The WSIB is committed to a transparent occupational disease policy process informed by high-quality scientific evidence. We continually monitor the evolving state of scientific evidence to better understand causal relationships between occupational risk factors and disease outcomes.
As part of our commitment to transparency, this page outlines all occupational disease policy initiatives in progress.
Occupational Disease Strategy
Our Occupational Disease Strategy has three foundational pillars:
- Our overarching Occupational Disease Policy Framework guides future policy development and scheduling
- Our Scientific Advisory Table on Occupational Disease provides expert scientific advice to the WSIB to support policy development and scheduling
- Our Research and Grants Program helps ensure the collection of up-to-date scientific evidence to support evidence-based decision-making
Occupational Disease Policy Agenda
The WSIB’s annual policy agenda outlines new policy priorities each year. Current occupational disease work includes:
- investigating the association between benzene and acute myeloid leukemia,
- investigating the association between trichloroethylene and kidney cancer, and
- analyzing noise-induced hearing loss issues to support an updated policy
Research Grants
We award grants to obtain up-to-date scientific evidence to inform policy development.
Research requests to support grants, as well as grant findings, are reviewed with our Scientific Advisory Table on Occupational Disease. The findings are then assessed, according to our Occupational Disease Policy Framework, to determine whether the development of new policy guidance or revision to existing guidance is supported.
The following research grants are in progress:
- Occupational asbestos exposure and lung cancer
- Workplace exposures and the development of occupational asthma
- Occupational silica exposure and lung cancer
- Occupational exposure to diesel engine exhaust and lung and bladder cancers
- Occupational exposure to vapours, gases, dusts and fumes and the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
| Topic | Description | Links |
|---|---|---|
| Occupational asbestos exposure and gastrointestinal cancers (2024) | In 2021, we commissioned an external team of experts to review and summarize the epidemiological evidence on the association between occupational asbestos exposure and gastrointestinal cancers. The team delivered their final report in 2023, which is the most comprehensive review of the evidence to date. |
|
| Sarcoidosis (2024) | Rapid review to determine the level of evidence for an association between occupational exposures and the development of sarcoidosis | Occupational exposures and sarcoidosis: a rapid review of the evidence |
| Poisonings (2023) | Effective December 13, 2023, poisonings due to work-related exposure to ammonia, chlorine, and hydrogen sulfide were added as new occupational diseases to Schedule 3 of Ontario Regulation 175/98 under the WSIA | Schedule 3 of Ontario Regulation 175/98 |
| Parkinson’s disease and McIntyre Powder-exposed miners (2022) | Independent study to gain a better understanding of the relationship between the use of McIntyre Powder in Ontario mines and the development of neurological health outcomes in former miners.
Based on the study results, Parkinson’s disease was added as a new occupational disease to Schedule 3 of Ontario Regulation 175/98 under the WSIA effective January 27, 2022. | McIntyre Powder update web page
|
Related Info
Using scientific evidence and principles to help determine the work-relatedness of cancer
“Value for Money Audit Report: Occupational Disease and Survivor Benefit Program”
For more information, please contact odprb@wsib.on.ca