Return to Work Resources Page



When injuries and illness occur in the workplace, it is important for the employer and injured worker to minimize the human and financial impacts by focusing on getting the worker back to safe and productive work as soon as medically possible. Most people who have a workplace injury or illness are able to return to some type of work even while they are still recovering. Returning to daily work and life activities can actually help an injured worker's recovery and reduce the chance of long-term disability. Both the employer and injured worker benefit in cooperating in the worker's early and safe return to work. The worker benefits by restoring his or her source of income and staying active and productive; key elements in the healing and recovery process. The employer benefits by minimizing the financial and human costs of the injury or illness.
New Regulation on Return to Work for Construction
There is a new regulation (Regulation 35/08) under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act concerning return to work and re-employment for the construction industry. The regulation came into force in September 2008 and will be enforced with penalties starting September 15, 2009. The new regulation, spells out new rules for employers and workers regarding cooperation on return to work describes re-employment obligations for construction employers helps to improve return-to-work outcomes for the construction sector reflects employment realities that are unique to the construction industry.
Regulation Resources
Ontario Regulation 35/08 Return to Work and Re-employment – Construction Industry (7 pages) Backgrounder – New Regulation on Return to Work and Re-employment for Construction Key concepts of new re-employment policies (2 pages) Questions and Answers New Return to Work and Re-employment Regulation for the Construction Industry (6 pages) Re-employing Injured Workers Fact sheet (2 pages) New Construction Regulation Re-employment Scenarios 10 sample scenarios (13 pages)
Return to Work Program Resources
Introduction to Return to Work Programs How to develop a Return to Work Program (6 pages) Health and Safety/Return to Work Assessment Tool Based on the WSIB’s 5 Steps to Managing Health and Safety (54 pages) Return to Work Self-Assessment Guide for Ontario workplaces Good practices for returning injured or ill workers back to work (21 pages) Samples of Return to Work Plans Develop individualized return to work plans (10 pages) Functional Abilities Form For planning early and safe return to work (4 pages) (Problems viewing the form? Visit the Functional Abilities Form page on the WSIB website.) More resources are available on the Return to Work page of CSAO's Health and Safety Policy and Program section, including: Sample Return to Work Policies Sample Return to Work Plan Sample Forms Sample Letters
More Information
For more information on the return to work, the new regulation and re-employment policies, visit the WSIB website at www.wsib.on.ca or call 1-800-387-0750. Return to Work for Employers (WSIB) Return to Work for Workers (WSIB)