Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 98 Part 2.djvu/488

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PUBLIC LAW 98-000—MMMM. DD, 1984

98 STAT. 1648

33 USC 910. Effective date.

33 USC 906.

PUBLIC LAW 98-426—SEPT. 28, 1984

relationship between the employment, the disease, and the death or disability.". (b) Section 10(f) is amended to read as follows: "(f) Effective October 1 of each year, the compensation or death benefits payable for permanent total disability or death arising out of injuries subject to this Act shall be increased by the lesser of^ "(1) a percentage equal to the percentage (if any) by which the applicable national weekly wage for the period beginning on such October 1, as determined under section 6(b), exceeds the applicable national average weekly wage, as so determined, for the period beginning with the preceding October 1; or "(2) 5 per centum.". NOTICE OF INJURY OR DEATH

33 USC 912.

SEC. 11. (a) Section 12(a) is amended to read as follows: "SEC. 12. (a) Notice of an injury or death in respect of which compensation is payable under this Act shall be given within thirty days after the date of such injury or death, or thirty days after the employee or beneficiary is aware, or in the exercise of reasonable diligence or by reason of medical advice should have been aware, of a relationship between the injury or death and the employment, except that in the case of an occupational disease which does not immediately result in a disability or death, such notice shall be given within one year after the employee or claimant becomes aware, or in the exercise of reasonable diligence or by reason of medical advice should have been aware, of the relationship between the employment, the disease, and the death or disability. Notice shall be given (1) to the deputy commissioner in the compensation district in which the injury or death occurred, and (2) to the employer.". (b) Section 12(c) is amended by adding at the end thereof the following: "Each employer shall designate those agents or other responsible officials to receive such notice, except that the employer shall designate as its representatives individuals among first line supervisors, local plant management, and personnel office officials. Such designations shall be made in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary and the employer shall notify his employees and the Secretary of such designation in a manner prescribed by the Secretary in regulations.". (c) Section 12(d) is amended— (1) by striking out "(or his agent in charge of the business in the place where the injury occurred)" and inserting in lieu thereof the following: "(or his agent or agents or other responsible official or officials designated by the employer pursuant to subsection (c))"; (2) by striking out "injury or death and" and inserting in lieu thereof "injury or death, (2)"; (3) by striking out "or (2)" and inserting in lieu thereof "or (3)"; and (4) by inserting after "the ground that" in the clause redesignated as clause (3) (by paragraph (3) of this subsection) the following: "(i) notice, while not given to a responsible official designated by the employer pursuant to subsection (c) of this section, was given to an official of the employer or the employer's insurance carrier, and that the employer or carrier was not prejudiced due to the failure to provide notice to a responsible