Operational Policy Manual

The Operational Policy Manual (OPM) is the source of operational policy for the WSIB. It contains policies that the WSIB uses to make decisions about rights and obligations, such as:

  • coverage and injury/illness reporting
  • health care, return to work and recovery
  • occupational diseases
  • benefits and services
  • employer premiums
  • compliance, and
  • other related workplace safety and insurance matters

Operational Policy Manual User Guide

 

Email notification service

To sign up for email updates of new or revised policies, please send an email to [email protected].

Past policies

The new online archive contains prior versions of policies that have been moved from the current chapter and section in the main OPM to the corresponding archive chapter and section. The archive is listed after the current chapters in the left navigation menu and is being completed in phases.

For copies of past policies not yet available in the online archive, please email [email protected].

Questions

Do you have a policy question? Contact the Operational Policy Branch.

Revised policy: to support the WSIB’s foreign agricultural worker strategy
DocumentPublishedComments
12-04-08, Foreign Agricultural WorkersMay 1, 2025Revised
Revised policies: 2025 benefit rates
DocumentPublishedComments
18-01-02, Benefit Dollar Amounts - Accidents from 1998January 2, 2025Revised document
18-01-03, Benefit Dollar Amounts - Accidents before 1998January 2, 2025Revised document
18-01-05, Table of RatesJanuary 2, 2025Revised document
Revised policies: to support the new classification for Temporary Employment Agencies
DocumentPublishedComments
14-01-08, Temporary Employment AgenciesJanuary 2, 2025Revised document
14-01-10, Temporary Employment Agencies Transition to the Rate FrameworkJanuary 2, 2025Revised document
14-02-05, ClosuresJanuary 2, 2025Revised document
22-01-01, Material Change in Circumstances - EmployerJanuary 2, 2025Revised document
Revised policies: minor revisions to include all overtime worked in the short-term average earnings determination
DocumentPublishedComments
18-02-02, Determining Short-term Average EarningsDecember 5, 2024Revised document
18-02-03, Determining Long-term Average Earnings: Workers in Permanent EmploymentDecember 5, 2024Revised document
Revised policies: housekeeping changes to make terminology more inclusive and update references, typographical errors and formatting
DocumentPublishedComments
12-01-06, Expanded Compulsory Coverage in ConstructionDecember 5, 2024Revised document
12-04-14, Domestic WorkersDecember 5, 2024Revised document
14-02-08, Determining Insurable EarningsDecember 5, 2024Revised document
14-02-09, Insurable Earnings – Drivers in the Transportation IndustryDecember 5, 2024Revised document
14-02-10, Insurable Earnings – LoggingDecember 5, 2024Revised document
15-01-04, Survivors' Requirement to Claim for BenefitsDecember 5, 2024Revised document
15-02-05, RecurrencesDecember 5, 2024Revised document
15-03-03, On/Off Employers’ PremisesDecember 5, 2024Revised document
15-03-05, TravellingDecember 5, 2024Revised document
15-06-07, Leaving the Province/CountryDecember 5, 2024Revised document
17-01-03, Choice and Change of Health ProfessionalDecember 5, 2024Revised document
17-01-07, Preferred Supplier of Health Care Products and ServicesDecember 5, 2024Revised document
17-07-06, Health Care Equipment and SuppliesDecember 5, 2024Revised document
18-01-06, Redirected Benefit PaymentsDecember 5, 2024Revised document
18-02-04, Determining Long-term Average Earnings: Workers in Non-permanent EmploymentDecember 5, 2024Revised document
18-02-08, Determining Average Earnings – Exceptional CasesDecember 5, 2024Revised document
18-03-06, Final LOE Benefit ReviewDecember 5, 2024Revised document
18-03-07, Loss of Retirement Income Benefits (Accidents on or after January 1, 1998)December 5, 2024Revised document
18-04-20, Final FEL Benefit ReviewDecember 5, 2024Revised document
18-05-04, Calculating NEL BenefitsDecember 5, 2024Revised document
19-05-03, Compliance with the Re-employment Obligation – Construction IndustryDecember 5, 2024Revised document
20-01-02, Definitions and Application DatesDecember 5, 2024Revised document
20-03-10, Children and No SpouseDecember 5, 2024Revised document
