Hello everyone:

Thank you for attending the USW Rubber Workers Information session held March 28, 29th 2019 at the Holiday Inn Kitchener-Cambridge Conference Centre. We are writing to give you an update and provide information on how to get further help. If you registered with the Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers (OHCOW) during the info session, we are doing administrative work on your file and laying the groundwork for occupational hygiene and medical assessments. We can use your help in that process.

Although WSIB has not provided us specific information about the number of new claims filed or the number of previous claims that have been reviewed, it is our understanding that they are working on over 400 rubber worker claims. We have been contacted by a number of workers and family members who have received letters denying a claim. Many of these letters have indicated that the claims will be reviewed again after Dr. Paul Demers of the Occupational Cancer Research Centre completes his report on the proper use of scientific evidence in deciding occupational cancer claims. Dr. Demers is scheduled to deliver his report to the Ministry of Labour in December 2019.

In the meantime, we would very much appreciate your help in identifying what is happening with your WSIB claim so that we can better plan our work in providing occupational hygiene and medical assessments. Please let us know if the WSIB has contacted you or sent you a decision letter regarding your claim. It is also very helpful to us to have a copy of any WSIB decisions, positive or negative.

Please take a few moments to contact OHCOW on our Rubber Workers Hotline at 1 888 596 3800 or by email at rw@ohcow.on.ca. Please let us know the following:

1. WSIB claim number
2. Name of the person the WSIB claim is about
3. Have you been contacted by the WSIB?
4. Have you received a decision letter? (please provide us a copy if possible)
5. Was your claim accepted or denied?
6. Did the WSIB say they will review your claim again in the future?
7. Do you have a legal representative and, if so, their name, organization and phone number

Also, please check this list of documents and information that OHCOW would need to conduct a full assessment of your file and send us anything you have not already provided.

If you do not have a representative and need legal help to meet the time limit to appeal a negative decision, to contact the WSIB because you are not sure what is happening with a claim or to find a legal representative to prepare for an appeal hearing, you can contact Jim Pasel of the USW Injured Workers Assistance Program at 1 877 836 9291 or by email at injuredsteelworkers@live.ca.

This is a very large project, and it will take time for OHCOW to work through all the files. Please keep us up-to-date on what is happening with your WSIB claim and also feel free to contact us at 1 888 596 3800 or by email at rw@ohcow.on.ca if you have any questions about the status of your file with us.

For general information regarding OHCOW and the USW Rubber Workers Project, please visit our websites at www.ohcow.on.ca and www.rubberworkersproject.ca.