Work Related Injury/Illness - WSIB (Worker's Compensation) process

This section is designed to guide you through the regular work-related illness or injury process. For non-work injuries, see the WIP section of our website.

Follow the steps below and do not hesitate to contact your CUPE resources if you need any additional information.

For your convenience, you'll also find relevant forms and documents for WSIB here & WIP here.

***For work related COVID illness scroll down to the COVID section (section 2b) at the bottom of this page***

1: Intro to Reporting Injuries

We urge you to take the time you need to be well!

It is crucial that you report your illness or injury regardless of whether you feel the need to book-off or not. Report it if you feel unfit for duty due to a work-related injury or illness, even if you are on days off. This allows the joint Workplace Health and Safety Committee to conduct a Hazardous Occurrence Investigation and Report, in accordance with the Canada Labour Code and the Canada Occupational Health and Safety regulations. In turn, we can find ways to prevent similar injuries or illnesses from recurring. Help your Union and your Workplace Health and Safety Committee help you!

If you are ill or injured because of work, you can report it through either the Work Related Injury/Illness eReport or the paper-based ACF32-8 Flight Attendant Injury/Accident Report. The eReport can be found at sims.aircanada.ca. Whereas the paper-based report is here; you can scan and e-mail or fax it to your Occupational Health and Safety Manager (lauren.bordynuik@aircanada.ca/ Tel:905-676-4396 / Fax: 905-676-4543).

If you feel this illness or injury was caused by something that can be changed, you can report it through either the Health and Safety Complaint eReport or the paper-based ACF32 Employee Safety & Health Concern Form.

Be aware that the Union is not always provided a copy of your reports.

2: Book-Off Process and Submitting a Claim

2a: Non-Covid Related Illness or Injury

Follow the steps below for any work-related injury or illness (other than COVID) if you must book-off due to a work-related illness or injury - which can include trauma from a work-related incident. If you are simply reporting an injury which requires medical assistance, follow the same steps and disregard booking-off/on and modified duties.

1) Complete and submit either the Work Related Injury/Illness eReport or the ACF32-8 Flight Attendant Injury/Accident Report, if you have not already done so.

2) Call Crew Scheduling to book off as "Injury on Duty."

3) Obtain medical attention as soon as possible to file your Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) claim. If your doctor is unavailable, visit a clinic.
- a) Residents of Quebec should contact CUPE Local 4091 for assistance with CNESST (514-422-2235 / cnesst.scfp@gmail.com).

4) Advise the doctor that this is an "Injury on Duty."
- a) The doctor will complete the WSIB Form 8 Health Professional's Report and submit it to WSIB to file your claim.
- b) The doctor will provide you with Page 2 of Form 8, which you must scan and e-mail, or fax, to the Crew Productivity team (ifs.absencereporting@aircanada.ca/ Fax: 905-676-4543).

5) Your doctor, or specialist, must complete a Functional Abilities Form (FAF) and submit it to WSIB.
- a) The FAF should be completed at each follow-up appointment, as your limitations change during your rehabilitation.

6) Your Crew Productivity Manager will e-mail your Air Canada account within 24-hours of receiving your report. They will offer you modified duties within your limitations.
- a) **PLEASE NOTE** You must accept the offer otherwise your WSIB claim may be denied. If you are concerned regarding the proposed modified duties contact your CUPE Workers Compensation Committee representative (office@local4092.ca / 905-676-4293).
- b) Respond immediately to the request, in writing, that you are "willing to accept the offer of modified duties within the limitations set out in Form 8 and the Functional Abilities Form."
- c) Retain a copy of all correspondence with the Crew Productivity Manager's office.

7) Complete the WSIB Form 6 Worker's Report of Injury/Disease (https://eservices.wsib.on.ca/portal/server.pt/community/eform_6/209); otherwise, WSIB will contact you for additional information.

8) If you believe your absence will be for more than 7 days, apply to the Wage Indemnity Plan (WIP). This is in addition to your WSIB claim. WIP protects your wages in the event that your WSIB claim is denied.
- a) Important: If you are applying for WSIB, you can usually use a copy of your WSIB form 8 (medical report) instead of paying your doctor to fill out the WIP medical report. To do this, simply fill in your information on page 1 of the WIP form and attach a copy of your WSIB medical report (WSIB form 8) instead of having the physician's statement on page 2 of the WIP form completed. If you choose not to do this, we recommend providing the WIP forms to your doctor during your initial appointment, to avoid additional visits - there is often a charge for filling out the WIP form, you are responsible for these charges.
- b) For more information regarding WIP contact your WIP Committee representative (Patricia Eberley eberleywip@accomponent.ca / 1-877-411-3552 ext. 258).

9) Once you are cleared by your doctor to return to regular duties, contact the Air Canada Occupational Health Services (905-676-2400).
- a) Advise them that you sustained a "Lost Time Injury on Duty" and that you are cleared to return to work by your doctor. Follow their instructions.
- b) Once you are cleared by the Occupational Health Services, call Crew Scheduling to book back on.

