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 polpub@wsib.on.ca.

Past policies

For copies of past policies, please email polpub@wsib.on.ca.

Questions

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

Revised policy: to reflect changes to the Law Society’s paralegal licensure as it applies to worker or employer authorized representatives
Document Published Comments
21-02-04, Disclosure of Claim File Information to Worker or Employer Representatives June 1, 2023 Revised document
Revised policy: to clarify the circumstances in which the presumption will be rebutted in cancer claims in firefighters and fire investigators
Document Published Comments
23-02-01, Cancers in Firefighters and Fire Investigators June 1, 2023 Revised document
Revised policies: housekeeping changes to meet provincial accessibility standards – June 1, 2023
Document Published Comments
14-02-12, Insurable Earnings – Interjurisdictional Agreement June 1, 2023 Revised document
15-04-06, Impotence and Sterility June 1, 2023 Revised document
16-01-09, Determining Permanent Impairment due to Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome June 1, 2023 Revised document
17-01-04, Health Care Outside Ontario June 1, 2023 Revised document
17-07-01, Prescription Eyewear June 1, 2023 Revised document
18-02-01, Overview June 1, 2023 Revised document
18-07-01, Determining the Degree of Disability June 1, 2023 Revised document
18-07-02, The Ontario Rating Schedule June 1, 2023 Revised document
19-05-01, Overview June 1, 2023 Revised document
21-02-03, Disclosure of Claim File Information to Employers (No Issue in Dispute) June 1, 2023 Revised document
21-02-05, Disclosure of Claim File Information to Government Agencies June 1, 2023 Revised document
Revised policies: housekeeping changes to support the WSIB’s transition to digital account statements
Document Published Comments
14-03-08, Pre-payment of Premium April 4, 2023 Revised document
14-03-10, Statement of Acount April 4, 2023 Revised document
Revised policy: to clarify the WSIB’s approach to employer premium adjustments following a status decision
Document Published Comments
14-02-06, Employer Premium Adjustments April 4, 2023 Revised document
Revised policies: 2023 benefit rates
Document Published Comments
18-01-02, Benefit Dollar Amounts - Accidents from 1998 January 3, 2023 Revised document
18-01-03, Benefit Dollar Amounts - Accidents before 1998 January 3, 2023 Revised document
18-01-05, Table of Rates January 3, 2023 Revised document
Revised policies: housekeeping changes to reflect repealed legislation - Drugless Practitioners Act, 1990
Document Published Comments
17-01-02, Entitlement to Health Care January 3, 2023 Revised document
18-01-12, Employer Contributions to Worker Benefits January 3, 2023 Revised document
Revised policy: to reflect the apprenticeship systems established under the Building Opportunities in the Skilled Trades Act, 2021
Document Published Comments
12-04-13, Apprentices January 3, 2023 Revised document
Revised policies: housekeeping change to use the gender-neutral term “journeyperson”
Document Published Comments
18-02-08, Determining Average Earnings - Exceptional Cases January 3, 2023 Revised document
18-04-10, Calculating FEL for Students, Learners, and Apprentices January 3, 2023 Revised document
Revised policies: housekeeping changes to meet provincial accessibility standards – January 3, 2023
Document Published Comments
14-01-01, The Classification Structure January 3, 2023 Revised document
14-02-01, Employer Level Premium Rate Setting January 3, 2023 Revised document
14-02-10, Insurable Earnings - Logging January 3, 2023 Revised document
14-05-03, Second Injury and Enhancement Fund (SIEF) January 3, 2023 Revised document
15-06-02, Entitlement Following Temporary Work Disruptions January 3, 2023 Revised document
15-06-03, Entitlement Following Permanent Work Disruptions January 3, 2023 Revised document
16-02-01, Nasal Cancer in the Nickel Producing Industry January 3, 2023 Revised document
