Policy
Workers sustaining secondary conditions that are causally linked to the work-related injury will derive benefits to compensate for the further aggravation of the work-related impairment or for new injuries.
If a worker dies by suicide following a work-related injury, the WSIB must pay benefits to the worker's dependants if it is established that the suicide resulted from a work-related injury.
Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to outline when the WSIB may provide benefits to a worker who sustains a secondary physical or psychological condition due to a work-related injury/disease or treatment.
Guidelines
If a worker suffers a second accident, benefits are payable only if it is established that the work-related impairment caused the second accident.
Artificial Appliances
Damage
Artificial appliances, while being worn, are considered an extension of the body. Entitlement for damage to an artificial appliance resulting from an accident is determined using the same criteria as for other personal injury claims, see 15-02-01, Definition of an Accident.
Injury resulting from malfunction
If a work-related accident or disease results in a permanent impairment requiring the worker to use an artificial appliance, any subsequent injury resulting from the malfunction of the artificial appliance being worn is deemed to be within the worker's entitlement. This interpretation includes injuries resulting from wheelchair malfunction.
No entitlement exists if an injury occurs outside the workplace, unless it results from the malfunction of an artificial appliance being worn for a work-related impairment/disability.
Examples
- A worker wearing an artificial leg who slips while walking would not have entitlement for any injury sustained.
- If a worker falls out of a wheelchair and sustains an injury, there is no entitlement unless it is established that the work-related injury caused the fall.
- If a worker continues to use crutches after active treatment is completed, e.g., because of an amputated leg, and the crutch breaks, entitlement exists for any injury sustained. However, if the crutch slipped and the worker fell, there is no entitlement.
- Entitlement is extended for injuries resulting from accidents caused by crutches slipping, provided they were used during a period where active treatment was in progress.
- There is no entitlement for any injury suffered by a worker as a result of malfunction of an elevating device or any other apparatus that is not actually worn by the worker. The exception is the use of a wheelchair.
Injury resulting from work-related injury
Entitlement for any secondary condition is accepted when it is established that a causal link exists between it and the work-related injury. The development of a left knee disability/impairment due to an increased dependency following a work-related injury to the right knee, is an example.
Suicide following work-related injury
Evidence
The WSIB examines all surrounding circumstances to determine whether a suicide resulted from the work-related injury. If the evidence indicates that, as a result of the work-related injury, the worker developed psychosocial problems that led the worker to die by suicide, the suicide may be said to have resulted from the work-related injury. Non-work-related factors are also assessed to determine whether their effect on the worker was so great that the suicide was really the result of factors unconnected to the injury.
Psychiatric reports
To determine if a suicide resulted from a work-related injury, the most useful information is usually in psychiatric reports concerning the worker's mental and emotional condition both before the occurrence of the work-related injury and during the period between the occurrence of the injury and the suicide.
Psychiatric reports unavailable
Often psychiatric reports are not available. In these cases, the WSIB determines whether a suicide resulted from a work-related injury by relying on evidence from other sources, such as:
- the clinical history of the worker both before and following the injury
- the return-to-work history of the worker (including the worker's attitude towards rehabilitation)
- psychosocial reports about the worker's psychological state and personal life
- the worker's employment history, and
- reports from the worker's family members, friends and co-workers.
Application date
This policy applies to all decisions made on or after March 1, 2021, for all accidents.
Document history
This document replaces 15-05-01 dated February 15, 2013.
This document was previously published as:
15-05-01 dated October 12, 2004
03-04-02 dated May 1, 1991
References
Legislative authority
Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997, as amended
Sections 2(1), 13, 39
Workers' Compensation Act, R.S.O. 1990, as amended
Sections 1(1), 4(1), 50(3)(a)
Minute
Administrative
#10, March 24, 2021, Page 586