20-03-11, Children Cared for by Parent or Other PersonDecember 5, 2024Revised document
20-03-13, Child Incapable of Earning WagesDecember 5, 2024Revised document
20-03-15, Reinstatement of Survivors’ Benefits for Spouses Who Married or Remarried Before April 1, 1985December 5, 2024Revised document
Revised policies: housekeeping changes to update references, typographical errors and formatting
DocumentPublishedComments
11-01-08, Audio/Visual RecordingsDecember 5, 2024Revised document
12-01-04, Coverage StatusDecember 5, 2024Revised document
12-02-01, Workers and Independent OperatorsDecember 5, 2024Revised document
14-02-15, Voluntary RegistrationDecember 5, 2024Revised document
14-02-16, Credit Interest on AppealsDecember 5, 2024Revised document
14-03-06, Minimum PremiumDecember 5, 2024Revised document
14-03-09, Premium RemittanceDecember 5, 2024Revised document
14-04-02, Security for PaymentDecember 5, 2024Revised document
14-04-05, Alternative Payment ArrangementsDecember 5, 2024Revised document
15-01-10, Progress ReportsDecember 5, 2024Revised document
17-01-10, Cannabis for Medical PurposesDecember 5, 2024Revised document
17-02-02, Health Care Practitioner’s ReportsDecember 5, 2024Revised document
17-03-01, Health Care FeesDecember 5, 2024Revised document
17-03-02, Special Physician and Health Care FeesDecember 5, 2024Revised document
17-03-03, Dental EntitlementDecember 5, 2024Revised document
17-03-05, Other CountriesDecember 5, 2024Revised document
18-03-02, Payment and Reviewing LOE Benefits (Prior to Final Review)December 5, 2024Revised document
18-06-02, Calculating Temporary Partial Disability Benefits (Accidents between 1985 and 1998)December 5, 2024Revised document
20-03-12, Child 19 Years or Older Continuing in EducationDecember 5, 2024Revised document
21-01-01, Access to Employer InformationDecember 5, 2024Revised document
21-01-02, Authorization of Employer Representatives for Employer AccountsDecember 5, 2024Revised document
22-01-09, SurveillanceDecember 5, 2024Revised document
Revised policy: to reflect the current scientific evidence on the association between occupational exposure to asbestos and the risk of gastrointestinal cancer
DocumentPublishedComments
16-02-11, Gastrointestinal Cancer-Asbestos ExposureOctober 1, 2024Revised document
Revised policies: to reflect legislative amendments to presumptive coverage for firefighters and fire investigators
DocumentPublishedComments
15-03-12, Heart Injuries in Firefighters and Fire InvestigatorsJuly 18, 2024Revised document
23-02-01, Cancers in Firefighters and Fire InvestigatorsJuly 18, 2024Revised document
Revised policy: to reflect discontinuation of administrative minute book
DocumentPublishedComments
11-01-12, Legislative AuthorityJuly 18, 2024Revised document
Revised policies: minor revisions to traumatic and chronic mental stress policies
DocumentPublishedComments
15-03-02, Traumatic Mental StressFebruary 29, 2024Revised document
15-03-14, Chronic Mental StressFebruary 29, 2024Revised document
Revised policies: 2024 benefit rates
DocumentPublishedComments
18-01-02, Benefit Dollar Amounts - Accidents from 1998January 2, 2024Revised document
18-01-03, Benefit Dollar Amounts - Accidents before 1998January 2, 2024Revised document
18-01-05, Table of RatesJanuary 2, 2024Revised document
New policy: communicable illnesses
DocumentPublishedComments
15-03-15, Communicable IllnessesDecember 1, 2023New document
Revised policy: to add the rate setting approach for temporary employment agencies in 2024
DocumentPublishedComments
14-01-10, Temporary Employment Agencies Transition to the Rate FrameworkDecember 1, 2023Revised document
Revised policies: to align the policies with the accident reporting timelines in the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997
DocumentPublishedComments
15-01-02, Employers’ Initial Accident-Reporting ObligationsSeptember 29, 2023Revised document
11-02-01, No Lost TimeSeptember 29, 2023Revised document
Revised policies: to reflect legislative amendments regarding the determination of average earnings for apprentices
DocumentPublishedComments
12-04-13, ApprenticesSeptember 29, 2023Revised document
18-02-08, Determining Average Earnings - Exceptional CasesSeptember 29, 2023Revised document
