Excerpt from the OH&S Canada magazine (January 2016)
Ontario launched a new occupational health clinic in Ottawa on January 21, 2016. The full-service clinic will treat injured workers in Eastern Ontario and help to reduce work-related injury and disease.
A statement from the Ontario Ministry of Labour (MOL) says the provincial government will provide $777,000 for the new clinic, with ongoing financial support continuing every year. The Ottawa clinic is the sixth fully staffed occupational health clinic in the province. None of the other five are located in Eastern Ontario, so injured workers previously had to travel to Toronto or Sudbury for consultations.
“This clinic is an excellent addition to the services provided to injured workers by our government in the region,” says Ontario Labour Ministry Kevin Flynn, who attended the opening ceremony in Ottawa. The ceremony included a ribbon cutting, following by an open house and lunch reception, according to a statement from the Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers (OHCOW).
“This new clinic is all about putting workers first and making sure Ontario continues to be one of the safest places to work in the world,” Yasir Nagvi, Member of Provincial Parliament for the Ottawa Centre riding, says in a statement.
He adds that the Ottawa clinic would “boost support for local workers and expand resources to improve worker safety right across Eastern Ontario.”
The MOL notes that the new clinic will offer clinical, diagnostic and preventive services for injured workers living in Eastern Ontario. Employees can access the clinic’s services by contacting OHCOW directly, although the Ottawa clinic is not yet listed on the OHCOW website’s contact page. The Ottawa clinic has been temporarily set up in a building adjacent to the permanent space, which is currently being renovated, OHCOW notes.
My opinion
I was surprised to finds out that Ontario waited so long to protect eastern Ontario workers. It was a long time coming but there is nothing worse as to seek treatment so far away. Toronto or Sunbury would be a long trip and, if family is included, the burden to all would be great.
Treatment should be as close as possible. Thank you, Ontario government, for seeing the benefit of adding the new clinic. The workers in the particular area would be pleased.
Ensure your workplace is a safe place.
Remember – In Ontario, “ALL Accidents are Preventable”
‘Work’ and ‘Play’ safe.
Daniel L. Beal
CHSEP – Advanced Level
VP & Senior Trainer
HRS Group Inc.