Fourth Documented Work Accident and Injurries
- Upper-back, Neck, and Head - July 7, 1997:
I would regularly be hit by boxes and other items, while unloading the trailer at the stores. I would also end up taking a day or two off work, as a result of my work injuries. The employer was well aware of this, as I would contact them to book a day off and tell them why.
In one instance, I even documented a work accident where I ended up taking several days off work after words. On July 7, 1997, I reported to Canadian Tire by putting it in writing what happened on my run sheet when I handed it in. I wrote:
“Driver hit in shoulder/back of head with 4-5 boxes. Dangerous load, typical A.J. load! I have never seen such an unsafe work environment as this!”
I then I took a copy and provided a copy to my employer. I kept a copy and provide a copy for you to see yourself.
(Click image to obtain pdf copy
of my run sheet)
Months later, in a conversation with the WCB I would inform them that I did suffer other injuries at work. I had reported it to my employer. The WCB stated to me that it could not have happened as their reasoning was if the employer never reported it, then it never happened. I would also later confirm I had missed numerous days off work due to my work injury. This was when I provided a letter from Monique Rivard who use to work for Action Force as a supervisor. She confided in me that she was pushed to force injured workers back to work. It was from management and against her better judgement. It was obvious to me that it was not her decision, but a company practice and policy of Action Force. In return of her feeling bad about Action Force’s treatment towards me she provided a letter confirming me missing days of work due to ongoing work injury problems. She didn’t want to include the conversation with the Canadian Tire Dispatcher, Sheldon Wheeler, where he said he would fire me and another worker if we didn’t return to regular work soon. Monique didn’t want to include this in her letter because she may end up dealing with Canadian Tire again in the future and did not want to comprise her position with them.
Employer Intentional Claim Suppression!
Claim suppression is when employers are intentioally not reporting work accidents to the WCB/WSIB/WorkSafe. This has become a common practice of employers not reporting every incident of workplace accident to the WCB/WSIB/WorkSafe. Employers would falsely and intentionally claim workers were not hurt at work. The purpose was to keep their WCB/WSIB/WorkSafe premiums costs low. This has been confirmed in studies conducted in Ontario, British Columbia, and Manitoba. This is where it was found that in some instances more than 25% claims of workplace accidents were and are intentionally and deceptively suppressed by employers.,Not surprisingly the WCBs do little if anything at all knowing this as the only ones who suffering are injured workers and they do not matter to the WCBs!
(Click image to obtain pdf copy
of the report)
To read see my fifth workplace accidnet click here
To return to the third workplace accident click here