18-04-10, Calculating FEL for Students Learners ApprenticesSeptember 29, 2023Revised document
Revised policies: to clarify disclosure of non-economic loss medical assessment reports
DocumentPublishedComments
18-05-03, Determining the Degree of Permanent ImpairmentSeptember 29, 2023Revised document
21-02-01, Disclosure of Claim File Information - GeneralSeptember 29, 2023Revised document
Revised policy: to clarify the use of a person’s pay periods to determine their short-term average earnings
DocumentPublishedComments
18-02-02, Determining Short-term Average EarningsSeptember 29, 2023Revised document
Revised policies: housekeeping changes to remove outdated content regarding Stakeholder Compliance Services
DocumentPublishedComments
11-01-02, Decision-MakingSeptember 29, 2023Revised document
11-01-14, Reconsiderations of DecisionsSeptember 29, 2023Revised document
Revised policy: to reflect regulatory changes that expanded cancer coverage for firefighters and fire investigators
DocumentPublishedComments
23-02-01, Cancers in Firefighters and Fire InvestigatorsJuly 20, 2023Revised document
Revised policies: various housekeeping changes to meet provincial accessibility standards and for accuracy; and to clarify which policies apply in claims for somatic symptom disorders
DocumentPublishedComments
15-03-13, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in First Responders and Other Designated WorkersJuly 20, 2023Revised document
15-04-03, Chronic Pain DisabilityJuly 20, 2023Revised document
16-01-01, Determining Permanent Impairment Due to AsthmaJuly 20, 2023Revised document
16-01-03, Occupational Noise-Induced Hearing Loss, before January 2, 1990July 20, 2023Revised document
16-01-04, Noise-Induced Hearing Loss, On/After January 2, 1990July 20, 2023Revised document
16-02-07, Lung Cancer - Gold MinersJuly 20, 2023Revised document
19-02-08, RTW Co-operation ObligationsJuly 20, 2023Revised document
21-02-03, Disclosure of Claim File Information to Employers (No Issue in Dispute)July 20, 2023Revised document
23-01-01, Post-exposure Prophylaxis for Occupational Exposure to HIVJuly 20, 2023Revised document
Revised policies: to reflect changes regarding forms used to determine independent operator status
DocumentPublishedComments
12-02-01, Workers and Independent OperatorsJuly 4, 2023Revised document
14-02-08, Determining Insurable EarningsJuly 4, 2023Revised document
14-02-09, Insurable Earnings – Drivers in the Transportation IndustryJuly 4, 2023Revised document
Revised policy: to reflect changes to the Law Society’s paralegal licensure as it applies to worker or employer authorized representatives
DocumentPublishedComments
21-02-04, Disclosure of Claim File Information to Worker or Employer RepresentativesJune 1, 2023Revised document
Revised policy: to clarify the circumstances in which the presumption will be rebutted in cancer claims in firefighters and fire investigators
DocumentPublishedComments
23-02-01, Cancers in Firefighters and Fire InvestigatorsJune 1, 2023Revised document
Revised policies: housekeeping changes to meet provincial accessibility standards – June 1, 2023
DocumentPublishedComments
14-02-12, Insurable Earnings – Interjurisdictional AgreementJune 1, 2023Revised document
15-04-06, Impotence and SterilityJune 1, 2023Revised document
16-01-09, Determining Permanent Impairment due to Hand Arm Vibration SyndromeJune 1, 2023Revised document
17-01-04, Health Care Outside OntarioJune 1, 2023Revised document
17-07-01, Prescription EyewearJune 1, 2023Revised document
18-02-01, OverviewJune 1, 2023Revised document
18-07-01, Determining the Degree of DisabilityJune 1, 2023Revised document
18-07-02, The Ontario Rating ScheduleJune 1, 2023Revised document
19-05-01, OverviewJune 1, 2023Revised document
21-02-03, Disclosure of Claim File Information to Employers (No Issue in Dispute)June 1, 2023Revised document
21-02-05, Disclosure of Claim File Information to Government AgenciesJune 1, 2023Revised document
Revised policies: housekeeping changes to support the WSIB’s transition to digital account statements
DocumentPublishedComments
14-03-08, Pre-payment of PremiumApril 4, 2023Revised document
14-03-10, Statement of AcountApril 4, 2023Revised document
Revised policy: to clarify the WSIB’s approach to employer premium adjustments following a status decision
