Shared on behalf of the Occupational Health and Safety Department
Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre is committed to providing a healthy and safe work environment for all employees, physicians, undergraduates, post graduates, medical trainees, students, volunteers and contractors.
Employers and employees both have responsibilities and obligations with incident and injury reporting. The employer will be compliant with the reporting requirements as defined in the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act and the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
Incident and injury reports are required to be submitted immediately following as this will allow Occupational Health and Safety to support the employees efficiently and effectively with preventing a similar occurrence and a supported return to work.
Occupational Heath and Safety will provide and offer safe, suitable and transitional work to employees within their identified restrictions and limitations.
The employer supports WSIB’s rationale of the “Better at Work Principle “, which is a principle that guides the case management program. Strong evidence suggests that activity hastens optimal recovery while inactivity delays it and that remaining at or promptly returning to some form of productive work improves clinical outcomes as compared to passive medical rehabilitation programs.
When claiming a work related injury/illness, WSIB has requirements that must be met in order for an employee to be entitled to benefits.
- Employees must report the injury/illness to the manager and complete an employee electronic incident report.
- If an employee feels they are unable to perform the essential duties of their job, they must seek medical attention and Transitional Modified Work will be offered. If the injury/illness occurs after hours, the Administrative Coordinator must be notified.
- Medical documentation must indicate clear restrictions. If no clear restrictions are provided, restrictions are based on the WSIB suggested standard restrictions that will be used to plan and offer a Transitional Modified Work Plan.
- If the employee declines the Transitional Modified Work offer, Occupational Health and Safety will notify WSIB and WSIB is responsible for making all the decisions in the claim including approval or denial of the claim and payment of lost time in the claim.
- Employees must maintain contact with Occupational Health and Safety regarding updates, changes in condition etc.
If you have any questions regarding the WSIB process or the Transitional Modified Work Program, please contact the Occupational Health and Safety Department.