People involved in rescue, recovery, or cleanup efforts at the World Trade Center site have until August 13, 2008, to register with the New York State Workers' Compensation Board.

According to the New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health (NYCOSH), registering preserves one's right to file a workers' compensation claim in case of future illness.

Under state workers' comp law, most workers would be barred from filing a claim 2 years after an injury occurred.

However, the law was changed last summer, according to NYCOSH. It now permits those who worked in the vicinity of Ground Zero to file a claim if they have or develop a 9/11-related illness in the future.

But filing a claim can only be done with prior registration. To date, NYCOSH says only about 40,000 of over 100,000 who qualify have registered.

"People who were exposed to the toxic dust or psychological trauma should protect their right to file a claim. If you are in doubt about whether or not you qualify, you should just register," NYCOSH advises.

The law applies to those who worked in lower Manhattan south, or Canal or Pike Streets between September 11, 2001, and September 12, 2002.

It also applies to those who worked at the Staten Island landfill and other locations, including a city barge operation and the New York City morgue.

A 24-hour hotline offers more information: 877-982-2556. The website is http://www.nycosh.org.

[Source: OSHA Compliance Advisor. Subscribe today!]