Appeals Practices and Procedures

We review and update our appeals practices and procedures document every one to two years. This page highlights some of the topics people ask about most often. For complete information, see our  Practices and Procedures document (PDF) .

Objecting to a decision by a case manager, nurse consultant or return-to-work specialist

If you disagree with a decision

A case manager, nurse consultant or return-to-work specialist will send you a letter explaining the decision. If you disagree with the decision, the letter explains what to do and outlines the time limit to object to the decision. See the practice guideline on Time limit to object.

If you have questions or concerns about the decision, the decision-maker will discuss them with you, explain the reasons for the decision and review any new information you provide. If the decision doesn’t change, you can object to it.

Intent to object and possible reconsideration

If you want to object to an employer account issue, see the  Employer account appeals practice guideline in the  complete Practices and Procedures document (PDF) . 

For claim-related issues, complete an  Intent to object form (PDF) .

This form lets you tell us that you want to object to a decision within the time limit set out in the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act. It also gives you, as the objecting party, an opportunity to provide new information that may affect the original.

The  Intent to object form (PDF)  asks for:

1. your name and claim number (claim identifiers)  
2. information about the objecting party
3. contact information for a representative, if you have one
4. the date of the decision  
5. the issue(s) you disagree with  
6. the reasons you disagree with the original decision
7. any new information to consider
8. your signature and signature the date 

Submit your completed form through our website before the deadline in your decision letter. See the time limit to object practice guideline for more information. While we prefer to receive the  Intent to object form (PDF) , we will also accept a letter of objection that includes:

• your name
• your claim number
• the date of the decision
• the issue(s) you disagree with
• any new information you want us to consider 

Receiving your claim file

For claim-related objections, we’ll send the objecting party the claim file, according to WSIB policy. We also send an Appeal readiness form and instruction sheet. Any issues with receiving access to the claim file information are resolved through consent from all parties, a WSIB order, or a Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal order.

We will send the non-objecting party a Participant form. If the non-objecting party is the employer, they will not receive access to the claim file at this stage. They’ll get access to the claim file information once the objecting party (the injured or ill person) submits the Appeal readiness form and provides consent to release their health care information. We will then send the non-objecting party a Respondent form, provide access to the claim file, and allow 45 days for the Respondent form to be completed and returned.  

For business account objections, we don’t automatically provide access to the firm file. Employers and representatives may get access through the firm file access process if they choose. Because a firm file primarily contains correspondence between the WSIB and the employer, access to the file is often not necessary.

A transfer of cost employer is a business that is not the employer of the person that has the injury or illness but has been charged all or part of a claim costs because of the negligence of one of its employees. They get access to the claim file; the same was that the employer of an injured or ill person would, to support effective participation in the appeal process. However, the injured or ill person can object to the release of any information in the claim file, not just health care information.

Appeal readiness form

Return the Appeal readiness form when you are ready to proceed with your appeal. This tells us that you are ready to begin the formal appeal process.  

If you have additional information or you believe another policy should apply and it has not yet been considered by your case manager, nurse consultant or return-to-work specialist, you can provide that information/ argument on the Appeal readiness form for consideration. Once they have fully considered all issues, we’ll begin the formal appeal process.

You should only submit the Appeal readiness form once:

1. you have gathered all the information related to your appeal
2. you have all written information supporting your appeal ready to submit with the Appeal readiness form
3. you have resolved any issues related to accessing copies of the health care information in the claim file
4. you can attend an oral hearing within 90 days, if that is the method of resolution you requested.

The Appeal readiness form must be completed in full and can be submitted to us online.

Time limit to object

Section 120 of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act sets the time limits for objecting to WSIB decisions. You have 30-days to object to a WSIB decision about:

• return to work
• re-employment
• labour market re-entry plan (now called a return-to-work plan) made on or after January 1, 1998

There is a six-month time limit to object to any other WSIB decision made on or after January 1, 1998, including employer account decisions.

We will default to the six-month time limit if you are objecting to two different decisions with two different time limits. For example, if you are objecting to both a return-to-work plan with a 30-day time limit, and a loss-of-earnings decision with a six-month time limit, you have six months to object to both decisions.

Completing the Intent to object form

When we make a decision, the decision letter tells you how long you have to object. To meet the time limit under section 120 of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, we must receive your completed  Intent to object form (PDF) , or a letter of objection, within the time limit listed in your decision letter.

If you’re an employer objecting to a decision about your account, use the separate  Objection form (PDF)  For more information, see Employer account appeals in our  Practices and Procedures document (PDF) .

