Continue Reading Recognizing occupational cancer claims – what will it take?
Occupational disease
A report released Tuesday finds only a small fraction of those who get cancer on the job ever get workers’ compensation. Commissioned in April 2018 by the Ministry of Labour, the review, conducted by Dr Paul Demers of the Occupational Cancer Research…
McIntyre Powder & Parkinson’s study – what does it mean for occupational disease claims?
In the Toronto Star’s five-part investigative series “The Uncounted”, reporter Greg Mercer documents how and why official statistics, in capturing only accepted disease claims from provincial compensation boards, count what many epidemiologists say is just a fraction of suspected occupational disease…
Town of Widows – the Peterborough legacy
Town of Widows, a documentary on the fight for recognition of occupational diseases suffered by workers exposed to Peterborough’s General Electric plant’s “lethal legacy”, will be broadcast this coming Thursday (August 8) at 9 p.m. on CBC Docs POV.…
Sharing lessons on the legacy of asbestos
A delegation from Casale Monferrato, the small Italian town devastated by high rates of mesothelioma and related disease after occupational and environmental exposure to asbestos, yesterday began its week-long visit to Ontario. The group, which includes oncologists, a civic politician, educators and…
Italian delegation to share experience in dealing with the legacy of asbestos
From April 7-15 a delegation from Casale Monferrato, Italy, the small city of 36,000 people which has suffered more than 1000 mesothelioma cases from preventable asbestos exposure, will make a solidarity and educational visit to Ontario. This visit is part of…
Continue Reading Italian delegation to share experience in dealing with the legacy of asbestos
Compensation for occupational cancer to be reviewed
In Ontario, as elsewhere in Canada, more workers die from occupational illness than workplace injuries. In 2017, the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) allowed 175 occupational disease fatality claims, with mesothelioma, lung and bronchial cancers and asbestosis heading the list of…
Continue Reading Compensation for occupational cancer to be reviewed
Former rubber workers: ‘Those plants ruined us’
[Dec. 12 update: In response to The Record’s series, WSIB Chair orders review of hundreds of denied claims]. Once the booming Rubber Capital of Canada, Kitchener’s plants employed thousands. While many of those plants have long closed, former workers and their families…
Continue Reading Former rubber workers: ‘Those plants ruined us’
Rejected claims review – justice for many still denied
The results of the Ontario Workplace Safety and Insurance Board’s (WSIB) recently completed review of rejected claims from workers at the General Electric plant in Peterborough caused anger, frustration and disappointment. Of the 233 previously denied occupational disease claims reconsidered, only 71…
Continue Reading Rejected claims review – justice for many still denied
Under review – work-related cancer & compensation
“Work-related cancer compensation to be reviewed by province” (CBC News, April 13, 2018)
This past Friday Minister of Labour Kevin Flynn announced the launch of a review of how occupational cancers are evaluated for workers’ compensation so “the system works properly for…
Continue Reading Under review – work-related cancer & compensation
Justice Bike Ride / Cycleton update
Planning for ONIWG’s 2018 Justice for Injured Workers Bike Ride/ Cycleton Justice pour les accidenté(e)s du travail in northern Ontario is well underway.
Event update
May 25 (Friday 1-4 p.m. Lester B. Pearson Civic Centre, 255 Highway 108, Elliot Lake)
Janice…