top of page

December 01, 2025

​

Dear ROFFA members,

 

I am pleased to inform you of a new procedure that has just been put in place regarding ROFFA members (OFS retirees, urban and rural) and WSIB claims.

 

As you know, there are several Firefighter Cancers that are currently covered under the Ontario Presumptive Legislation and if you are diagnosed with one of them, you should file a claim. We also recommend that you file a claim even if your cancer is not currently listed under the Presumptive Legislation in case it is ever added to the list in the future. You can expect the claim to be denied by WSIB but at least, it will be on record.

 

Furthermore, noise induced hearing loss can also be covered if you meet the criteria.

 

In the unlikely event that your claim under the Presumptive Legislation is denied, our ROFFA WSIB Liaison Director Steve Brabazon will be happy to refer you to the IAFF local 162 WSIB Chair who can assist you in determining if an appeal is called for. If that would be the case, that person could then help you further. You can rest assured that all communications between you and our representatives will always be kept in strict confidentiality

 

This new comprehensive procedure was put together and made possible thanks to the kind support from Fire Chief Paul Hutt, Deputy Chief Nathan Adams and Chief of Safety Gerry Gill.

 

Steve Brabazon and I have been working on this with Fire Chief Hutt and his team for several weeks now and making sure that no details were overlooked. We are confident that this will help streamline the process quickly and efficiently in getting your claims to WSIB.

 

I also want to take this opportunity to thank all those involved with WSIB at local 162 for their time and efforts with WSIB claims over the past many years. they have done some amazing work on all our behalf.

 

Please refer to the detailed information below or you can go always visit our website under the section “Health and Wellness” Health and Wellness | roffa . Make sure to keep this information in a safe place for future reference.

 

Please do not hesitate to contact Steve via email stevebrabazon@roffa.ca  if you have any questions.

 

Fraternally yours,

​

Bob Larochelle

 

President

Retired Ottawa Fire Fighters Association

www.roffa.ca

boblarochelle@roffa.ca

 

 

 

ROFFA – Reporting an Occupational Illness / Injury

​

 

You will be contacted by the Division Chief of Safety, and your report information can be taken over the phone.  The process will take approximately 15 minutes to complete.

Information required for report

​

  • Employee number, date of hire, date of retire.

  • The date of diagnosis including the physician’s name, address, and phone number.

  • Any other medical conditions that were diagnosed that could be related to firefighting.

  • The name, address and phone number of the relative who will correspond with WSIB.

  • The name, address, and phone number of the spouse (if filing a spousal claim under presumptive legislation)

 

Once the report is filed, WSIB will contact you to discuss your claim and next steps.

  • You will be given an 8-digit number that is your claim #.

  • You will be sent a Form 6 “Worker Report of Injury” that will be returned to WSIB.

  • This form may also be filled out using Online services | WSIB

 

Presumptive Legislation – Firefighter Cancer

​

“If a firefighter or a fire investigator is diagnosed with a presumptive cancer on or after January 1, 1960, and meets the employment duration and additional criteria for the cancer, then the disease is presumed to be an occupational disease due to the nature of the worker’s employment, unless the contrary is shown.”

​

https://www.wsib.ca/en/operational-policy-manual/cancers-firefighters-and-fire-investigators

https://www.wsib.ca/en/frequently-asked-questions-firefighter-presumptive-care

 

Noise Induced Hearing Loss

​

If you have a noise-induced hearing loss averaging at least 22.5 dB in each ear in the 4 speech frequencies, you will be entitled to health care and rehabilitation benefits.

 

If you have an average hearing loss of 26.25 dB in both ears, or an average hearing loss of 25 dB in your better ear and 32.5 dB in your worse ear, you will be referred for a non-economic loss (NEL) assessment.

​

  • Once the disability is recognized, you will have a right to health care benefits, including the cost of hearing aids and batteries. These can be very expensive, costing up to several hundreds of dollars per year.

  • If your date of injury is after January 2, 1990, you may be entitled to a non-economic loss (NEL) award. This is an award that recognizes the permanent effects of your injury on your life outside of work. However, when it comes to hearing loss, NEL awards are quite low.

  • Retired OFS members can submit one claim post-retirement (occupational injury), so please ensure that you meet the criteria to qualify for benefits before making a WSIB claim.

 

Noise Induced Hearing Loss - Office of the Worker Adviser (gov.on.ca)

https://www.wsib.ca/en/operational-policy-manual/occupational-noise-induced-hearing-loss

bottom of page