16-02-10, Laryngeal Cancer-Asbestos/Nickel Exposure January 3, 2023 Revised document
18-01-13, Calculating CPP/QPP Offsets from FEL/LOE Benefits January 3, 2023 Revised document
18-01-14, Annual Indexing January 3, 2023 Revised document
18-02-02, Determining Short-term Average Earnings January 3, 2023 Revised document
18-05-04, Calculating NEL Benefits January 3, 2023 Revised document
18-05-09, NEL Redeterminations January 3, 2023 Revised document
18-05-10, Wage Loss for NEL Assessment January 3, 2023 Revised document
22-01-05, Offences and Penalties - General January 3, 2023 Revised document
22-01-08, Offences and Penalties - Employer January 3, 2023 Revised document
Revised policy: to add the rate setting approach for temporary employment agencies in 2023
Document Published Comments
14-01-10, Temporary Employment Agencies Transition to the Rate Framework November 17, 2022 Revised document
Revised policy: to meet provincial accessibility standards – June 28, 2022
Document Published Comments
14-02-08, Determining Insurable Earnings June 28, 2022 Revised document
Revised policy: to reflect updated procurement contracts with hearing device suppliers
Document Published Comments
17-07-04, Hearing Devices May 2, 2022 Revised document
Revised policy: to reflect housekeeping changes as part of a cyclical policy review
Document Published Comments
14-04-01, Schedule 2 Security Requirement March 2, 2022 Revised document
Revised policy: to reflect 2021 Policy Agenda scheduled review related to medical cannabis
Document Published Comments
17-01-10, Cannabis for Medical Purposes February 8, 2022 Revised document
Revised policy: to reflect 2021 Policy Agenda scheduled review related to average earnings for survivors
Document Published Comments
18-02-09, Determining Average Earnings- Periodic Payments for Survivors February 8, 2022 Revised document
Revised policy: to clarify the out of province coverage guidance for pupils in work education placements
Document Published Comments
12-04-07, Pupils in Work Education Programs February 8, 2022 Revised document
Revised policies: 2022 benefit rates
Document Published Comments
18-01-02, Benefit Dollar Amounts - Accidents from 1998 January 4, 2022 Revised document
18-01-03, Benefit Dollar Amounts - Accidents before 1998 January 4, 2022 Revised document
18-01-05, Table of Rates January 4, 2022 Revised document
Revised policy: to clarify that advance payment amounts are determined by the WSIB and may be required when an independent operator, sole proprietor, partner or executive officer obtains optional insurance
Document Published Comments
12-03-02, Optional Insurance December 7, 2021 Revised document
Revised policy: to reflect health care only costs in special NEER adjustment
Document Published Comments
13-02-02, NEER (New Experimental Experience Rating Plan) November 1, 2021 Revised document
Revised policy: to reflect our revised transition approach for temporary employment agencies in 2022
Document Published Comments
14-01-10, Temporary Employment Agencies Transition to the Rate Framework September 29, 2021 Revised document
Deleted policies: to remove policies no longer required for decision-making
Document Published Comments
15-04-09, Blisters/Calluses and Caisson Disease September 21, 2021 Deleted policy
15-04-11, Poliomyelitis September 21, 2021 Deleted policy
15-04-13, Rabies September 21, 2021 Deleted policy
15-04-14, Poisonings, Foreign Body Ingestion, Ganglions September 21, 2021 Deleted policy
16-01-06, Tenosynovitis September 21, 2021 Deleted policy
16-02-18, Pre-1915 Exposure – Occupational Disease September 21, 2021 Deleted policy
Revised policy: to reflect the change in practice to no longer reduce permanent disability benefits for COPD claims in relation to smoking
Document Published Comments
16-02-14, Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease, Sulphur Dioxide and Particulates Exposure (Smelter Workers) September 14, 2021 Revised document
Revised policy: to clarify pay in lieu of notice, severance pay, and post-injury earnings
Document Published Comments
