The Ottawa and District Injured Workers Group

To commemorate and remember the sacrifices made by persons killed or injured in the workplace.

Why Flags Are At Half-Mast In US And Canada Today The US and Canadian National Flags are at half-mast in several of the countries' states beginning from April 27. The lowering of flags is going to continue by the end of April 28 because of the National Day of Mourning. It is also known as, the Workers' Mourning Day. To commemorate and remember the....

"It’s a day to mourn workers who have lost their lives, but also to renew the fight for safe and healthy workplaces, because a single death at work is one too many." - Adam D.K. King

Today Is The National Day Of Mourning For Lost Workers While a solemn day to honour fallen workers, it is also a time to reaffirm our commitment to workplace safety.

Today is the National Day of Mourning for all of those who have suffered injury or death from work.

We remember workers who have lost their lives, were injured, or became sick from working at their job or experienced a work-related tragedy.

Work should not harm, work should not kill.

We see you, we hear you.

The Ottawa & District Injured Worker’s Group (ODIWG) has partnered with University Ottawa (Common Law) to provide students with a learning experience supporting Injured Workers. Students obtain 3 credits per semester towards their law degree.

After a student is accepted for the project then they complete the following tasks:

- Complete onboarding and review training materials.
- Familiarize with the (WSIB) web site, particularly its Operational Policy Manual (OPM), WSIAT and the CanLII Ontario web page and search functions.
- Review the Injured Worker case file and the decision of the WSIB.
- Identify the potential objection(s) and applicable time limits.
- Identify gaps in documentation (typically medical) to support the objection.
- Review the proposed objection with the ODIWG supervisor.
- Contact the injured worker and review the proposed objection, time limits and gaps in documentation that the Injured Worker needs to provide.
- Draft letters, submissions and affidavits or written statements in support of the worker’s appeal to the WSIB or WSIAT.
- Complete a final review of the objection with the ODIWG supervisor.
- Submit objection and monitor WSIB for response time limits and follow up as required.

The driver hadn't been instructed on the company's proper procedure:

Hamilton scrap metal company AIM fined $65,000 after load falls on worker | CBC News A Hamilton scrap metal company was fined $65,000 last month after part of a load of scrap metal fell on one of its employees in 2021 while they were trying to unload it from a trailer.

To see the WSIAT's most recent Annual Report, visit this site:
https://www.wsiat.on.ca/en/publications/AnnualReport2022.pdf

The focus of this report is the WSIAT’s activities, financial
affairs and evolving administrative policies and practices.

www.wsiat.on.ca

Mulder and other injured workers in Ontario are asking the provincial government to halt proposed changes to WSIB policies they say will make it harder for workers to receive compensation:

Hamilton man injured on the job warns young workers: 'It's not worth it' | CBC News Hamilton's Marvin Mulder says his experience after being injured on the job has changed his outlook on work: had he known how challenging it is to deal with the workers' compensation system, he would have chosen a job with a lower likelihood of injury.

“This new service with the CRA is a convenient option for business owners to take care of their WSIB account and file their business taxes in one user-friendly spot.” - Jeffrey Lang

Ontario WSIB payments possible through CRA - On-Site Magazine Businesses in Ontario can now report and pay WSIB premiums through their Canada Revenue Agency My Business Account.

Thirty people were on board the bus that ran off a forestry service road:

Injured employees had complained of long commutes before B.C. bus crash: union PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. - The union representing housekeepers at a pipeline camp who were involved in a bus crash near Prince George, B.C., on Friday says...

The new requirements support a more effective and fair workers’ compensation system in the province.

B.C. implements new requirements to support injured workers' return to job - OHS Canada Magazine Injured workers in British Columbia will be better supported to return to their job, or other suitable employment, through new requirements under the

Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the collision:

Accident involving FortisAlberta vehicle leaves one dead and several workers injured Truck driver killed and one worker seriously injured in road side crash

The company pled guilty to one violation of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 1996.

Saskatchewan company fined $2,100 after worker injured by crane - OHS Canada Magazine AGI Environtank has been fined a total of $2,100 after one of its workers was injured on the job in 2020. The company pled guilty to one violation of the

The Ontario Nurses' Association has been a leader in occupational health and safety issues that affect not only their own members, but everyone in society:

June 1st is Injured Workers’ Day We join with labour and social justice organizations from across Ontario to recognize Injured Workers’ Day and stand up for those who have been injured or made ill as a result of their work.

On June 1st every year, injured workers and labour activists gather outside the Legislative Assembly at Queen’s Park in Toronto and in cities across the province to mark Injured Workers’ Day.

Injured Workers’ Day Annual rally around the province of the Ontario injured worker community, held every June 1st since 1984, to raise public awareness of concerns with the workers' compensation system.

