https://www.iwh.on.ca/newsletters/at-work/113/what-research-can-do-following-reports-by-iwh-and-others-bc-strengthens-protections-against-claim-suppression

Sep 19

by Odoardo di Santo

The WSIB is back in the storm. This time for a colossal mistake. It will have to repay $42 million to 100,000 injured workers who received less than they were due due to a code error by the Board.
These are sums up to 40 thousand dollars for some workers.
Without anyone on the Board noticing it except for an injured worker who had to fight to have the error recognized by appealing the WSIB’s denial to the Tribunal.
Incredible to say an error for 20 years. On the one hand there is the moral aspect that has seen the injured deprived of rights sanctioned by current legislation of which workers however have experienced restrictive measures for decades.
On the other hand, there is the incompetence and negligence of an organization that is stubborn in not correcting a code error for twenty years.
Board Chairman and CEO Jeff Lang came up with a witty quip “We screwed up”.
Making a half-admission to recognize that “workers have the right to be frustrated”.
As if it were to be expected that workers would rejoice in having been victims of a rip-off for two decades.
The WSIB is now sending letters to more than 100,000 injured workers informing them of the blunder and that they will be reimbursed once the WSIB portal confirms their identity. We will see.
For the Minister of Labor Monte McNaughton everything seems fine indeed he hastened to praise (yes to praise) the effort of the WSIB to correct the error.
Without blushing he added that: “We have appointed a new leadership to the WSIB with a mandate to put the house in order and that is exactly what they are doing.”
Incidentally , Jeff Lang was appointed CEO in February 2022, 19 months ago.
But the mistake goes back to 1998 when the method of calculating benefits based on the cost of living was changed.
“It was a human error,” Jeff Lang says, “…._ a code error… the checks were sent and nobody noticed.”
For him it’s the end of the story.
Twenty years later in 2018 the code was rewritten, this time with the correct amounts.
But no one noticed the initial mistake.
None of the 3040 employees of the WSIB?
And not because the WSIB was not informed.
Indeed, an injured person asked the Board to correct the error concerning him.
But the Board as usual denied the complaint.
The injured worker had to appeal to the Workplace Safety and Appeal Tribunal (WSIAT) which in 2019 decided in favor of the worker because he had been “shortchangend” from the system (the sentence uses this word that in Italian can mean cheated).
The OFL (Ontario Federation of Labour) also had to intervene to overcome the resistance of the Board to implement the WSIAT decision..
The Board wants to close the embarrassing matter as soon as possible.
“This is the best we can do,” said the WSIB President. As usual.
But the president of the OFL Patty Coates pointed out that all is not well Madame la Marchesa.
This colossal error is another sign of a “broken” system.
It takes much more than a goodwill gesture by the Board to repair a system that workers and widows see as “failed and inclined to favor the interests of employers.”
As however has been the case since 1914 when the Workers Compensation Board was established in Ontario.
The system needs a thorough reform that makes it an independent body based on the principle of justice for injured workers who are victims of accidents at work.
Otherwise , injured workers will have to struggle and be subject to frustration and disappointment even when it comes to a code error.

The WSIB acknowledges the frustration that workers feel but there is concern that fast-moving changes have caused more than this.
https://www.thestar.com/business/we-screwed-up-wsib-to-pay-out-42m-after-coding-error-shortchanged-100-000-injured/article_c3cf9080-1737-56c8-81bd-74208f5d8de1.html

A study was done that shows training in specific areas for doctors could positively impact outcomes for injured and ill workers.

https://www.iwh.on.ca/summaries/research-highlights/primary-care-physicians-learning-needs-in-returning-ill-or-injured-workers-to-work?utm_source=IWH+subscribers&utm_campaign=a96713201b-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_IWH_NEWS_09_2023&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-a96713201b-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D

Le Portail Surmonter sa douleur, une collaboration pancanadienne, propose des ressources gratuites pour aider à gérer la douleur chronique

