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 policies: changes for work-related noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL)
DocumentPublishedComments
15-04-01, Traumatic Hearing LossOctober 7, 2026Revised policy
16-01-03, Occupational Noise-Induced Hearing Loss, before January 2, 1990October 7, 2026Revised policy
16-01-04, Occupational Noise-Induced Hearing Loss, On/After January 2, 1990October 7, 2026Revised policy
16-01-08 Tinnitus, On/After January 2, 1990, up to October 6, 2026October 7, 2026Revised policy
New and revised policies: changes related to the independent living policy consultation
DocumentPublishedComments
11-01-03, Merits and JusticeSeptember 21, 2026Revised policy
12-04-14, Domestic WorkersSeptember 21, 2026Revised policy
17-06-01, Independent Living and Quality of Life Measures - Overview and DefinitionsSeptember 21, 2026New policy
17-06-02, Independent Living AllowancesSeptember 21, 2026Revised policy
17-06-03, Independent Living DevicesSeptember 21, 2026Revised policy
17-06-04, Guide Dogs and Service DogsSeptember 21, 2026Revised policy
17-06-05, Personal Care Attendants and AllowanceSeptember 21, 2026Revised policy
17-06-06, Home Health CareSeptember 21, 2026Revised policy
17-06-07, Vehicle ModificationsSeptember 21, 2026Revised policy
17-06-08, Home ModificationsSeptember 21, 2026Revised policy
17-06-09, Quality of Life Benefits and AllowanceSeptember 21, 2026New policy
18-01-04, Recovery of Benefit-Related DebtsSeptember 21, 2026Revised policy
18-01-05, Table of RatesSeptember 21, 2026Revised policy
18-01-07, Automatic Deduction for Family SupportSeptember 21, 2026Revised policy
18-02-03, Determining Long-term Average Earnings: Workers in Permanent EmploymentSeptember 21, 2026Revised policy
18-02-04, Determining Long-term Average Earnings: Workers in Non-permanent EmploymentSeptember 21, 2026Revised policy
Revised policies: to reflect phasing out of the Second Injury and Enhancement Fund (SIEF)
DocumentPublishedComments
14-05-03, Second Injury and Enhancement Fund (SIEF)July 16, 2026Revised document
14-05-04, SIEF Application to NEL, FEL, and LOE BenefitsJuly 16, 2026Revised document
Revised policy: to reflect legislative amendments regarding presumptive coverage for first responders with post-traumatic stress disorder
DocumentPublishedComments
15-03-13, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in First Responders and Other Designated WorkersFebruary 4, 2026Revised document
Revised policies: 2026 benefit rates
DocumentPublishedComments
18-01-02, Benefit Dollar Amounts - Accidents from 1998January 2, 2026Revised document
18-01-03, Benefit Dollar Amounts - Accidents before 1998January 2, 2026Revised document
18-01-05, Table of RatesJanuary 2, 2026Revised document
Revised policy: to reflect legislative amendments to expand presumptive coverage for firefighters and fire investigators
DocumentPublishedComments
23-02-01, Cancers in Firefighters and Fire InvestigatorsSeptember 22, 2025Revised
Revised policies: to enable the implementation of the New Business Registration Service
DocumentPublishedComments
14-01-01, The Classification StructureSeptember 22, 2025Revised
14-02-02, RegistrationSeptember 22, 2025Revised
14-02-04, Clearance CertificateSeptember 22, 2025Revised
21-01-02, Authorization of Employer RepresentativesSeptember 22, 2025Revised
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

Resources

Policy overview

Workplace Safety and Insurance Act (WSIA)

WSIA Regulations