The Checkpoint (Volume 1, Issue 7)

Local Lodge 2921 is proud to announce that Yanique Mcinnis has been appointed to the role of WSIB advocate for the Local. “Yanique will be awesome in this role. She is a very intelligent and compassionate woman and we are extremely lucky to have her representing the members of 2921” said Research Director Ivana Saula. If you have been injured in the workplace and your have questions you can contact Yanique for advice. Please wel- come Yanique to her new role, she will be a strong advocate for you.

Injured At Work? Here’s What to Do

Workplace injuries are very common, yet very underreported. The culprit of under reporting is often due to lack of knowledge about the process, and admittedly, it can be confusing. Below we’ve outlined some things to help you in case you’re injured at work. Remember, act immediately, and don’t delay triggering the pro- cess; it could make a major difference for you down the road. Here are the steps you should follow:

•   Report the injury to your supervisor immediately, and ask they fill out an incident/accident report as soon as possible. You shouldn’t delay reporting an injury or accident, however, minor it might be. The longer you wait to report an injury, the harder it becomes to prove it was workplace related. Make sure you ask for your copy of the report, and that your supervisor provides it for you in a timely man- ner.
•   Did you know you have to see your doctor within 24 hours of injuring yourself at work? The clock starts ticking as soon as you are injured, so don’t delay going to see your family physician, (if you have one). Sometimes pain associated with an injury comes days after, so don’t delay. Let your doctor know that the injury was work related and describe exactly what happened and symptoms you’re experienc- ing. Going to a walk in is fine, but your family physician knows your medical history and is best posi- tioned to make assessments about your health. Confirm with your doctor that they will send their re- port to WSIB. Lastly, your employer should pay for any travel costs if you need to go to the doctor or hospital on the day that you are injured.
•   Contact a Union rep or the Health and Safety Committee. These resources will help guide you in the process and make sure you have your bases covered. They can also direct you to additional resources you may need.
•   Keep detailed notes! Write notes soon after the incident, and document the following;Dates and times;
  Names of witnesses who saw the accident;
  The supervisor you reported the incident/accident to; The location of incident;
  Health care visits;
  Workers’ compensation records/conversations; and Meetings with the employerRemember, notes are incredibly important. Your employer may contest that the injury happened at work, detailed notes will help your case in the long run.