If the time limit has passed and you still want to object, you can ask for an extension by responding to the person that sent you the decision letter and explaining why you were unable to object within the time limit. They will review your request and let you know their decision in writing.

Criteria for extending time limit to object

When deciding if we can extend the time limit to object, we may consider whether:

1. the decision you received clearly explained the time limit for objecting. Starting January 1, 1998, decisions specifically refer to the time limits but before that date, they do not
2. you experienced a serious health condition that affected your ability to meet the time limit
3. a member of your immediate family experienced a serious health condition that affected your ability to meet the time limit
4. you had to leave Ontario or Canada because of the illness or death of a family member
5. you have a condition that prevents you from understanding the time limit or meeting it.
6. Your claim file shows that you objected to the issue, even though you did not submit an Intent to object form or a letter of objection.  
7. You objected to related issues within the time limit, and those issues are so closely connected to the issue you want to object to that the appeal cannot be reasonably resolved without extending the time limit.
8. The decision was made between March 16, 2020, and September 13, 2020, when the Ontario government temporarily suspended time limits during the COVID-19 state of emergency.
9. Between February 22 and March 16, 2023, a printing issue delayed delivery of some WSIB letters. Because of this delay, we extended the objection deadline to September 30, 2023, for decisions issued during that period.
10. Due to several labour disruptions that happened in 2024 and 2025, an additional 60 calendar days will be added to the time limit to object for all decisions made between:

• November 10, 2024 and December 20, 2024
• May 1, 2025 and July 18, 2025  
• September 25, 2025 and January 11, 2026 

Appealing a time limit decision

Anyone can appeal a decision to extend the appeals time limit. To appeal a time limit decision, submit a completed  Intent to object (PDF) . You don’t need to submit an Appeals readiness form.

What happens next?

After we receive your form, we will review the appeal to make sure we have all the formation we need to continue the appeal.

If the appeal is ready, we will:

• register the appeal
  • give all parties 30 days to provide additional information about the time-limit issue
  • review the information received

Once we receive everyone's information, or after the deadline has passed, the registrar, the final WSIB decision-maker for time-limit appeals, will make a decision and send it to all parties within 30 days.

If we grant the time-limit extension

You can proceed with your appeal of the original decision. Contact the original decision-maker to begin the appeal process.

For more information, see our  Practices and Procedures document (PDF) .

If we do not grant the time-limit extension

If we do not grant the extension, our decision letter will explain any next steps available to you, including how to appeal to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal.

Role of appeal participants

Objecting party

The objecting party is the person who disagrees with a WSIB decision and starts an appeal. It can be an injured or ill person, their employer or their representative.

Non-objecting party (respondent)

The respondent is the other person or business involved in the appeal.

To participate in the appeal, the respondent must complete and return the Participant form. It is important that you complete and return the Participant form as soon as possible to ensure you are included in the appeal process.

If the non-objecting party has indicated that they don’t want to participate, or they don’t return the Participant form to us, we will not include them in the appeal proceedings. However, we will send them a copy of the final appeal decision.

Third parties may be included in the appeal in certain circumstances (for example, employers that join after, associated employers, or previous employers in cases where there are multiple workplace exposures involving more than one employer). If an employer is no longer in business and their WSIB account has been closed, we usually do not include them in the appeals process. However, we may still ask for information from the former officers or employees of the company if we need more information to make a decision.

Role of a appeals resolution officer

Appeals resolution officers resolve all appeals, except time limit appeals*. 

Appeals are resolved through one of two methods:

• Hearing in writing
• Hearings through video conference, teleconference or in person (oral hearing)

The method of resolution depends on the issue being appealed. The registrar decides the method of resolution for most appeals. For employer account appeals, an appeals resolution officer decides the method of resolution.

Appeals resolution officers are responsible for resolving appeals fairly and independently. They follow this code of conduct:

1. Act fairly and impartially and avoid conflicts of interest
2. Perform their duties with diligence and care
3. Treat everyone involved in the appeal process with courtesy, dignity and respect
4. Approach every appeal with an open mind and fairly assess all evidence
5. Make the inquiries needed to resolve an appeal and provide appropriate support to unrepresented parties, while respecting the non-adversarial nature of the WSIB's adjudication system.
6. Make decisions based on an objective and independent assessment of the facts, based on the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act and WSIB policy

How we decide the method of resolution

The objecting party can request either an oral hearing or a hearing in writing on the Appeal readiness form.