"A few years ago, the average WSIB case manager had about 70 cases to oversee ... Today that number for some is ballooned to 140 cases, and some have more.'' - Fred Hahn, CUPE President

CUPE and WSIB labour negotiations in overtime Workers are on the job but currently in a legal strike position

Workplace injuries profoundly affect workers, their families and their communities. Injured Workers Day serves as an opportunity for the Province of Ontario to recognize the individuals who have been injured at work or who have suffered injuries as a result of their workplace conditions. This is a day to bring awareness to issues of workplace injury and the plight of injured workers, and to demonstrate a commitment to workplace injury prevention and remediation.

Injured Workers Day Act, 2023 Bill 118 from Parliament 43 Session 1 of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario: Injured Workers Day Act, 2023.

WSIB is considering reducing the timeline for injured workers to appeal decisions from six months to 30 days:

Outrage over recommended timeline for WSIB appeals Is 30-day deadline a 'slap in the face' to injured workers or will it help streamline the process?

Safety Check - If you applying for a job, or might be curious about a specific employer.

https://safetycheck.onlineservices.wsib.on.ca/safetycheck/explore/search?lang=en

With WSIB's Safety Check feature, it’s never been easier to check the safety record of businesses across Ontario. You can find out how safe a business is and compare health and safety results of similar businesses.

It’s simple, and free. You can even determine if they are covered by WSIB.
You can:
See the number and types of injuries in any workplace
Understand how serious those injuries are by seeing how many people are still receiving benefits a year after an accident.

This allows you to make better decisions whether to apply or what to expect.

IF you have questions call us anytime at 705-567-3638 or email [email protected]

"I want to be back to normal. I want to be … painless, not using medication, not using canes. I want to be able to walk by myself." - Abu-Zeyada, Injured Worker

Advocates want WSIB to reverse policy on pre-existing conditions | CBC News Sabreen Abu-Zeyada's struggles after a fall at work in June 2022 are a familiar story to advocates for injured workers, who say Ontario's Workplace Safety and Insurance Board uses a policy on pre-existing conditions to deny or reduce claims.

This initiative is inclusive of all workers who menstruate, and it will improve the well-being of nearly half a million workers.

Canada Labour Code to ensure access to menstrual products at work starting December 15 - Canada.ca Menstrual products like pads and tampons are as necessary as toilet paper and soap, but they are not treated that way in most workplaces. That is why, in 2021, the Government of Canada committed to making changes to the Canada Labour Code to ensure access to menstrual products in all federally regul...

The 6 men in question "acted as the Canadian Army's eyes and ears, sometimes going covertly into Taliban-controlled villages to gather information." - Murray Brewster, Senior Reporter

Canada's Afghan military interpreters were denied benefits. Now that decision is getting a rethink | CBC News After initially telling former language and cultural advisers who worked alongside the Canadian military during the Afghan war that they do not qualify for post-traumatic stress benefits, the Ontario Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) agreed Thursday to take a second look at the cases of at...

WSIB workers voted 97.3 percent in favour of granting their union a strike mandate as it negotiates a new contract.

Why WSIB workers are considering going on strike Employee describes unsustainable workloads, lack of resources, and low morale

"Our findings indicate that persistent pain of severe intensity arising from work-related traumatic injury impedes the ability to return to work." - Kathleen Dobson, IWH associate scientist

7 in 10 injured workers still experience pain 18 months later For many, the pain is so severe that it results in substantial impairment

Every April 28th is the National Day of Mourning for all of those who have suffered injury or death from work.

We remember workers who have died, were injured or became sick from working at their job or experienced a work-related tragedy.

Work should not harm, work should not kill.

We see you, we hear you.

Not sure which WSIB forms you need to fill out? You can contact us via phone and email (click on the 'About' tab on our page), or you can check out our website for a step-by-step guide on which forms are appropriate for you:

https://www.ottawa-injured.com/which-wsib-forms-do-i-need

Did you know we are on Youtube? Please feel free to check out our Pro Bono Projects that help to educate students and prepare them for assisting injured workers in the future:

Pro Bono Project 2020 (Virtual)

Did you know we are on Youtube? Please feel free to check out our Pro Bono Projects that help to educate students and prepare them for assisting injured workers in the future:

Pro Bono Project 2013

Come Join Us April 5th at 6 pm
Click the link below:
https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3a48dbf96598ad4f838772a0a64cdfe77d%40thread.tacv2/1679410723315?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%22735b481b-a8f0-48f5-9e8b-8e63f5b5bc37%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22608424cd-7e2b-49ac-b6f4-4c565395ee4c%22%7d

If your employer is found non-compliant you should report them to the proper authorities.

You can contact Service Canada through their tip line: +1-866-602-9448. This is a confidential service that can be availed in over 200 languages, made for foreign worker support.

What are my rights as a Temporary Foreign Worker in Canada? Canada’s human rights policies are expansive, even extending to foreign nationals who have temporarily come to work in the country. Schedule a Free Work Permit Consultation with the Cohen Immigration Law Firm Under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), and the International Mobility Program...