Your health and safety is paramount, and you need to know your rights if you’re injured while at work. Workplace injuries are common; in fact, around 57,000 Ontarians report a workplace injury every year. Following a workplace injury, it’s imperative for you to seek the appropriate help and guidance.

Paul Duarte and Associates have helped thousands of Ontarians with their workplace injury response. We’re committed to providing you with information that will help you if you ever sustain an injury on the job.

 

Get Medical Help / First Aid

 

Depending on the severity of your workplace injury, you may need to receive first-aid. If you sustain a serious injury, be sure to call 911 immediately for professional medical assistance. Remember, your employer is responsible for providing your workplace with first aid equipment.

 

File A WSIB Form

 

Following a workplace injury, you must file a WSIB (workplace safety and insurance board) claim. Some employers may attempt to dissuade you from filing a claim due to paperwork requirements; however, you need to have this filed in case you miss any time at work due to a workplace-related injury. Your manager or HR representative will be able to file the claim on your behalf.

 

What Qualifies as A Workplace Injury?

 

If you’re at work, fulfilling your job’s duties, and you happen to sustain an injury, you qualify for workplace insurance. For example, if you’re an employee at a diner and you’re carrying a tray full of hot teas, and you slip and spill them on yourself, you qualify for workplace insurance.

 

Furthermore, you can qualify for workplace compensation if you’re on the premises of your workplace. For example, if you injure yourself on a patch of ice in your employers parking lot, you qualify for workplace insurance.

 

Issues with Your Employer

 

In some cases, workplace injuries have been known to affect the relationship between employee and employer. Following your recovery, your employer is legally obligated to reinstate your employment, as long as you return to work within six months from your date of injury.

 

If your employer fails to give you your position back or fires you, your employer must prove that the injury was not the reason why your employment was terminated. If your employer refuses your attempts to get back to work, make sure to contact the WSIB or a paralegal team for further assistance.

 

While there is no way to 100% guarantee an injury-free workplace, it is your employer’s responsibility to do their best to keep you safe on the job. For more information on what you should do following a workplace injury, contact Paul Duarte and Associates today.