OTTAWA – Le 22 août 2023 – L’Hôpital d’Ottawa s’est associé à d’autres hôpitaux, ainsi qu’à des établissements d’enseignement, organismes communautaires et personnes atteintes de douleur chronique pour créer le Portail Surmonter sa douleur, le tout premier portail de gestion virtuelle de la douleur chronique au Canada. Financé par Santé Canada, Surmonter sa douleur propose des ressources gratuites fondées sur des données probantes pour aider des jeunes et des adultes à gérer leur douleur chronique. Ce Portail contient aussi de nombreuses ressources comme des cours autodirigés ou encore des conseils individuels dans le but d’offrir un accès flexible et rapide à des outils de gestion de la douleur.
« Le Portail Surmonter sa douleur est une ressource en ligne très importante qu’attendaient depuis longtemps les personnes atteintes de douleur et leur famille », a dit Lynn Cooper, directrice de la recherche et de la formation à l’Alliance canadienne des victimes d’accidents et de maladies du travail, qui est elle-même atteinte de douleur. « Le Portail nous procure de l’information et des ressources sur la douleur et sa prise en charge qui peuvent nous aider à comprendre notre douleur, à trouver des moyens de nous venir en aide et à avoir accès à des soutiens pour que nous puissions profiter de la vie malgré la douleur ».
Bien qu’un Canadien sur cinq soit atteint de douleur chronique, l’accès à ce type de soins demeure problématique au Canada. Plus de 50 % des personnes atteintes de douleur sont dirigées vers des programmes spécialisés avec de longs temps d’attente. L’accès aux soins est encore plus compliqué en présence de besoins en santé mentale et de toxicomanie. Améliorer les ressources concernant le traitement de la douleur chronique est l’une des grandes priorités identifiées par le Groupe de travail canadien sur la douleur qui fournit des conseils à Santé Canada sur les données scientifiques et les meilleures pratiques concernant la gestion de la douleur chronique.
« Le Portail fait partie des solutions permettant d’améliorer l’accès aux soins pour contrôler la douleur au Canada. Il permet aux internautes d’avoir instantanément accès à du contenu et à un soutien qu’ils peuvent tout de suite mettre en pratique », d’ajouter Patricia Poulin, psychologue et scientifique adjointe à L’Hôpital d’Ottawa et coresponsable du Portail destiné aux adultes. « Nous avons remarqué que des cliniques commencent à se servir du Portail pour aider des patients avant et après un rendez-vous, ou pour compléter des soins ».
« Le Portail Surmonter sa douleur est conçu par et pour des personnes atteintes de douleur afin d’assurer un accès équitable aux soins », de dire Vina Mohabir, Patiente-conseillère, coordonnatrice de projets de recherche clinique et coresponsable du comité consultatif jeunesse à SickKids (The Hospital for Sick Children). « Ces ressources sont personnalisées et corroborées par la science. Comment dans un buffet, vous avez la liberté de choisir la méthode ou l’approche qui vous convient davantage ».

Ce Portail est aussi sur le point d’être intégré dans Espace Mieux-Être Canada, la plateforme du gouvernement fédéral offrant un soutien en matière de santé mentale et de consommation de substances. Le but est d’avoir un guichet unique regroupant des ressources sur la santé mentale, la toxicomanie et la douleur chronique.
Le Portail Surmonter sa douleur est le fruit d’une collaboration entre des cliniciens et des chercheurs de L’Hôpital d’Ottawa, de SickKids, de l’Hôpital Women’s College, de l’Université de Calgary, de l’Université Memorial de Terre-Neuve, des personnes vivant avec la douleur, et des organismes communautaires.
Le Portail Surmonter sa douleur, qui est désormais accessible, continuera de prendre de l’ampleur et de s’étoffer en fonction de la rétroaction des internautes et des nouvelles recherches.
« Nous savons à quel point il peut être difficile de gérer la douleur. Lorsque la douleur n’est pas contrôlée, elle peut amener les gens à se tourner vers d’autres moyens nocifs pour gérer leur douleur, comme la consommation de substances à haut risque. Nous nous engageons à fournir aux gens les outils dont ils ont besoin pour gérer efficacement leur problème de santé, y compris la douleur. Grâce à ce financement, notre gouvernement franchit une autre étape pour aider les personnes vivant avec des conditions qui changent leur vie. Le Canada est heureux de soutenir des organisations comme l’Institut de recherche de l’Hôpital d’Ottawa pour leur dévouement continu à fournir un accès rapide et précoce à des ressources virtuelles pour le soutien de la douleur chronique, de la santé mentale et de la toxicomanie, par le biais du Portail Surmonter sa douleur, afin que les gens puissent les utiliser où et quand ils en ont besoin. »
L’honorable Ya’ara Saks
ministre de la Santé mentale et des Dépendances et ministre associée de la Santé

