What is WSIB?

WSIB is the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board, and is there to “provide workers with wage-loss benefits, medical coverage, and support to help people get back to work after a work-related injury or illness.”

*NOTE* Your sick bank supports you for non-work related illness or injury.

Where do I start? When & Why to File with WSIB.

If you are injured at work, your first step is to fill out an EIR (Employee Incident Report). Make sure to note if you sought medical attention or lost time from work.

If you did not have this information available at the time you were filling out your EIR, you can have it updated/amended.

Make sure to advise your Admin that you sought medical attention and provide them with the contact information of the medical clinic or hospital that you attended. You do not share your personal medical information with your Admin.

For any additional information or amendments you need made to your EIR you can send an email to the contact name at the bottom of the EIR form (currently Elin Lochead – locheadm@hdsb.ca).

Remember: we only receive EIR’s from the Board if there has been a critical injury, lost time or if medical attention was sought otherwise we do not know of your injury unless you advise us.

You should file a claim with WSIB if you:

• need treatment beyond first aid for a work place injury
• you are not able to go to work as you normally would – this includes a recommendation to modify work hours or duties, or have accommodations and/or restrictions in place for you to be able to do your job
• you develop a medical issue that is caused by the type of repetitive work that you do
• you develop a disease or medical issue that is caused by exposure that you had at work
• If you are unsure about whether to file a claim with WSIB, reach out to the union office for guidance

Other things to consider and note:

• if WSIB approves your claim for loss of earnings, the lost time related to your workplace injury is not taken from your sick bank and does not count towards attendance management
• benefits – although you may have benefits available to you as a permanent member or qualifying LTO, you don’t want to deplete your benefits for treatment of an injury that was the result of a workplace injury. WSIB can provide health care benefits to you
• WSIB benefits are attached to the worker, not the employer. If you are injured at work and have WSIB benefits in place and you move to another employer, those benefits stay with you

HDEAA is here to support you & guide you through this process

*NOTE* For all claims you have 6 months to file from the date of accident, diagnosis of exposure, or diagnosis of work disablement. To receive timely compensation, file your claim as soon as possible.

Steps to take if you have been injured at work

1. Get medical help. If seeing a medical practitioner, be sure to tell them that it is a workplace injury. They will need to fill out a WSIB Form 8.
2. Report the incident to your supervisor as soon as possible.
3. Document the injury submitting an EIR. If possible, take a picture if the injury is visible.
4. Send EIR to the union office@hdeaa.com where we will help you with your next steps in filling out a WSIB Form 6.
5. A WSIB claim has forms that need to go to the WSIB, the HDSB, or both. The union can help with this.
6. Consider signing documents that allow the union to speak to WSIB and/or the HDSB on your behalf about your claim.

WSIB Benefits

WSIB provides different types of benefits and services according to your specific circumstance. Some of the benefits/services provided are:

• health care benefits
• health care equipment/supplies
• return to work services

• income replacement
• non-economic loss benefits
• survivor benefits

If your workplace accident causes damage to glasses, dentures, or other assistive devices without other injuries, you are also eligible to claim benefits to repair or replace these items.

*NOTE* If needed, WSIB can make arrangements for a professional interpreter for calls or meetings. Written communication can also be put in language that is accessible to you.

If you’ve made a claim with WSIB..

• provide all necessary documents – decisions are make quicker and easier with the correct documentation in on a timely matter (HDEAA can help with these)
• report any changes in your injury within 10 days of the change
• attend ALL healthcare appointments
• update your employer about your recovery and functional abilities to return to work
• answer all phone calls and attend all meetings when they are set up for you – these check-ins are important to your claim status
• lost time due to a workplace injury is paid at the same rate as your regular pay