New Occupational Disease Initiative Unveiled in CANADA

New Foundland’s  Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission (WHSCC) announced a new occupational disease initiative that will broaden the medical and scientific knowledge available to the Commission, which is necessary to determine entitlement to compensation for workers and families impacted by occupational disease.  

The creation  of an Occupational Disease Advisory Panel (ODAP) to provide oversight on occupational disease matters and to address government’s action plan was announced by Leslie Galway, the WHSCC’s chief executive officer. The panel’s voting members include: Worker Representative George Kean, Employer Representative Elizabeth Forward and Commission Chair Ralph Tucker.

“The awarding  of fair and reasonable compensation to workers and families impacted by occupational disease is a priority for the WHSCC and for the government of Newfoundland and Labrador,” said Tucker.

The WHSCC  also announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail (IRSST), a provider in the area of occupational health and safety research. 

“Occupational disease  is a complex issue, with decisions regarding compensation requiring expertise from the global medical and scientific community, and we have begun the process of acquiring that information,” Galway said. 

Following an assessment  of the occupational disease issues currently being addressed by the WHSCC, the ODAP has approved a medical and scientific review of the literature pertaining to cancer among shipyard workers, which will be completed by the IRSST. The Commission is currently finalizing contractual arrangements with the IRSST for the completion of this work. 

The creation  of the ODAP, and new partnership with the IRSST, allows for the transfer of key medical and scientific knowledge to the WHSCC, health care professionals and other parties in the province, with an interest in occupational disease. “This initiative represents a proactive, knowledge-based approach that will give us access to the best scientific and medical advice and evidence available to support the timely and effective resolution of claims for occupational disease,” said Galway. (workersxzcompxzkit)

Serving more  than 16,000 employers and approximately 12,000 injured workers, the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission (WHSCC) is an employer-funded no fault insurance system that promotes safe and healthy workplaces, provides return-to-work programs and fair compensation to injured workers and their dependants.

Author Robert Elliott, executive vice president, Amaxx Risks Solutions, Inc. has worked successfully for 20 years with many industries to reduce Workers’ Compensation costs, including airlines, health care, manufacturing, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality and manufacturing. He can be contacted at: Robert_Elliott@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com or 860-786-8286.

Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker or agent about workman’s comp issues.