{"id":25393,"date":"2024-04-13T13:22:08","date_gmt":"2024-04-13T20:22:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/ontario-workers-compensation-board-driving-awareness-of-occupational-cancer\/"},"modified":"2024-04-13T13:22:10","modified_gmt":"2024-04-13T20:22:10","slug":"ontario-workers-compensation-board-driving-awareness-of-occupational-cancer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/ontario-workers-compensation-board-driving-awareness-of-occupational-cancer\/","title":{"rendered":"Ontario workers compensation board driving awareness of occupational cancer"},"content":{"rendered":"\"-\"<\/a>\n
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The WSIB has longstanding experience adjudicating claims for work-related cancers and other occupational diseases and helping those people and families affected. <\/span><\/p>\n

In 2023 alone, the WSIB approved over 23,000 occupational disease claims*<\/b> and provided $79.5 million in benefits and supports to those affected. Of these, 329 claims were for work-related cancers, making up $32.7 million of the benefits paid \u2013 almost half of the total paid for all occupational disease claims. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

To continue to help even more people with work-related cancer, the WSIB needs them to be aware that their illness may have been caused because of their work. This is why increasing awareness of occupational diseases is an area the WSIB has championed. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOne of the biggest barriers for us in providing care and support for people with occupational cancer is the fact that affected people and their health care providers often do not make the connection that their disease may be work-related,\u201d says Dr. Aaron Thompson, WSIB\u2019s Chief Medical Officer. \u201cIt\u2019s important for physicians to consider potential occupational causes when someone gets a cancer diagnosis. If workplace exposures caused someone\u2019s cancer, they need to be made aware and encouraged to submit a claim to the WSIB.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

To help remedy this lack of awareness, the WSIB funds the\u00a0<\/span>Workplace Health Champions Program<\/a><\/span>\u00a0for Ontario\u2019s six medical schools to ensure medical students are trained in important aspects of occupational medicine so they can recognize when an illness might be traced back to work.<\/span><\/p>\n

People often wonder how the WSIB can determine if a person\u2019s cancer is work-related. \u201cOne of the most difficult aspects of occupational disease adjudication is putting together the puzzle of past exposures and how they may relate to a person\u2019s disease,\u201d says Sal Cavaricci, WSIB Senior Director, Operations. \u201cThese claims can be quite complex, but we have well established frameworks and technical expertise for these difficult cases.\u201d The adjudicative team for occupational disease includes well-trained adjudicators supported by highly skilled occupational hygienists and occupational medicine specialist physicians.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ultimately, the WSIB\u2019s goal is to improve awareness and earlier identification of occupational diseases. <\/span>If someone believes their cancer may be work-related, they may be eligible for services and support so they should contact the WSIB. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThey don\u2019t have to worry if they\u2019re not sure their illness resulted from their work,\u201d says Cavaricci. \u201cThat\u2019s our job. It\u2019s always the WSIB\u2019s responsibility to gather all of the relevant information to determine whether someone\u2019s illness is work-related.\u201d <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Possible work-related claims should always be reported. There is no time limit for submitting an occupational <\/span>disease<\/span> claim given the time that can elapse between an exposure at the workplace and the onset of an illness.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>People can find information about occupational diseases and how to file a claim on the WSIB website \u2013 <\/span>Occupational disease | WSIB<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n