DocumentPublishedComments
14-02-06, Employer Premium AdjustmentsApril 4, 2023Revised document
Revised policies: 2023 benefit rates
DocumentPublishedComments
18-01-02, Benefit Dollar Amounts - Accidents from 1998January 3, 2023Revised document
18-01-03, Benefit Dollar Amounts - Accidents before 1998January 3, 2023Revised document
18-01-05, Table of RatesJanuary 3, 2023Revised document
Revised policies: housekeeping changes to reflect repealed legislation - Drugless Practitioners Act, 1990
DocumentPublishedComments
17-01-02, Entitlement to Health CareJanuary 3, 2023Revised document
18-01-12, Employer Contributions to Worker BenefitsJanuary 3, 2023Revised document
Revised policy: to reflect the apprenticeship systems established under the Building Opportunities in the Skilled Trades Act, 2021
DocumentPublishedComments
12-04-13, ApprenticesJanuary 3, 2023Revised document
Revised policies: housekeeping change to use the gender-neutral term “journeyperson”
DocumentPublishedComments
18-02-08, Determining Average Earnings - Exceptional CasesJanuary 3, 2023Revised document
18-04-10, Calculating FEL for Students, Learners, and ApprenticesJanuary 3, 2023Revised document
Revised policies: housekeeping changes to meet provincial accessibility standards – January 3, 2023
DocumentPublishedComments
14-01-01, The Classification StructureJanuary 3, 2023Revised document
14-02-01, Employer Level Premium Rate SettingJanuary 3, 2023Revised document
14-02-10, Insurable Earnings - LoggingJanuary 3, 2023Revised document
14-05-03, Second Injury and Enhancement Fund (SIEF)January 3, 2023Revised document
15-06-02, Entitlement Following Temporary Work DisruptionsJanuary 3, 2023Revised document
15-06-03, Entitlement Following Permanent Work DisruptionsJanuary 3, 2023Revised document
16-02-01, Nasal Cancer in the Nickel Producing IndustryJanuary 3, 2023Revised document
16-02-10, Laryngeal Cancer-Asbestos/Nickel ExposureJanuary 3, 2023Revised document
18-01-13, Calculating CPP/QPP Offsets from FEL/LOE BenefitsJanuary 3, 2023Revised document
18-01-14, Annual IndexingJanuary 3, 2023Revised document
18-02-02, Determining Short-term Average EarningsJanuary 3, 2023Revised document
18-05-04, Calculating NEL BenefitsJanuary 3, 2023Revised document
18-05-09, NEL RedeterminationsJanuary 3, 2023Revised document
18-05-10, Wage Loss for NEL AssessmentJanuary 3, 2023Revised document
22-01-05, Offences and Penalties - GeneralJanuary 3, 2023Revised document
22-01-08, Offences and Penalties - EmployerJanuary 3, 2023Revised document
Revised policy: to add the rate setting approach for temporary employment agencies in 2023
DocumentPublishedComments
14-01-10, Temporary Employment Agencies Transition to the Rate FrameworkNovember 17, 2022Revised document
Revised policy: to meet provincial accessibility standards – June 28, 2022
DocumentPublishedComments
14-02-08, Determining Insurable EarningsJune 28, 2022Revised document
Revised policy: to reflect updated procurement contracts with hearing device suppliers
DocumentPublishedComments
17-07-04, Hearing DevicesMay 2, 2022Revised document
Revised policy: to reflect housekeeping changes as part of a cyclical policy review
DocumentPublishedComments
14-04-01, Schedule 2 Security RequirementMarch 2, 2022Revised document
Revised policy: to reflect 2021 Policy Agenda scheduled review related to medical cannabis
DocumentPublishedComments
17-01-10, Cannabis for Medical PurposesFebruary 8, 2022Revised document
Revised policy: to reflect 2021 Policy Agenda scheduled review related to average earnings for survivors
DocumentPublishedComments
18-02-09, Determining Average Earnings- Periodic Payments for SurvivorsFebruary 8, 2022Revised document
Revised policy: to clarify the out of province coverage guidance for pupils in work education placements
DocumentPublishedComments
12-04-07, Pupils in Work Education ProgramsFebruary 8, 2022Revised document
Revised policies: 2022 benefit rates
DocumentPublishedComments
18-01-02, Benefit Dollar Amounts - Accidents from 1998January 4, 2022Revised document
18-01-03, Benefit Dollar Amounts - Accidents before 1998January 4, 2022Revised document
18-01-05, Table of RatesJanuary 4, 2022Revised document

Resources

Policy overview

Workplace Safety and Insurance Act (WSIA)

WSIA Regulations