A pan-Canadian collaboration, the Power Over Pain Portal provides free resources to help manage chronic pain

OTTAWA – August 22, 2023 – The Ottawa Hospital (TOH) has partnered with other hospitals, academic institutions, community organizations, and people who live with chronic pain to create the Power Over Pain Portal, a first-in-Canada virtual chronic pain management portal. Funded by Health Canada, Power Over Pain offers free evidenced-based virtual resources to help youth and adults manage their chronic pain. The Portal has many resources from self-directed courses to one-on-one counseling with the goal of providing flexible and rapid access to pain management tools.
“Power Over Pain is a long-awaited and very important online resource for people living with pain and their families”, said Lynn Cooper, Research and Education Director at the Canadian Injured Workers Alliance and person living with pain. “The Portal provides us with information and resources about pain and pain management that can help us to understand our pain, learn ways to help ourselves, and access supports so that we can live our best life with pain.”
One in five Canadians lives with chronic pain and access to this type of care continues to be a challenge in Canada. More than 50 per cent of people living with pain are referred to specialized programs with extended wait times. Access to care is further challenged when mental health and substance use health needs are present. Improving resources for chronic pain care is one of the top priorities identified by the Canadian Pain Task Force, a group that advises Health Canada on evidence and best practices for chronic pain management.
“The Portal is one part of the puzzle in improving access to pain care in Canada. This resource gives users instant access to content and support they can start applying right away”, said Dr. Patricia Poulin, Psychologist and Associate Scientist at The Ottawa Hospital and co-lead of the adult portal. “We have started to see clinics use the Portal to support clients before and after appointments, or to augment care.”
“Power Over Pain is designed with and for those with pain to ensure care is equitable and accessible”, said Vina Mohabir, lead of the 8-member youth advisory committee at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids). “These resources are personalized and backed by science. Like a buffet, you can pick and choose which method or approach is best for you right now.”

The Portal is also being integrated with Wellness Together Canada, the federal platform to support mental health and substance use concerns. The goal is to create a one-stop shop for mental health, substance use and chronic pain resources.
The Power Over Pain Portal was developed in collaboration with clinicians and researchers from The Ottawa Hospital, SickKids, Women’s College Hospital, University of Calgary, Memorial University of Newfoundland, people living with pain, and community organizations.
The Power Over Pain Portal is now live and will continue to develop and evolve based on user feedback and new research.
“We know how difficult it can be to manage pain. When pain is not controlled, it can lead people to turn to other, harmful ways to manage their pain like higher-risk substance use. We are committed to providing people with the tools they need to effectively manage their health issue, including pain. With this funding, our government is taking another step to help people living with life-altering conditions. Canada is pleased to support organizations like the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute for their continued dedication towards providing rapid and early access to virtual resources for chronic pain, mental health and substance use support, through Power over Pain portal, so people can use them where and when they need it.”

The Honourable Ya’ara Saks
Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/cape-breton-woman-seeks-medical-assistance-in-dying-over-wcb-delays-1.6942538

Heat Stress – A Serious Hazard for Outdoor Workers
Learn the warning signs and symptoms of heat illness.

This year we have seen many more extremes in the weather and for many workers, the heat is proving to be a great challenge. This webinar is a must to see! Please note that OHCOW posts recordings on their website if you are not available for the webinar.

10 employer-paid sick days, beginning January 1, 2023, for all workers covered by Federal labour laws pave the way for provincial / territorial governments to follow for workers to have basic protection in every province and territory in Canada.

https://workersactioncentre.org/10-paid-sick-days-for-workers-covered-by-federal-labour-laws/