Frequently asked questions
The NSSP offers health screening for some U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) former workers who may have been exposed to hazardous substances.
A DOE worker may have encountered a number of hazardous substances in their job environment. Some of the more common hazards include asbestos, beryllium, epoxy resins, and radiation. For more information about known hazardous substances at DOE sites, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Site Exposure Matrix website.
- You are a DOE former worker
- You may have worked with hazardous substances
- You may have been exposed to radiation
See also Am I eligible? If you have any questions about eligibility, please contact us (by calling 1-866-812-6703 or emailing NSSP@orau.org).
The screening exam involves a customized health screening based on work history. A qualified clinician at a medical facility near you performs a series of medical tests and collects biological specimens. One of the country’s best medical centers and experts in occupational health screening reviews the results. These results are summarized for you and, if indicated, recommendations for follow-up with an appropriate physician are provided.
Usually, physicians from the Acuity International network of clinics perform the exams. Acuity International offers complete occupational health services. For those participants living in or near the Denver, Colorado area, NSSP screenings can be performed at National Jewish Health.
The health screening is provided at no cost to eligible DOE former workers.
The NSSP operates in all 50 states. Our target is to offer clinics located within 60 miles of every United States zip code.
The NSSP is administered by Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU). ORAU partners with organizations nationally recognized in occupational medicine to help provide services to DOE’s former worker population. These partners are National Jewish Health, Acuity International, Cority Software, and the Center for Health, Work & Environment at the Colorado School of Public Health. For additional information, visit What is the NSSP?
In 1993, the U.S. Congress enacted Public Law 102-484, Section 3162. This law directed DOE to start a program to evaluate the health of DOE former workers who may have been exposed to hazardous substances at work.