Occupational disease claims
Occupational diseases are conditions or disorders that result from the nature of your work. Workers with occupational diseases, including those related to asbestos inhalation, can apply for benefits. All workers can register their exposure to any hazardous substance.
- What is an occupational disease?
- Asbestos-related diseases
- Occupational disease benefits
- Making an occupational disease claim
- Registering your exposure to a hazardous substance
- Need more information?
What is an occupational disease?
An occupational disease is caused by exposure to a hazardous substance in the workplace.
There are two main requirements for us to accept your claim:
- We must recognize your disease as an occupational disease
- Your disease must be due to the nature of your current or past employment
In addition, the disability resulting from the occupational disease must prevent you from earning full wages. If you can earn full wages, you may not be eligible for financial benefits but you may still qualify for a health care benefit.
Sometimes, an occupational disease doesn't fit our specific criteria. If so, we may still consider a claim for it on a case-by-case basis if work-related exposure played a significant role in causing the disease.
Asbestos-related diseases
We recognize asbestos-related diseases as occupational diseases as they are caused by the inhalation of asbestos.
Asbestos-related diseases include:
- Mesothelioma
- Lung cancer
- Diffuse pleural thickening or fibrosis
- Asbestosis
- Benign pleural effusion
- Cancer of the larynx or pharynx
- Gastro-intestinal cancer
Occupational disease benefits
If you have an occupational disease, you may be eligible for benefits and services. These may include:
- compensation for lost wages
- coverage of health care costs
- support with rehabilitation
- a permanent disability award
If you are considering legal action related to your occupational disease, please review your rights and responsibilities.
Making an occupational disease claim
Please contact us as soon as you notice the symptoms of an occupational disease. This is important even if you're not working or you've changed jobs. Your report is what starts your claim.
To make your report, please contact our Claims team.
Your employer and health care provider(s) are also required to file reports.
Registering your exposure to a hazardous substance
Sometimes workers know they have had exposure to a harmful substance at work. Yet they experience no immediate ill effects, as many occupational diseases are latent and only develop if there have been long periods of exposure. Often, symptoms may not present themselves for years.
This is why we maintain an Exposure Registry. The Registry allows you to record any workplace exposure you may have had. We maintain it as a permanent record. It's an important tool that could help you if you need to file an occupational disease claim in the future.
Need more information?
If you have questions relating to occupational disease claims, we're happy to help. Please contact our Claims Call Centre team.
If occupational disease caused the death of a family member, or has resulted in a terminal diagnosis, we offer services for families coping with a work-related death.
Resources
Exposure registry program (Form 41M1)
Workers who are exposed to a harmful substance at work may not experience immediate ill effects, as many occupational diseases are latent for years and only develop after long periods of exposure.
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