31 claims accepted following review of any new evidence and updated scientific research
Toronto, October 7, 2019 – The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) announced today its dedicated review team has concluded the review of about 300 claims related to rubber workers in the Kitchener Waterloo area that had previously not been allowed.
The review resulted in 31 claims being accepted with the previous decision upheld in a further 253 claims. An additional 24 claims are currently in an appeals process.
Last December, the WSIB created a dedicated review team made up of occupational disease adjudicators, occupational hygienists and physician experts. The team reviewed each claim individually to apply any new evidence as well as updated scientific research that linked chemical exposure to particular diseases.
“When someone gets sick, we all ask why? The WSIB has to be guided by scientific evidence and that evidence has now led to thirty-one more people getting some additional help,” said Armando Fatigati, WSIB Vice President, Complex Claims.
Since the launch of the WSIB review, an additional 174 claims have been filed and are being adjudicated through the regular claims process.
In January 2019, the Ontario government announced a review of occupational cancers led by Dr. Paul Demers. Any recommendations coming out of Dr. Demers’ work that would impact decisions made on cancer-related claims that were part of the WSIB review will be applied, and those claimants or their families will receive an updated decision from the WSIB.
If someone has questions about a previously denied claim, they should contact the WSIB at
1-800-387-0750. In addition, anyone who thinks they may have a work-related illness but has not yet filed a claim can contact the WSIB for more information or visit wsib.ca.
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For further information, please contact:
WSIB media relations
media@wsib.on.ca
416-344-4202