tell us?

• Labor category not in SEM• Ask: What labor category would be closely related to a Utility Operator

Supervisor? o Utility Operatoro Supervisor has same basic exposures as workerso Use utility operator profile for Utility Operator Supervisor

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Searching With Less Than Full Information: Example B Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant Disease: Lung cancer Labor category: Electrician What can SEM tell us?

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Basic Claims Examiner Training Course SEM Demonstration Session

Instructor Guide Page 7

SEM DEMONSTRATION SESSION INSTRUCTIONAL CONTENT, CONTINUED

#9 Searching With Less Than Full Information: Example B, continued Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant Disease: Lung cancer Labor category: Electrician What can SEM tell us?

• “Electrician” is not a listed labor category• Use labor category alias tool to determine that “electrician” is an

electrical mechanic • Filtering on the health effect “lung cancer” tells us there were five toxic

substances used by electricians that are associated with lung cancer • What next?

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#10

Worker Categories at DOE Sites

Production workers• Employees of the DOE prime operating contractors (e.g.,

Union Carbide)

Construction workers• Employees of DOE prime construction contractors• Employees of construction subcontractors• May be several tiers deep

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Basic Claims Examiner Training Course SEM Demonstration Session

Instructor Guide Page 8

SEM DEMONSTRATION SESSION INSTRUCTIONAL CONTENT, CONTINUED

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DOE Construction

Two types of exposures• Those typical of the construction craft• Those that come from being on the DOE site

Two-step SEM process • Step 1: Use “SEM Construction site” on Main Menu to identify

hazards of the craft• Step 2: For DOE site, select “Construction worker” as labor category

and then select the building where work was performed to identify substances that are specific to the DOE site

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#12

DOE Construction Example

Labor category: Painter Site: Pinellas Claim says he worked 4 years doing interior painting

in Area 109F of the 100 Building in the mid-to-late 1970s

Claimed disease: Chronic Solvent Encephalopathy

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Basic Claims Examiner Training Course SEM Demonstration Session

Instructor Guide Page 9

SEM DEMONSTRATION SESSION INSTRUCTIONAL CONTENT, CONTINUED

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DOE Construction Example, continued

Step 1• Select the Site from the drop-down menu: Construction• Select the labor category from the drop-down menu:

Painter• Suggestion: Put the returned page in the Keeper Stack

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#14

DOE Construction Example, continued

Step 2• Go back to Main Menu and select “Pinellas” from the Site

drop-down menu• Select “Construction worker” from the drop down menu of

labor categories. DO NOT select Painter• At top of page, select “100/Area 109F” from the drop

down menu• Suggestion: Put the returned page in the Keeper Stack

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Basic Claims Examiner Training Course SEM Demonstration Session

Instructor Guide Page 10

SEM DEMONSTRATION SESSION INSTRUCTIONAL CONTENT, CONTINUED

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DOE Construction Example, continued

Step 3• Go to Main Menu and select the claimed disease

“Encephalopathy, Chronic Solvent” from the “Toxic substance by health effect” drop-down menu

• Suggestion: Put the returned page of toxic substances causing Encephalopathy in the Keeper Stack

• Print the three pages in the Keeper Stack and look for matching toxic substances

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#16

DOE Construction Example, continued

Step 4Conclusions

• Acetone, Benzene and many other substances used by Painters cause Chronic Solvent Encephalopathy

• Trichlorethylene is associated with the disease and was used in 100/Area 109F used by construction painters during typical craft activities

• Many substances typically used by construction painters at Pinellas are associated with Chronic Solvent Encephalopathy

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Basic Claims Examiner Training Course SEM Demonstration Session

Instructor Guide Page 11

SEM DEMONSTRATION SESSION INSTRUCTIONAL CONTENT, CONTINUED

#17

SEM 101: The Basics

You MUST know if the claimant is a production worker (i.e., worked for the company that operated the site) or a construction worker

The answer dictates how you use SEM to do your search

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SEM 101: The Basics, continued

Do not cite SEM as the reason a claim is being denied• If SEM does not have needed information, use other

sources (e.g., DAR & the occupational history interview)

• SEM is not 100% complete and never will be

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Basic Claims Examiner Training Course SEM Demonstration Session

Instructor Guide Page 12

SEM DEMONSTRATION SESSION INSTRUCTIONAL CONTENT, CONTINUED

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SEM 101: The Basics, continued

Alias search hint• 1,10-Phenanthroline ferrous sulfate • Enter search term of “1,10” or “Phenan” • Why not the entire chemical term?

Some people were employed at one DOE site but actually worked at another• SEM describes the site where the work was performed

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#20

Security and Quality

SEM is Unclassified• No UCNI (unclassified controlled nuclear information)• No official use only data• No secret or confidential data

Do not share the website or your password with unauthorized users

Dispose of unused printouts in recycling bin or shred

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Basic Claims Examiner Training Course SEM Demonstration Session

Instructor Guide Page 13

SEM DEMONSTRATION SESSION INSTRUCTIONAL CONTENT, CONTINUED

#21

Use the SEM User’s Guide

Available on the DOL Server• Making a hardcopy will facilitate use

Step-by-step guidance How to search Search parameters Screen displays How to get assistance

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#22

Protocol for Feedback Coordinate all policy/procedural questions through your supervisor.

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Basic Claims Examiner Training Course SEM Demonstration Session

Instructor Guide Page 14

SEM DEMONSTRATION SESSION INSTRUCTIONAL CONTENT, CONTINUED

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When You Need HelpLog-in and access issues

• Steve

netTechnical assistance/other help

• Contact your supervisor

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#24

Questions

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