January 2024
Overview
The WSIB’s Framework for Operational Policy Development and Renewal describes how we keep our Operational Policy Manual documents up-to-date and clear, and provide appropriate guidance about how policies are applied. The Framework also describes our approach to stakeholder engagement in policy development. As part of that approach, each year we publish a policy agenda describing the items that we plan to review in the upcoming year.
The policy agenda gives stakeholders advance notice of anticipated items that may involve consultation. In line with the WSIB’s commitment to open communication, the policy agenda may also include items that may not require stakeholder consultation. We post all policy changes on the policy updates/clarifications page of our website.
The following factors are key drivers of the policy agenda in 2024:
- As we move forward with our Strategic Plan, in particular activities to better meet customer needs and expectations, we rely on the WSIB’s policy area for advice and support.
- A number of projects from prior years are ongoing and continue to require policy leadership, input and expertise.
- We are looking at developments in science and medicine to help with evidence-based decision-making. The WSIB’s policy area will commission scientific reviews, as appropriate, to support the Occupational Disease Strategy.
- The WSIB will strive to actively gather stakeholder feedback while recognizing the finite capacity and resources of the WSIB and stakeholders.
Policy agenda 2024
In 2022, we launched a consultation related to the independent living policy suite as part of our response to recommendations in the value-for-money audit of the Serious Injury Program. Throughout 2023, we continued our analysis of these policies and plan to re-engage stakeholders early in 2024 on proposed revisions to the suite of policies.
Additionally, we launched a review of the rate setting approach for Temporary Employment Agencies (TEAs) in 2022, which included a two-phase stakeholder consultation. The review was completed in Q3 2023, and the results were communicated to stakeholders. We are now working to implement the results of the review, including a new classification for the supply of clerical labour, which is planned for implementation on January 1, 2025. As part of the implementation work, we are engaging with the provincial government to make the necessary regulatory changes to enable the new classification. We will also be making policy changes in 2024 in advance of implementation.
In 2023, with the support of the Scientific Advisory Table on Occupational Disease (SATOD), we added ammonia, chlorine and hydrogen sulfide poisonings to Schedule 3 as occupational diseases under Ontario Regulation 175/98 as part of our continued work under the Occupational Disease Strategy.
We received and reviewed the final report for the research grant examining the relationship between occupational asbestos exposure and gastrointestinal cancers. We assessed the results of this report with the SATOD to support development of appropriate policy guidance which will be finalized in early 2024.
In terms of ongoing research, in 2024 we will receive the final external systematic reviews on occupational exposure to vapours, gases, dusts and fumes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and on occupational asbestos exposure and lung cancer.
We will also continue:
- to investigate the association between benzene and acute myeloid leukemia, and trichloroethylene and kidney cancer as outlined in the 2023 Policy Agenda,
- our ongoing work analyzing noise-induced hearing loss issues,
- to finalize a research grant that will investigate the relationship between diesel engine exhaust and lung and bladder cancers.
We will continue with a review of our approach to Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program claims in response to a recent decision from the Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal.
We will provide ongoing support to the implementation of the findings of the dispute resolution and appeals process value-for-money audit.
Finally, we will carry on with our goal of meeting customer needs and expectations, while maintaining policy capacity to support any potential legislative changes.