Toronto is a hub for jobs, like any other big city, and there is certainly construction along every major road (in the summertime especially). Recently, a worker suffered a serious injury injury after being coated in hot tar. According to CBC Toronto, the man was in a truck when the tar covered him, and the tar began to solidify around him. Four trucks and 18 firefighters were called to the scene, while the man remained trapped in the truck for an hour suffering serious burns to his arms and his head. The Ontario Ministry of Labour has been notified about the accident, and the man went to Sunnybrook for his burns. This unfortunate work accident reveals the dangers of many jobs, dangers that may lead to severe burns, inujuries, or even death.
However, the Occupational Health & Safety in Ontario 2014-15 Annual Report shows that there have been positive improvements in the work safety, revealing that from 2005-2014 the lost time injury rate has declined at an average annual rate of 7.1 percent for Schedule 1 employers. An average of 1,147 critical injuries were also reported to the Ministry of Labour, and, in 2014, there were 233 total workplace fatalities.
.
Assisting the Vulnerable Workers
There are risks with any job, even as you’re sitting day-in and day-out at your office job, racking up bills at the chiropractor. However, there are some workers who are more vulnerable than others, workers who have more physically demanding jobs and are likely to fall ill or become injured at work. These are the workers that need the most attention when it comes to safety, training, and other initiatives set out by the Ministry of Labour.
The Ministry of Labour has set out a plan to focus on the most vulnerable workers, as there are some workers that have more dangerous jobs than others, and they are at a greater risk of suffering serious injuries. Here are the initiatives that the Ministry of Labour set out in 2014-2015:
- Goal: “To understand all of the factors that make workers vulnerable and how to provide support.”
- A Vulnerable Worker Task Group developed different recommendations to help the system to increase occupational health and safety outreach and awareness to vulnerable workers and employees.
- Goal: “Improve awareness of occupational health and safety rights and responsibilities among vulnerable workers.”
- Workplace Safety and Preventions Services administered 382 health and safety awareness presentations in 142 schools.
- Goal: “Improve programs and services for vulnerable workers.”
- The Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario workers assessed 102 migrant farm workers and conducted their health and safety workshops in multiple languages.
- The Workplace Safety North launched an online platform for young-tree planters, giving them pre-employment training.
These are only a few of the initiatives that were set in place by the Ministry of Labour to assist workers in Ontario to prevent workplace injuries in the future.
Training Standards
In 2014, there were 3,408 work-related injuries as a result of falling from heights, and falls are considered to be the number one cause of critical injuries and deaths of workers at construction sites in Ontario. To address this problem, a plan was put in effect to prevent falls. In 2014-15, the Working at Heights Training Program Standard became mandatory. This requires workers on construction projects to learn the rights and responsibilities related to working at heights, ladder safety, proper use of personal and protective equipment, and hazard identification.
The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board
The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) offers benefits to workers who:
- Have a worker-employer relationship with an employer covered by the WSIB;
- Have an injury or illness directly related to your work;
- Promptly file a claim with the WSIB;
- Provide all relevant information requested by the ESIB to help us determine your benefits; and
- Consent to the release of functional abilities information to your employer by the health care professional treating you.
These are the requirements you need to be eligible for WSIB benefits, which can include:
- Benefit for Loss of Earnings (LOE);
- Benefit for Non-Economic Loss (NEL);
- Loss of Retirement Income (LRI) Benefit;
- Benefit for Future Economic Loss (FEL);
- Health Care Benefits;
- Health Care Equipment and Supplies;
- The Occupational Disease and Survivor Benefits Program;
- Benefits for Seriously Injured Workers; and
- Compensation Amounts for Survivors.
These are the benefits that you can receive if you meet the requirements above. If you have been injured on the job, it’s important that you report the injury immediately to the WSIB, as WSIB benefits begin the next working day after the injury occurs.
Filing a Personal Injury Claim
If you are injured at work and want to file a personal injury claim against the accused, a personal injury lawyer in the GTA can help. At Sokoloff Lawyers, we know the benefits that you are eligible for and if your claim is rejected, or you are dissatisfied with the compensation you were given, a personal injury lawyer will work with you to fight for the compensation that you deserve. Book a free consultation with a personal injury lawyer at Sokoloff Lawyers today and file a personal injury claim with expertise and guidance today.
Sources:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/tar-spill-toronto-serious-condition-worker-1.3780945
http://www.wsib.on.ca/WSIBPortal/faces/WSIBArticlePage?fGUID=835502100635000268&_afrLoop=504977621932000&_afrWindowMode=0&_afrWindowId=ka1l6b6pp_47#%40%3F_afrWindowId%3Dka1l6b6pp_47%26_afrLoop%3D504977621932000%26_afrWindowMode%3D0%26fGUID%3D835502100635000268%26_adf.ctrl-state%3Dka1l6b6pp_75
http://www.wsib.on.ca/WSIBPortal/faces/WSIBArticlePage?fGUID=835502100635000225&_afrLoop=504612674133000&_afrWindowMode=0&_afrWindowId=ka1l6b6pp_22#%40%3F_afrWindowId%3Dka1l6b6pp_22%26_afrLoop%3D504612674133000%26_afrWindowMode%3D0%26fGUID%3D835502100635000225%26_adf.ctrl-state%3Dka1l6b6pp_50
https://www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/hs/pdf/annualreport2014.pdf