10) If you were absent for more than 7 days, and were cleared by the Occupational Health Services, you must contact Planning to advise them that you are on "Active Status" and to be re-instated onto the regular payroll. You do not have to contact them if you were booked off for less than 7 days.

We know this can be overwhelming. We are available to you if you need any clarification or assistance during the process. Your CUPE Local 4092 Health and Safety team members are copied in this e-mail and are there to help you.

Remember to keep a copy of all documents and correspondence.

2b: COVID Related Illness (from Workplace exposure)

This section is designed to guide you through the work-related COVID-19 illness process. The process differs from other work-related injuries or illnesses. Read through the steps below and do not hesitate to contact CUPE if you need any additional information or support. You'll find relevant information, forms, contact lists, and documents in the documents section of the website here.

Most of all, we urge you to take the time you need to be well!

If you become sick, it is crucial that you report it regardless of whether you will book-off or not. This allows the joint Workplace Health and Safety Committee to conduct a Hazardous Occurrence Investigation and Report, in accordance with the Canada Labour Code and the Canada Occupational Health and Safety regulations. In turn, we can find ways to prevent similar situations from recurring. Help your Union and your Workplace Health and Safety Committee help you!

Since December 31, publicly funded PCR testing are only available for high-risk individuals who are symptomatic and/or are at risk of severe illness from COVID-19, including for the purposes of confirming a COVID-19 diagnosis to begin treatment, and workers and residents in the highest risk settings, as well as vulnerable populations. Members of the general public with mild symptoms are asked not to seek testing. Air Canada's isolation period matches your province of residence -the updated information regarding this and provincial links can be found on the aeronet homepage, under the "covid19 information" tab.

Follow the steps below if you become ill with COVID-19 and you believe it is work related.

If you are only reporting an illness without booking off, follow the same steps but disregard the steps for booking-off/on.

1) Call Crew Scheduling to book-off as "Injury on Duty" (even if it is an illness). Tell them it is COVID-19 related.

2) Complete and submit either the Work Related Injury/Illness eReport or the ACF32-8 Flight Attendant Injury/Accident Report, if you have not already done so.
-a) The eReport is found on sims.aircanada.ca or ACaeronet > Safety > Submit a Safety Report, eReports > New eReport > Work Related Injury/Illness.
-b) The paper-based report can be scanned and e-mailed, or fax it to your Occupational Health and Safety Manager (E: lauren.bordynuik@aircanada.ca / T: 905-676-4396 / F: 905-676-4543).

3) Your IFS Crew Productivity Manager's office will e-mail your Air Canada account within 24 hours of receiving your report.
-a) Review this e-mail and all attachments.
-b) Respond to their e-mail as soon as possible.
-c) If they offer modified duties, contact your CUPE Workers Compensation Committee representative (E:office@local4092.ca / T: 905-676-4293).

4) Complete the WSIB Form 6 Worker's Report of Injury/Disease as soon as possible (https://www.wsib.ca/)to start your Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) claim.
-a) Residents of Quebec should contact CUPE Local 4091 for assistance with CNESST (T: 514-422-2235 / E: cnesst.scfp@gmail.com)
-b) Call WSIB (1-800-387-0750) and explain that:
--i)You are a cabin crew member in isolation because you contracted COVID-19 at the workplace;
--ii) You submitted your WSIB Form 6;
--iii) Follow their instructions.

5) When your isolation period ends, or if you can do it virtually beforehand, visit your doctor or a clinic to complete WSIB Form 8 Health Professional's Report.
-a) Advise the doctor that this is an "Injury on Duty."
-b) The doctor will complete the WSIB Form 8 and submit it to WSIB.
-c) Obtain a copy of Page 2 of Form 8, which you must scan and e-mail, or fax, to your IFS Return to Work Manager (E: ifs.absencereporting@aircanada.ca / F: 905-676-4543).

6) If you believe your absence will be for more than 7 days, apply to the Wage Indemnity Plan (WIP).
-This is in addition to your WSIB claim. WIP protects your wages in the event that your WSIB claim is denied.
-a) We recommend providing the WIP forms to your doctor during your initial appointment, to avoid additional visits.
-b) If your doctor already completed WSIB Form 8, you can usually provide a copy of it with your WIP application instead of getting your doctor to complete the WIP Attending Physician Statement (Page 2 of the WIP form).
-c) For more information regarding WIP contact your WIP Committee representative (Patricia Eberley E: eberleywip@accomponent.ca / T: 1-877-411-3552 ext. 258) or click here.

7) If you completed the isolation period and still have symptoms, contact the Air Canada Occupational Health Services (T: 905-676-2400) and follow their instructions.

8) If you completed the isolation period and are asymptomatic, you can book back on.

9) If you were absent for more than 7 days after the self-isolation period, and were cleared by Occupational Health Services, you must book back on & contact Planning to return to "Active Status" and be re-instated on the regular payroll. You do not have to call them if you were absent for less than 7 days.

We know this can be overwhelming. We are available to you if you need any clarification or assistance during the process.

Remember to keep a copy of all documents and correspondence!
office@local4092.ca
1-905-676-4293
© CUPE Local 4092