FAQs: Special Exposure Cohort (SEC)

The Special Exposure Cohort (SEC) is a uniquely defined category of employees established under The Act. The SEC is comprised of classes of employees who:

Claims compensated under the SEC do not have to go through the dose reconstruction process, as is required for other cancer claims covered by The Act.

The Act also allows for additional groups of employees (called classes of employees) to be added to the SEC. Classes of employees and work sites can be considered for addition to the SEC through a petition process run by NIOSH.

To provide quick answers to commonly asked questions on the SEC, NIOSH developed a Fact Sheet:

Special Exposure Cohort (SEC) Fact Sheet

We also developed a more comprehensive list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). Select the topic you are interested in below by clicking its link. You will be taken to the section of this page that lists FAQs about the topic. Links throughout the FAQs will guide you to further information.

SEC General Information

SEC Final Rule for the Procedures for Designating Classes of Employees as Members of the SEC

SEC Roles

SEC Petition Requirements

SEC Petition Process

General Questions

 

Petition is Denied (does not meet the minimum requirements for review and evaluation)

 

Petition is Accepted (meets the minimum requirements for review and evaluation)

 

Secretary of HHS Makes a Final Decision on the Class

 

Secretary Makes a Final Decision to Add the Class to the SEC

SEC Petition Evaluation Report

SEC Timeframes

Petitioner

 

NIOSH

 

Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

 

Advisory Board on Radiation and Worker Health

 

Congress

SEC Petition Appeals

Petition is Denied (does not meet the minimum requirements for review and evaluation)

 

Secretary Makes a Final Determination Denying Addition of the Class to the SEC