CANADA Manitoba has New Workers Comp Protections for Firefighters

Manitoba Firefighters Receive Expanded Workplace Protections

Changes to the Workers’ Compensation Act, further protecting Manitoba firefighters by expanding the list of presumptive diseases is now fully implemented with the recent passing of a new regulation, according to Labour and Immigration Minister Nancy Allan.

“Our government has worked to become a national leader in workers’ compensation coverage to protect Manitoba’s firefighters,” said Allan. “The health hazards firefighters are exposed to have been well established and firefighters are now further protected under this expanded legislation.”

The new changes list specific illnesses and injuries presumed to be caused by firefighting to include primary site esophageal and testicular cancers. These cancers develop after regular employment exposure over many years. The province has set the minimum periods of employment at 25 years for esophageal cancer and 10 years for testicular cancer.

“Manitoba has again become the leader in North America in dealing with proper workers’ compensation rights for firefighters diagnosed with occupational disease,” said Alex Forrest, president of the United Fire Fighters of Winnipeg. “The government has truly raised the bar for other jurisdictions across North America.”

In 2002, Manitoba became the first jurisdiction to have a firefighter presumption including brain, bladder and kidney cancer, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and leukemia.

In 2005, the Workers’ Compensation Act was amended to expand the presumption to part-time and volunteer firefighters and to add ureter, colorectal cancers, lung cancers in non-smokers and heart injuries within 24 hours of an emergency response. (workersxzcompxzkit)

“The province will continue to support our firefighters who face safety risks in their service to Manitobans each and every day,” added Allan.

Author Robert Elliott, executive vice president, Amaxx Risks Solutions, Inc. has worked successfully for 20 years with many industries to reduce Workers’ Compensation costs, including airlines, health care, manufacturing, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality and manufacturing. He can be contacted at: Robert_Elliott@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com or 860-786-8286.

We are accepting short articles* (200-300 words) on WC cost containment. Non-salesy, written from employer’s viewpoint. To: Info@WorkersCompKit.com. *Non-compensable.

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Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker about workers’ comp issues.