What you need to know about WSIB

• Reporting an Injury and Filing a Claim In the event of an injury or illness
• Report accident or injury immediately to Employer
• Report when injury occurred to Employer
• Record name of person who took report about injury
• Report details of injury to employer
• Identify any witnesses
• Seek medical attention immediately
• Report to physician injury was work-related
• Check accuracy and obtain copies of all Forms
• Keep consistent notes about the injury

Understanding WSIB Forms

Form 6: This is a form the worker completes. A worker can begin a claim by submitting this form to the WSIB or the board may send this to the worker to obtain more information. This form provides the worker an opportunity to give WSIB their story of events.

Workers are required to give a copy of this form to the employer.

Form 7: Is required by law to be completed by the employer when workers report an injury or illness and is also required to provide a copy to the worker.

Workers should read the form carefully to ensure the employer has accurately reported the details of the injury and the wages. According to WSIB a signature on this form does not mean agreement with the employer's version of events. The worker's signature authorizes a doctor to fill out a Functional Abilities Form (FAF)

Form 8: Is when seeking medical attention a worker must advise the treating physician the injury or illness is work-related! This initiates the doctor to complete this form and send it to WSIB. Workers should check to ensure the doctor enters the details of the accident as they remember them. Ensure the doctor makes a note of each part of the body that was injured and request a copy of this form. To prevent any delay or problems with the approval of the claim this form should be completed when the worker seeks medical attention the day of the injury!

Worker's Obligation

• Consent to release the Functional Abilities Information to be used in return to work programs.
• Cooperate in any Board approved health care
• Cooperate in the early and safe return to work and/or the Labour market re-entry program
• Report any change in material circumstances

The employer is not required to report if only first aid is provided. First aid includes cleaning minor cuts, scrapes, scratches, treating minor burns, applying bandages, dressings applying a splint, changing bandage, dressing after a follow-up visit.

The employer must report an injury regardless of whether the employer pays the health care practitioner for the services provided and/or whether the health care practitioner treats the worker on the employer's premises.

The employer must pay for the first day's wages for the day of the accident. Once the claim is approved WSIB coverage begins the first working day after the injury or illness occurs.

If the injury or illness is serious (or potentially serious) the employer is responsible for providing transport to medical treatment and may have to call an ambulance or assign someone to accompany the injured worker.

WSIB Time Limits

To file a claim: A worker shall file a claim as soon as possible , but in no case more than six months after the accident. In the case of an occupational disease, after the worker learns that he or she suffers from a disease, the time limits apply.

Forms: Employer must complete Form 7 within 3 days of learning of lost time or health care. The WSIB must receive the form within 7 days

Appeals: The Act has time limits for appealing decisions of the Board. For Return to Work or Labour Market Re-entry issues a worker must appeal within 30-days. For all other issues, the worker must appeal in writing within 6 months of the Board's decision.

Definition of An Accident: "An Unforeseen, Chance Event."
A willful and intentional act not being the act of the worker.

• Assault
• Co-worker's negligence
• Victim of horseplay
• A chance event occasioned by a physical or natural cause
• Lightning
• Heat prostration
• A disablement arising out of an in the course of work
• Condition appears over time e.g. asthma
• Unexpected result of work duties carpal tunnel syndrome