18-03-02, Payment and Reviewing LOE Benefits (Prior to Final Review) September 1, 2021 Revised document
Revised policies: consequential revisions related to the maximum for insurable earnings
Document Published Comments
12-03-02, Optional Insurance (April 2021 PDF) April 23, 2021 Revised document
12-04-02, Volunteer Forces April 23, 2021 Revised document
12-04-05, Coverage for Unpaid Trainees April 23, 2021 Revised document
14-02-08, Determining Insurable Earnings April 23, 2021 Revised document
14-02-10, Insurable Earnings - Logging April 23, 2021 Revised document
14-02-11, Insurable Earnings - Volunteer Forces April 23, 2021 Revised document
14-02-18, Insurable Earnings - Construction April 23, 2021 Revised document
Revised policies: minor consequential and housekeeping policy revisions to ensure accuracy and consistency with our rate-setting model
Document Published Comments
12-01-01, Who is an Employer? April 9, 2021 Revised document
12-02-01, Workers and Independent Operators April 9, 2021 Revised document
12-03-03, Who Can Obtain Optional Insurance? April 9, 2021 Revised document
12-04-11, Mutual Aid Agreements for Mine Rescue April 9, 2021 Revised document
13-02-06, Construction Industry Plan (CAD 7) April 9, 2021 Revised document
14-01-01, The Classification Structure April 9, 2021 Revised document
14-01-08, Temporary Employment Agencies April 9, 2021 Revised document
14-02-07, Employer Non-Compliance Interest and Charges April 9, 2021 Revised document
14-02-14, Reinstatement of Accounts April 9, 2021 Revised document
15-01-02, Employers' Initial Accident-Reporting Obligations April 9, 2021 Revised document
22-01-08, Offences and Penalties - Employer April 9, 2021 Revised document
Revised policies: housekeeping revisions related to the return-to-work policy review
Document Published Comments
11-01-04, Determining the Date of Injury April 9, 2021 Revised document
11-01-12, Legislative Authority April 9, 2021 Revised document
11-02-02, Lost Time Claims April 9, 2021 Revised document
12-04-03, Emergency Workers April 9, 2021 Revised document
12-04-07, Pupils in Work Education Programs April 9, 2021 Revised document
14-02-02, Registration April 9, 2021 Revised document
15-01-03, Workers' Requirement to Claim and Consent April 9, 2021 Revised document
15-02-05, Recurrences April 9, 2021 Revised document
15-04-03, Chronic Pain Disability April 9, 2021 Revised document
15-05-01, Resulting from Work-Related Disability/Impairment April 9, 2021 Revised document
15-06-02, Entitlement Following Temporary Work Disruptions April 9, 2021 Revised document
15-06-03, Entitlement Following Permanent Work Disruptions April 9, 2021 Revised document
15-06-06, Incarcerated Workers April 9, 2021 Revised document
15-06-07, Leaving the Province/Country April 9, 2021 Revised document
15-06-08, Adjusting Benefits Due to Post-accident Non-work-related Change in Circumstances April 9, 2021 Revised document
17-01-09, Travel and Related Expenses April 9, 2021 Revised document
17-04-02, Employer-Requested Health Examinations April 9, 2021 Revised document
17-04-03, WSIB-Requested Health Examinations April 9, 2021 Revised document
17-06-04, Guide and Support Dogs April 9, 2021 Revised document
17-06-08, Home Modification April 9, 2021 Revised document
18-01-06, Redirected Benefit Payments April 9, 2021 Revised document
18-01-07, Automatic Deduction for Family Support April 9, 2021 Revised document
18-01-13, Calculating CPP/QPP Offsets from FEL/LOE Benefits April 9, 2021 Revised document
18-01-14, Annual Indexing April 9, 2021 Revised document
18-02-03, Determining Long-Term Average Earnings – Workers in Permanent Employment April 9, 2021 Revised document
18-02-04, Determining Long-Term Average Earnings – Workers in Non-permanent Employment April 9, 2021 Revised document
18-03-02, Payment and Reviewing LOE Benefits (Prior to Final Review) (April 2021 PDF) April 9, 2021 Revised document
18-03-04, LOE Benefits for Workers 55 Years of Age or Older April 9, 2021 Revised document
18-03-06, Final LOE Benefit Review April 9, 2021 Revised document