The respondent can also request an oral hearing or a hearing in writing on the Respondent form. 

Hearings through video conference, teleconference or in person (oral hearing)

In some cases, we may resolve an appeal through a hearing through video conference, teleconference or in person.  

For a complete list of issues that may be resolved through a hearing using video conference, teleconference or in person, please see the oral hearings list. We review the issues identified on the Appeal readiness form to decide if they fall under this method of resolution. If either the objecting party or respondent requests video conference, teleconference or in person hearing, we consider the request on a case-by-case basis. This helps us ensure we use the most appropriate process and make a fair decision on the issues under appeal.

Factors we consider when deciding the method of resolution

We’ll likely hold a hearing by video conference, teleconference or in person if:

1. We need direct testimony from the objecting party or witnesses
   For example, direct testimony may be needed if the parties provide different information about the date, time or location of an accident.
2. There are significant facts in dispute
   For example, both parties may interpret surveillance video evidence differently.
3. There is a reason an unrepresented person cannot provide written submissions
   For example, the person may have a learning disability, communication disability or significant language barrier and need an interpreter.
4. There is limited or inconsistent information about the injured or ill person's functional abilities or limitations
   Examples include activities of daily living, persistent fears or concerns related to the accident, ability to perform workplace tasks, or ability to interact with others at work and outside of work.
5. There is significant conflicting information, or are there concerns about the reliability or consistency of the evidence

Requesting a video conference, teleconference or in person hearing (oral hearing)

1. Include your arguments about the issue(s) you are appealing on the Appeal readiness form. Your reasons should match the criteria listed in the oral hearings’ criteria list.
2. Be as specific as possible when explaining why you’re requesting an oral hearing. Explain why an oral hearing is needed and how your reasons relate to the issue(s) under appeal. For example, you may want to describe missing information, conflicting statements, inconsistencies in medical reports or differences in information provided by the injured or ill person, employer, team members or witnesses.
3. When we receive the Appeal readiness form, a coordinator will check whether there is a completed Participant form in the claim file. If there is, we will send the participant a Respondent form. Like the objecting party, the respondent should explain why they are requesting an oral hearing and include their arguments on the issue(s) under appeal.
4. If there is no completed Participant form in the claim file, we will consider only the information provided on the Appeal readiness form when deciding the method of resolution.
5. We will review the Appeal readiness form with the Respondent form, if completed and returned by the due date, together. 

If either party requests an oral hearing but the issue that does not appear on the oral hearing criteria list, the registrar will still consider your request by reviewing Factors we consider when deciding the method of resolution to determine whether an oral hearing is needed.

Hearing in writing

A hearing in writing is the most common method for resolving an appeal. When we use this method, the appeals resolution officer reviews information in the claim file, along with any written submissions on the Appeal readiness form and the Respondent form.  

Hearing in writing is generally used when the issues under appeal are primarily medical, legal or policy-related. In these cases, testimony wouldn’t give any new information or help clarify the evidence already in the claim file.

Requesting a hearing in writing

1. Include your arguments about the issue(s) you are appealing and the outcome you want on the Appeal readiness form.
2. If your appeal is resolved through a hearing in writing, neither you nor the respondent will have another opportunity to provide submissions. The appeal is assigned directly to an appeals resolution officer who will make a final decision based on the information provided.
3. We review the Appeal readiness form and the Respondent form together. If the respondent requests an oral hearing, the registrar reviews the reasons for this request. If the request doesn’t meet the criteria on oral hearings criteria list, the method of resolution remains a hearing in writing.
4. If you request a hearing in writing, but the issue is on the oral hearings criteria list, or if there are other factors that would make an oral hearing the best method of resolution, the registrar may decide to resolve the appeal through an oral hearing.

Notification of the decision on the method of resolution

Once we decide if the hearing will take place in writing or by video conference, teleconference or in person (oral hearing), here's what happens next.

If both parties request a hearing in writing:

1. We will not send a separate notice confirming the decision to proceed with a hearing in writing.
2. The registrar will review the Respondent form and any attached submissions. If the respondent provides significant new evidence or arguments, we may give the objecting party an opportunity to respond. In this case, we will send the objecting party a copy of the respondent's submission and give them 21 days to provide a written response.
3. We will assign the appeal to an appeals resolution officer after we receive the response or after the 21-day response period ends, whichever comes first. If no additional response is needed, we will assign the appeal directly to an appeals resolution officer. The appeals resolution officer will review the Appeal readiness form, the Respondent Form and any attached submissions, and the information in the claim file. The appeals resolution officer will usually make a decision within 30 days.

