Occupational Illness
An occupational illness is a health condition or disorder that is caused by the work environment or related activities. They can be disruptive, disabling and sometimes fatal. Examples range from hearing loss to asthma, infections and some cancers. We encourage you to explore the many topics below as well as the services and resources we offer related to each. Occupational illness and its prevention requires engagement and action at all levels of the Prevention System and beyond – from communities, families, workers, managers, safety reps, owners, safety professionals, health care providers and regulators.
For information about Clinical Diagnosis, please see our About Us Page
Key topics in Occupational Disease:
ILLNESSES
From cancers to heart disease to respiratory issues, illness of many types can be related to our work. It is important to know the hazards of your job, and take whatever precautions are required to work safely and stay healthy on the job.
EXPOSURES
Exposure to asbestos, allergens and irritants, diesel exhausts, noise, heat/cold, and silica can all cause adverse health effects if not controlled properly. It is important to recognize those exposuures and their potential outcomes.
PREVENTION
Recognizing and preventing work-related illness continues to present significant challenges, and requires different (and sometimes unique) approaches from those that target injuries.
Occupational Illness Webinar Series
OCC-TOBER & BEYOND
An Annual Webinar Series Sharing Information on Occupational Health and Illness/Disease Prevention
OCC-COVID
An ongoing series of webinars that present the current COVID situation and provide guidance and direction for dealing with it. See our COVID-19 Page for more information.
OCC-DISEASE PREVENTION
An Annual Webinar Series providing the latest research and workplace knowledge to help those impacted now, and prevent such harm in the future
INDUSTRIES / SECTORS
Different industries / sectors have different health and safety issues to deal with. Below are the major industries along with resources provided to help deal with the issues.
ONTARIO'S OCCUPATIONAL DISEASE ACTION PLAN (ODAP)
The current ODAP was developed in late 2016 to focus the Prevention System and other key Stakeholder energies and efforts on Occupational Disease prevention.
Updates to the Plan are in the works and will be posted here as soon as they become available.
SUBMISSIONS
OHCOW’s mission includes a goal to protect workers and their communities from occupational diseases, injuries, and illnesses.
As part of this mission, OHCOW encourages health-based and evidence-based occupational exposure limits (OELs) for chemicals, and equivalent sound exposure level criteria for noise exposure.
OHCOW has produced submissions for Ontario’s Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD), and its predecessor ministries (MLTSD, MOL), to address evidence-based limits for Ontario regulations.
OHCOW SERVICES
OHCOW offers a variety of services that you or your workplace can utilize
in dealing with work-related injuries or illnesses.
From an information/inquiry service to medical diagnostic services, and education and outreach programs
to group services and research services we are here to help in any way we can.
We also offer advocate, health professional, self, and joint health and safety representative and committee referrals.
IN YOUR WORDS
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I was treated like a human being and not like a statistic by all levels of staff - from administration to the nurse to the doctor. Thank you so very much for your support.
Anonymous
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Despite my lack of language proficiency, your office made the necessary effort to understand me and made me comfortable to express my issues at ease.
Anonymous
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I received professional service. the staff is very friendly and considerate. They talked in a way I understood even though my English is very limited.
Anonymous