18-04-02, FEL Presumption April 9, 2021 Revised document
18-04-03, Date of Determination April 9, 2021 Revised document
18-04-05, Initial Determination – Workers Who Are Earning at Time of Determination April 9, 2021 Revised document
18-04-06, Initial Determination – Where Suitable Occupation Has Been Determined April 9, 2021 Revised document
18-04-09, Electing the OAS Equivalent April 9, 2021 Revised document
18-04-11, Supplements for Programs and Return-to-Work Activities Before and After 24 Months April 9, 2021 Revised document
18-04-12, Supplement Following Significant Deterioration April 9, 2021 Revised document
18-04-13, FEL Sustainability Benefit April 9, 2021 Revised document
18-04-14, Reviewing FEL Benefits (Prior to Final Review) April 9, 2021 Revised document
18-04-15, Effect of a 0% NEL Rating on FEL Benefits April 9, 2021 Revised document
18-04-17, Loss of Retirement Income Benefits (Accidents from January 2, 1990 to December 31, 1997) April 9, 2021 Revised document
18-04-20, Final FEL Benefit Review April 9, 2021 Revised document
18-06-02, Calculating Temporary Partial Disability Benefits (Accidents Between 1985 and 1998) April 9, 2021 Revised document
18-06-03, Definitions for Adjudicating Pre-1998 Claims April 9, 2021 Revised document
18-06-06, Individuals on Unpaid Training Placements – Temporary Disability Benefits April 9, 2021 Revised document
18-07-10, Sections 147(2) and 147(4) Supplements (Permanent Disability) April 9, 2021 Revised document
19-02-07, RTW Overview and Key Concepts April 9, 2021 Revised document
19-05-02, Re-employment Obligation in the Construction Industry- Threshold, Duration and Specific Employer Requirements April 9, 2021 Revised document
19-05-04, Re-employment Penalties and Payments – Construction Industry April 9, 2021 Revised document
20-02-03, Return-to-Work Assessments for Surviving Spouses April 9, 2021 Revised document
20-02-04, Return-to-Work Plans for Surviving Spouses April 9, 2021 Revised document
21-02-01, Disclosure of Claim File Information - General April 9, 2021 Revised document
21-02-02, Disclosure of Claim File Information (Issue in Dispute) April 9, 2021 Revised document
21-02-03, Disclosure of Claim File Information (No Issue in Dispute) April 9, 2021 Revised document
21-02-06, Disclosure of Claim File Information to WSIB Service Providers and Research Entities April 9, 2021 Revised document
22-01-02, Material Change in Circumstances - Worker April 9, 2021 Revised document
22-01-03, Workers’ Co-operation Obligations April 9, 2021 Revised document
Revised policies: to reflect the new approach in assigning businesses a premium rate when transferring from Schedule 2 to Schedule 1
Document Published Comments
12-01-02, Employer by Application March 9, 2021 Revised document
14-02-01, Employer Level Premium Rate Setting March 9, 2021 Revised document
Revised policies: to outline how the premium rate hold is applied to businesses in 2021
Document Published Comments
14-01-09, Transition to the Rate Framework January 4, 2021 Revised document
14-01-10, Temporary Employment Agencies Transition to the Rate Framework January 4, 2021 Revised document
14-01-11, Non-Profit Organizations Transition to the Rate Framework January 4, 2021 Revised document
Revised policy: to reflect the changes to Schedule 1 of Ontario Regulation 175/98, which splits subclass G1 into two subclasses
Document Published Comments
14-01-01, The Classification Structure (Jan 2021 PDF) January 4, 2021 Revised document
Revised policy: to outline how a special NEER adjustment is applied to certain employers in 2021
Document Published Comments
13-02-02, NEER (New Experimental Experience Rating Plan)(Jan 2021 PDF) January 4, 2021 Revised document
Deleted policy: to align with the Genetic Non-Discrimination Act
Document Published Comments
16-02-16, Emphysema Due to Alpha 1 Anti-Trypsin Deficiency Rescinded December 10, 2020
Removed from OPM January 4, 2021		 Deleted policy
Revised policies: 2021 Benefit Rates
Document Published Comments