If an oral hearing is requested approved

1. We will send a letter confirming that the appeal will proceed as an oral hearing and identifying the issues under appeal.
2. The hearing will usually take place within 90 calendar days of the oral hearing confirmation letter.
3. A coordinator will contact the parties to schedule the oral hearing.

If an oral hearing is requested but not approved

1. We will send a letter confirming that the appeal will proceed as a hearing in writing.
2. The letter will give the objecting party and the respondent 30 days to make their arguments in writing on the issue under appeal.

3. The registrar will review the Respondent form and any attached submissions. If the respondent provides significant new evidence or arguments, the registrar may give the objecting party an opportunity to respond.

   In this case, we will send the objecting party a copy of the respondent's submission and give them 21 days to provide a written response.

   We will assign the appeal to an appeals resolution officer after we receive the response or after the 21-day response period ends, whichever comes first.

Oral hearings criteria list

B1. Initial entitlement - disablement: There is a disagreement about the person’s job duties, or there is not enough information about their job duties.

B2. Initial entitlement - chance event:
There is conflicting information, or testimony could add important information that is not already in the claim file. This usually involves two parties.

B3. Initial entitlement - chronic mental stress

B4: Complex occupational disease

B5. Complex conditions that do not involve a physical injury or disease

B6. Job suitability with the injury employer or another employer: There is a disagreement about the facts.

B7. Job suitability: Information about the job offered or the person’s functional abilities is missing or incomplete, and the parties disagree about whether the job is suitable.

B8. Co-operation in return to work

B9. Co-operation in work transition (labour market re-entry)

B10. Work transition plans

B11. Re-employment, where the re-employment requirements have been met

B12. Complex final loss-of-earnings review: There is a disagreement about the facts.

B13. Recurrence: The recurrence happened one year or more after the date of injury or illness, or involved 12 weeks or more of loss of earnings.

B14. Survivor benefits: There is a complex decision about who qualifies as a spouse or dependent.

B15. New organic condition where entitlement is not based on medical compatibility

B16. Secondary conditions where entitlement is not based on medical compatibility

B17. Transfer of cost

B18. Independent operator and worker status

Video conference and teleconference oral hearings

We are committed to providing our services that respect the dignity and independence of people with disabilities.

You can ask for accommodation at any point in the appeals process, including for an oral hearing. Please tell us about your accommodation needs as soon as possible so we can help you.

To request accommodation, contact the coordinator at 1-800-387-0750.

If we decide that an oral hearing is needed to resolve your appeal, we will usually hold it by video conference.

Once your hearing is scheduled, the coordinator will send you a hearing notice. The notice will confirm:

• the type of hearing (video conference, teleconference or in person)
• the date and time of the hearing
• the location if the hearing is in person

Before holding a hearing by video conference or teleconference, we will make sure that:

1. everyone involved has access to the technology needed to participate
2. everyone has an up-to-date copy of the claim file and any relevant information before the hearing
3. no one will be significantly disadvantaged by using this hearing format
4. any credibility issues can be addressed appropriately
5. accommodation needs are met

For video conference hearings, we will send you and your representative (if you have one) an email or calendar invitation with a link to join the hearing and instructions on how to use it.

Please be available 30 minutes before the scheduled hearing so we can confirm that everyone’s equipment is working and resolve any technical issues.

Who can attend a hearing?

1. the objecting party and their representative
2. the respondent and their representative
3. witnesses approved by the registrar or appeals resolution officer

In-person hearing

We take a flexible approach to requests for in-person hearings.

The registrar will review the oral hearings criteria list, the information in the claim file and the circumstances of the appeal to determine whether an in-person hearing is the best method to resolve the appeal.

We consider many factors like:

• the need to conduct a full and fair hearing that follows the principles of natural justice
  • the needs of the parties, including accommodation requirements
• the nature of the appeal and the issues under consideration
  • whether the hearing is expected to be lengthy, such as a full-day or multi-day hearing
  • avoiding unnecessary delays
  • any other relevant factors

If you're temporarily unavailable

If you are temporarily unavailable to discuss scheduling because of circumstances beyond your control, we will not automatically withdraw your appeal.

For example, you may be unavailable because of:

1. a sudden and serious illness
2. an emergency that requires you to leave the country

In these situations, we’ll place your appeal on administrative hold until the situation is resolved. If you are unavailable for more than 30 days, we will review the circumstances and decide whether the appeal should remain active.

