Diseases & Injuries

The lasting effects of workplace injury

June 18, 2017

“Workplace injuries can last a lifetime.” / Doug Diaczuk (TBNewsWatch, June 15, 2017) At a special presentation organized by the Thunder Bay & District Injured Workers’ Support Group, Rebecca Casey, a post-doctoral fellow at York University, will be presenting research from the…

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Report documents GE Peterborough worker exposure

May 23, 2017

Workers at the General Electric plant in Peterborough, Ontario were exposed to more than 3,000 toxic chemicals, including at least 40 known or suspected human carcinogens. These are the findings of the retrospective exposure study released last Thursday by UNIFOR and prepared…

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“Asbestos takes no prisoners”

May 7, 2017

Bill 88, Asbestos Use Prohibition Act 2017, introduced by MPP Robert Bailey, passed second reading in the House February 23 and was sent to the Standing Standing Committee on the Legislative Assembly. Scheduled hearings for Bill 88 before the Legislative Committee…

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McIntyre Powder – making the link

April 7, 2017

“Fifth Estate: Ontario health agency finds ‘concerning’ rate of ALS in miners exposed to McIntyre Powder” / Lisa Mayor (CBC News) In 1979 the investigative TV program Fifth Estate (Powder Keg) reported on the controversial dust, McIntyre Powder. Used in Ontario from…

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Living with invisible illness

March 7, 2017

Next Sunday at 1 p.m. the national CBC radio show “Out in the Open”, hosted by Piya Chattopadhyay, will discuss what it’s really like to live with invisible illness, and what people get wrong. The show invites comments and suggestions –…

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Dealing with noise-induced hearing loss : the risks, the claims

January 31, 2017

A WSIB safety campaign was recently launched to prevent noise induced hearing loss (NIHL) by raising awareness and providing useful tools to identify and reduce risks. A permanent condition, typically caused by inner ear damage from long-term exposure to hazardous noise, NIHL…

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“We went from not knowing to not caring”

December 19, 2016

“Lethal legacy: Peterborough’s toxic past” / Sara Mojtehedzadeh (Toronto Star, Dec. 17, 2016) This in-depth study provides a disturbing look at the aftermath of General Electric (GE) Peterborough plant workers’ exposure to a “toxic soup” of human carcinogens – and at barriers…

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Groups welcome asbestos ban but more to be done

December 19, 2016

“Canada’s move to ban asbestos a ‘win for public health’ but long overdue: advocates” / Tavia Grant (Globe and Mail, Dec. 15, 2016) In announcing a comprehensive ban on asbestos use by 2018, the federal government has responded to years of lobbying…

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Where’s the action on asbestos?

September 7, 2016

This past Labour Day, Canadian Labour of Congress president Hassan Yussuff celebrated union gains, highlighted current workplace challenges, including precarious work – and repeated the call for a ban on asbestos. Almost 152,000 Canadian workers are exposed in their jobs to asbestos…

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Supreme Court ruling on scientific certainty

June 26, 2016

“Supreme Court finds in favour of medical workers who claim cancer caused by workplace” / (Toronto Star, Jun. 24, 2016) In a 6-1 decision (2016 SCC 25) released Friday, the top court upheld BC Workers Compensation Appeals Tribunal 2010 and…

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