18-01-02, Benefit Dollar Amounts - Accidents from 1998 (Jan 2021 PDF) January 4, 2021 Revised document
18-01-03, Benefit Dollar Amounts - Accidents before 1998 (Jan 2021 PDF) January 4, 2021 Revised document
18-01-05, Table of Rates (Jan 2021 PDF) January 4, 2021 Revised document
Revised policy: to improve clarity and to confirm current WSIB practice related to annual application process
Document Published Comments
17-07-03, Clothing Allowance December 1, 2020 Revised document
Revised policy: to reflect results of 2020 Policy Agenda scheduled review
Document Published Comments
18-01-14, Annual Indexing December 1, 2020 Revised document
New and rescinded policies: updated return-to-work (RTW) policies to improve readability, clarify aspects of RTW, and incorporate current RTW terminology
Document Published Comments
19-02-01, Work Reintegration Principles, Concepts and Definitions November 30, 2020 Deleted policy
19-02-02, Responsibilities of the Workplace Parties in Work Reintegration November 30, 2020 Deleted policy
19-02-04, Functional Abilities Form for Work Reintegration November 30, 2020 Deleted policy
19-02-07, RTW Overview and Key Concepts (Nov 2020 PDF) November 30, 2020 New policy
19-02-08, RTW Co-operation Obligations November 30, 2020 New policy
19-02-09, Re-employment Obligations November 30, 2020 New policy
19-02-10, RTW Assessments and Plans November 30, 2020 New policy
19-03-03, Determining Suitable Occupation November 30, 2020 Deleted policy
19-03-05, Work Transition Plans November 30, 2020 Deleted policy
19-03-06, Work Transition Expenses November 30, 2020 Deleted policy
19-03-11, Relocation Services November 30, 2020 Deleted policy
Revised policy: Benefit Dollar Amounts - correction to remain aligned with legisation
Document Published Comments
18-01-03, Benefit Dollar Amounts - Accidents before 1998 (Sept 2020 PDF) September 2, 2020 Revised document
Revised policies: to reflect changes in authorizing employer representatives for employer accounts and related housekeeping revisions
Document Published Comments
14-02-02, Registration (July 2020 PDF) July 31, 2020 Revised document
14-02-03, Purchase Certificates July 31, 2020 Revised document
14-02-05, Closures July 31, 2020 Revised document
14-04-02, Security for Payment July 31, 2020 Revised document
14-04-03, Writs of Seizure and Sale July 31, 2020 Revised document
14-04-04, Collections Based on Financial Hardships July 31, 2020 Revised document
21-01-01, Access to Employer Information July 31, 2020 Revised document
21-01-02, Authorization of Employer Representatives for Employer Accounts July 31, 2020 Revised document
New and revised policies: to reflect regulatory changes and the new rate-setting model
Document Published Comments
12-01-04, Coverage Status January 2, 2020 Revised document
14-01-01, The Classification Structure (Jan 2020 PDF) January 2, 2020 Revised document
14-01-06, Associated Employers January 2, 2020 Revised document
14-01-07, Single and Multiple Premium Rates January 2, 2020 New policy
14-01-08, Temporary Employment Agencies (Jan 2020 PDF) January 2, 2020 New policy
14-01-09, Transition to the Rate Framework January 2, 2020 New policy
14-01-10, Temporary Employment Agencies Transition to the Rate Framework January 28, 2020 New policy
14-01-11, Non-Profit Organizations Transition to the Rate Framework January 2, 2020 New policy
14-02-01, Employer Level Premium Rate Setting (Jan 2020 PDF) January 2, 2020 New policy
14-02-06, Employer Premium Adjustments January 2, 2020 Revised document
Revised policies: consequential and housekeeping policy revisions related to the new rate-setting model
Document Published Comments
12-01-01, Who is an Employer? (Jan 2020 PDF) January 2, 2020 Revised document
12-01-02, Employer by Application (Jan 2020 PDF) January 2, 2020 Revised document
12-03-02, Optional Insurance (Jan 2020 PDF) January 2, 2020 Revised document
13-02-02, NEER (New Experimental Experience Rating Plan)(Jan 2020 PDF) January 2, 2020 Revised document
13-02-04, Merit Adjusted Premium Program Rescinded December 11, 2019