Hybrid hearing

We also offer hybrid hearings. This option may be appropriate if one party cannot attend an in-person hearing but can participate in a video conference or teleconference.

If you cannot attend in person, tell us when the hearing is scheduled and whether you prefer to participate in a video conference or teleconference.

We will provide the information you need to participate in the hearing.

After your hearing is scheduled

Once your hearing is scheduled, we’ll send a notice of hearing letter.

The notice will include:

• the date and time of the hearing
• the type of hearing (video conference, teleconference, hybrid or in person)
• the hearing location, if the hearing is being held in person

In most cases, an in-person hearing will be held in the city where the claim file is administered or in the nearest city where hearings are regularly held.

For employer account appeals, the hearing will generally be held in the city where the employer account is administered or in the nearest city where hearings are regularly held.

When scheduling your hearing, tell us about any accessibility or accommodation needs, including if you need an interpreter.

You should also let us know if you need to request a summons or you plan to submit video evidence.

Hearing in writing: Sharing submissions and evidence

If both parties request a hearing in writing, they should include all of their arguments and supporting information with the Appeal readiness form or Respondent form. Once these forms are submitted, neither party will have another opportunity to provide additional arguments before the appeal is assigned to an appeals resolution officer for a decision.

The registrar will review the Respondent form and any attached evidence or submissions. If the respondent provides significant new evidence or arguments that the objecting party should have an opportunity to address, the registrar will:

• send the objecting party a copy of the respondent's submission
• give the objecting party 21 days to provide a written response

If one or both parties request an oral hearing, but the registrar decides the appeal will be resolved through a hearing in writing, the registrar will give both parties 30 days to make their detailed written submission. The parties must provide a copy of their written submission to the other party. The registrar will review the respondent’s submission to decide if there is new significant evidence or argument that should be shared with the objecting party. If it does, the registrar will follow the same 21-day response process.

The hearing in writing disclosure process ends when the objecting party submits a response, or the 21-day response period expires, whichever happens first.

The appeals resolution officer will then make a decision about the appeal.

Oral hearing

The Appeal readiness form confirms that the appeal is ready to proceed.

If the objecting party submits a written request to get additional information after the hearing has been scheduled, we will withdraw the appeal because it’s not ready to proceed.

If the respondent makes a request for additional information, the appeal will continue. However, the registrar may determine that the information is important enough that proceeding with the hearing would affect the appeals resolution officer's ability to decide the appeal fairly.

The parties are responsible for making sure that any approved witnesses are available to attend the hearing.

Evidence

Evidence that was not available earlier

In rare cases, a party may want to submit evidence that was not available when they submitted the Appeal readiness form or Respondent form.

The appeals resolution officer may accept this evidence before or during a hearing if the party can explain why the evidence was not available when they submitted their form.

If evidence is submitted before the hearing and the other party has not received a copy, we’ll make sure the other party has access to it.

Evidence that was available earlier

Sometimes evidence existed when the Appeal readiness form or Respondent form was submitted but was not included. For example, it may have been overlooked or not provided to a representative.

The appeals resolution officer may accept this evidence before or during the hearing if:

• the evidence is relevant to the appeal
• all parties agree it should be included
• the hearing can still be completed within the scheduled time

If new evidence is accepted at the hearing

If the appeals resolution officer accepts new evidence during a hearing, they will decide what steps are needed to ensure the process remains fair for everyone involved.

This may include:

1. delaying the start of the hearing to allow the parties, representatives or witnesses time to review the new evidence  
2. allowing a party to provide written submissions after the hearing about the new evidence
3. postponing the hearing if the disadvantage to the receiving party is significant and cannot be addressed in another way

Witnesses

The parties should include a list of witnesses on their Appeal readiness form or Respondent form, along with a “will say” statement for each witness.

A will say statement is a brief summary of the information a witness will provide at the hearing. This requirement does not apply to the person with an injury or illness or their employer.

One employer representative, known as a resource person, may attend the hearing, consult with the employer's representative and provide testimony. If the resource person will also be a witness, their 'will say' statement must be included.

We generally expect only one witness to provide evidence on the same issue or event.

If you believe more than one witness is needed to provide similar evidence, you must explain why each witness needs to testify rather than provide a written statement.

We take a balanced approach when deciding how many witnesses may participate in both claim appeals and employer account appeals.

