Workers

Please submit a completed Worker’s Report of Occupational Disease (Form 6S) to open a claim for a presumptive cancer for firefighters.

For firefighters, 19 cancers are presumed to be a consequence of their employment so we can make faster decisions on their claims.

The 19 cancers and the prescribed criteria are as follows.

For diseases listed in the first table: Diagnosed with the listed disease on or after December 14, 2015 for career firefighters, and diagnosed with the listed disease on or after January 1, 2017 for volunteer firefighters.

For diseases listed in the second table: Diagnosed with the listed disease on or after December 18, 2019 for both career and volunteer firefighters.

Minimum years of service: Cumulative sum of all service periods as a firefighter, with regular exposure to the hazards of a fire scene, other than a forest fire scene.

*Primary site colorectal cancer: Presumption excludes firefighters with a primary site colorectal cancer diagnosis obtained after the age of 61.

**Primary site lung cancer: The firefighter must not have smoked or inhaled a tobacco product in the ten years prior to the date of diagnosis.


If presumption does not apply, your claim may still be reviewed by the occupational disease team. 

Click here to learn more about submitting an occupational disease claim or visit MyWorkplaceNL.

Please submit a completed Worker’s Report of Injury (Form 6) to open a claim for presumptive post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).  We also require an Employer’s Report of Injury (Form 7) and documentation confirming a PTSD diagnosis from a psychiatrist or registered psychologist.

PTSD is presumed to be a consequence of your work if you have experienced one or more traumatic event(s) at work so we can make a faster decision on your claim.

Examples of traumatic events include, but are not limited to:

• Witnessing a fatality
• Being the victim of an armed robbery or hostage-taking incident
• Being subjected to physical violence
• Being subjected to threats of physical violence, where there is reason to believe that the threat is serious

If presumption does not apply, traumatic mental stress injuries, including PTSD, will be adjudicated using Policy EN-18: Mental Stress.
 
Click here to learn more about submitting an occupational disease claim or visit MyWorkplaceNL.

Please submit a completed Worker’s Report of Injury (Form 6) to open a claim for cardiac conditions. We also require an Employer’s Report of Injury (Form 7) and Physician’s Report (MD).

We adjudicate cardiac condition claims using Policy EN-04 Cardiac Conditions and Policy EN-22 Merits and Justice.

• Policy EN-04 Cardiac Conditions
• Policy EN-22 Merits and Justice
  

If presumption does not apply, your claim may still be reviewed by the occupational disease team. 

Click here to learn more about submitting an occupational disease claim or visit MyWorkplaceNL.

Presumptive coverage is legislation intended to simplify the claim process and help injured workers receive the assistance they need earlier.

Presumption assumes if the prescribed criteria are met, the cancers, cardiac conditions and/or PTSD as specified in the legislation are a consequence of employment as a firefighter, unless there is evidence to the contrary.

Under the presumptive benefit, eligible firefighters may receive income replacement benefits, required health care benefits and supports that are not covered by MCP. Income replacement benefits are subject to the maximum compensable earnings prescribed by Regulations.

Eligible firefighters may also qualify for a Permanent Functional Impairment (PFI) award where the diagnosed condition results in a functional impairment that is considered permanent or where the diagnosed occupational cancer is terminal.

If a firefighter covered by presumptive coverage passes away as a result of the diagnosed compensable occupational disease, a dependent may apply for benefits. If approved, benefits may include burial expenses, lump sum payments, monthly dependency benefits and bereavement counselling.

The time needed to decide on your claim depends on many circumstances, including:

• the nature of the medical condition,
• the amount of information available,
• how long it takes to gather and confirm your workplace exposure information, and
• how long it takes to obtain all relevant medical information.

We will contact you or your authorized representative to discuss your claim and will advise you of the decision in writing when ready.

WorkplaceNL will first give you a claim number. Please use this number whenever you contact us. We will then review your application, gather any required information and ask you for further information if necessary.

We will contact you, or your authorized representative, to discuss your claim and provide you with our contact details. We will advise you, or your authorized representative, of the decision in writing.

If you do not find the answers you’re looking for on our website, we have a dedicated team who are available to help. Please contact us through your MyWorkplaceNL account, by email at [email protected] or by phone at 1.800.563.9000.

In addition, workers can authorize someone of their choosing to assist with their claim by completing an Authorized Representative Form (Form 13). Workers may also avail of the services of Worker Advisors to assist with their claim. Click here to learn more.