Removed from OPM January 2, 2020		 Deleted policy
13-02-05, Adjustments to CAD-7 Refunds and Surcharges Rescinded December 11, 2019

Removed from OPM January 2, 2020		 Deleted policy
13-02-06, Construction Industry Plan (CAD 7) (Jan 2020 PDF) January 2, 2020 Revised document
13-02-07, Adjustments to NEER Refunds and Surcharges Rescinded December 11, 2019

Removed from OPM January 2, 2020		 Deleted policy
14-01-02, Single Classification January 2, 2020 Deleted policy
14-01-03, Segregated Payrolls January 2, 2020 Deleted policy
14-01-04, Aggregated Payroll January 2, 2020 Deleted policy
14-01-05, Special Ancillary Rules January 2, 2020 Deleted policy
14-02-03, Purchase Certificates (Jan 2020 PDF) January 2, 2020 Revised document
14-02-04, Clearance Certificate January 2, 2020 Revised document
14-02-05, Closures (Jan 2020 PDF) January 2, 2020 Revised document
14-02-07, Employer Non-Compliance Interest and Charges (Jan 2020 PDF) January 2, 2020 Revised document
14-02-08, Determining Insurable Earnings (Jan 2020 PDF) January 2, 2020 Revised document
14-02-14, Reinstatement of Accounts (Jan 2020 PDF) January 2, 2020 Revised document
14-02-16, Credit Interest on Appeals January 2, 2020 Revised document
14-02-17, Fatal Claim Premium Adjustment January 2, 2020 Revised document
14-02-18, Insurable Earnings - Construction (Jan 2020 PDF) January 2, 2020 Revised document
14-02-19, Clearance Certificate in Construction January 2, 2020 Revised document
14-03-06, Minimum Premium January 2, 2020 Revised document
14-03-09, Premium Remittance January 2, 2020 Revised document
14-03-10, Statement of Account January 2, 2020 Revised document
14-03-12, Reconciliation January 2, 2020 Revised document
14-04-04, Collections Based on Financial Hardship (Jan 2020 PDF) January 2, 2020 Revised document
14-05-01, Transfer of Costs January 2, 2020 Revised document
14-05-02, Removal of Costs January 2, 2020 Revised document
15-01-05, Third Party Rights of Action January 2, 2020 Revised document
15-01-06, Third Party Motor Vehicle Accident Claim Costs January 2, 2020 Revised document
18-01-04, Recovery of Benefit-Related Debts January 2, 2020 Revised document
21-01-01, Access to Employer Information (Jan 2020 PDF) January 2, 2020 Revised document
21-02-01, Disclosure of Claim File Information – General January 2, 2020 Revised document
21-02-02, Disclosure of Claim File Information (Issue in dispute) January 2, 2020 Revised document
21-02-03, Disclosure of Claim File Information to Employers (No Issue in Dispute) January 2, 2020 Revised document
22-01-01, Material Change in Circumstances - Employer January 2, 2020 Revised document
22-01-06, Offences and Penalties - External Suppliers of Goods and Services January 2, 2020 Revised document
22-01-07, Offences and Penalties - Worker January 2, 2020 Revised document
Revised policies: 2020 Benefit Rates
Document Published Comments
18-01-02, Benefit Dollar Amounts - Accidents from 1998 (Jan 2020 PDF) January 2, 2020 Revised document
18-01-03, Benefit Dollar Amounts - Accidents before 1998 (Jan 2020 PDF) January 2, 2020 Revised document
18-01-05, Table of Rates (Jan 2020 PDF) January 2, 2020 Revised document

Resources

Policy overview

Workplace Safety and Insurance Act (WSIA)

WSIA Regulations