Ontario workers can use COVID-19 rapid test or medical note to make WSIB claims
Ontarians who suspect they caught COVID-19 at work can make claims with the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board even without a positive result from a PCR test now that the gold-standard assessment tool is no longer available to most residents.
A top executive with the board says, however, that individuals should still try to get a medical opinion or rapid test to confirm their infection.
"Our approach hasn't changed too dramatically," said Scott Bujeya, chief operations officer with the board, which supports those injured at work. "The information gathering that we're doing is very similar to what we would have been doing pre-Omicron."
The province announced late last year that it was limiting access to PCR tests to certain high-risk groups in light of a massive surge in cases of the Omicron variant.
Bujeya said in an interview that those trying to file WSIB claims related to COVID-19 wouldn't be out of luck without a rapid test or doctor's note, but the board "would certainly encourage" them to speak with a medical professional through a virtual walk-in or telephone appointment.
If that's not possible, other factors are considered when probing a claim, Bujeya said. For example, investigators will look at whether the workplace is considered high-risk, if other workers have become sick with COVID-19 or if the individual's household members have also come down with the illness. The process also involves getting statements from the worker and employer.
"We encourage anybody who believes they might have contracted COVID at work to file a claim with us and then allow us to make the appropriate inquiries to establish whether that's in fact the case," he said.
The board has allowed 31,363 claims related to COVID-19 since the pandemic began and denied 2,257 claims. Almost a third of allowed claims have come from nursing homes and other residential care settings. Hospitals, agriculture and manufacturing workplaces also represent large portions of the total.
There were 5,265 claims pending as of Jan. 21.
Bujeya said the board compensates individuals for lost wages and helps them access treatment. Typically, people infected with COVID-19 on the job have returned to work within 30 days, he said, though some have required support for longer.
There have been new concerns about how the claims process will work, however, now that many people aren't able to confirm that they had the virus at all, let alone where they caught it.
Top public health officials have said people with common symptoms should assume they have the virus and isolate rather than seek testing as capacity has been strained due to Omicron's rapid spread.
Bujeya said the board is still receiving claims from people who confirmed their infections earlier or who work in jobs like long-term care where PCR tests are still available.
There haven't yet been many claims from people who haven't been able to access tests, but Bujeya said that may have to do with a time lag since the province only shifted its testing strategy late last month.
The phenomenon known as long COVID, where people experience post-COVID-19 symptoms for weeks or months after an infection, has not yet shown up widely in the WSIB's system either, Bujeya said. But he said people who have lengthy complications can come back for assistance at a future date once their claim is in the system.
"If somebody didn't file a claim, it clearly would be more challenging down the road," he said.
Michael Hurley, president of the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions branch of the public sector employees union, said workers have already had claims contested because their employers denied that they caught COVID-19 at work.
He said the union has been advocating for an automatic presumption that health workers with COVID-19 caught the virus on the job.
"The greatest likelihood is that they contracted it at the long-term care facility where they're working or at a hospital where they're working, and that should be acknowledged if there's some problem with the testing," he said.
He said the same presumption should apply to anyone who works directly with the public, like in schools, grocery stores or pharmacies, especially now that the virus is more widespread than ever and the province has shorted the recommended post-infection isolation period.
"I do think that would be reasonable," he said, noting that front-line workers do not all have access to the highest-quality protective equipment or other safety measures during their shifts.
"You're vulnerable and they're not perfect mechanisms."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 28, 2022.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Millions of Canadians have been exposed to potentially toxic chemicals, and they're not going anywhere
For decades, North Bay, Ontario's water supply has harboured chemicals associated with liver and developmental issues, cancer and complications with pregnancy. It's far from the only city with that problem.
opinion How to use your credit card as a powerful wealth-building tool
Irresponsibly using a credit card can land you in financial trouble, but personal finance columnist Christopher Liew says when used properly, it can be a powerful wealth-building tool that can help grow your credit profile and create new opportunities.
WATCH Dashcam video shows terrifying near-miss on two-lane northern Ontario highway
There were some scary moments for several people on a northern Ontario highway caught on video Thursday after a chain reaction following a truck fire.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Here's what 'the hinge' move is, how to do it correctly
When you're picking something up from the floor or bending over to tie your shoe laces, you're performing "the hinge move," according to movement trainers.
Tips to make a house or apartment safe and accessible for older adults living at home
Here's a summary of tips from the U.S. National Institute on Aging and AARP, which offers a free room-by-room guide with practical suggestions for older adults living independently.
Here are some gardening questions, answers
When it comes to gardening, a lot of questions come up, including the best way to keep pets away from plants, maintaining your lawn and keeping the dandelions at bay.
'I may have some nightmares:' Man survives being bitten by 2 sharks in Bahamas
A man who was bitten by two sharks in the Bahamas said Thursday he's 'thankful that I'm here' while sharing his story of survival.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.