Once the registrar has decided which witnesses may attend the hearing, additional witnesses will be allowed only in exceptional circumstances, such as:

• late participation in the appeal
• late representation
• a change in representation late in the process

Summons

A summons is a document that requires a person to attend a hearing by video conference, teleconference or in person (oral hearing) to give testimony.  A summons may also require a person to provide a document that’s important to the appeal.

The objecting party or the respondent may request a summons. Requests must be made in writing and included on the Appeal readiness form or the Respondent form.

When requesting a summons for a witness, provide:

1. the witness's name, current address and telephone number  
2. a brief explanation of why the witness's testimony is needed for the appeal
3. a brief statement indicating whether the witness is willing to attend the hearing
4. an explanation of why a summons is needed

You must provide enough address information for us to locate them to provide them with the summons to be a witness.

We will let you know if we don’t have enough information. We cannot serve a summons to a post office box or rural route address. We will not attempt to locate a witness if the information provided is incomplete or insufficient.

Requesting documents through a summons

If you’d like us to send a summons to request documents, you must:

• identify the documents you are requesting
• identify who has the documents
• explain why the documents are relevant to the appeal
• explain why the documents may be important to the appeal

If one of the parties already has the document, the parties should first try to share the documents with each other before requesting a summons.

Interpreters

If you need an interpreter for a hearing by video conference, teleconference or in person (oral hearing), we will arrange for an independent and impartial interpreter to attend. To request an interpreter, include the following information on the Appeal readiness form or the Respondent form:

1. that you need for an interpreter
2. the language spoken
3. the specific dialect, if applicable

If you do not request an interpreter on the Appeal readiness form or the Respondent form, but request one afterwards, you must let us know when your hearing is scheduled. If you request an interpreter at least 14 days before the hearing date, we’ll make every effort to arrange one. If we cannot arrange an interpreter, or if the request comes less than 14 days before the scheduled hearing date, your appeal may be withdrawn. In these situations, the usual consequences of a withdrawal without good reason, will be applied.  

Refer to practice guideline on withdrawals in our complete  Practices and Procedures document (PDF) . 

Reconsiderations

An appeals resolution officer’s decision is the WSIB’s final decision on an appeal.

We will only reconsider a decision in limited circumstances.

When we may reconsider a decision

We may reconsider an appeals resolution officer's decision if:

1. there was a significant error in the decision or the decision-making process that may affect the outcome
2. the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act or approved WSIB policy was not applied correctly
3. there is significant new evidence that did not exist when the decision was made and is relevant to the issue(s) under appeal
4. there is a typographical error that affects the decision

Please note: Evidence that existed when the decision was made, but was not submitted to us, does not qualify as new evidence for reconsideration.

How to request a reconsideration

You must submit your reconsideration request in writing.

Requests are reviewed in the following order:

1. the appeals resolution officer who made the decision
2. the appeals resolution officer's manager, if needed
3. the senior director of the Appeals division, if needed

Your request should:

• explain why you are requesting a reconsideration
• identify which reconsideration criteria apply
• include a detailed explanation supporting your request

Dispute resolution and appeals process with redacted claim file information

When employers or their representatives participate in the dispute resolution or appeals process, we may send them a version of the claim file with some information removed (redacted).

If you believe redacted information may be relevant to the issue in dispute, contact the case manager first to discuss your concerns.

If the information remains redacted and the appeal proceeds, the appeals resolution officer will follow the process below.

How redacted information is handled during an appeal

When an appeal includes redacted information, or the information isn’t available in the claim file, the appeals resolution officer reviews the entire claim file, including information that has been redacted.

If the appeals resolution officer decides that the redacted information (medical or non-medical) is relevant to the issue under appeal, they will:

For medical information:

• let the claimant know there is relevant medical information they intend to release to the employer. The appeals resolution officer will give a copy of those records to the claimant and ask for their consent to share the information.
• if the claimant consents to the release of information, the appeals resolution officer updates and removes the relevant redactions in the claim file. We’ll make sure that everyone who needs this information has it. If needed, we’ll allow for an extension to submit the Respondent form and/or further submissions.
• if the claimant does not the consent to the release of relevant medical information, the appeal will not proceed and a priority referral to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal will be made to address the objection to release of medical information.

For non-medical information:

• update the claim file by removing the relevant redactions for future reference
• give everyone involved updated access to the claim file
• allow an extension to submit the Respondent form and/or further submissions, if needed
• If the appeals resolution officer determines that the redacted information is not relevant to the issue under appeal and was properly redacted, the appeal will continue through the normal process.