Occupational Disease Update November 5, 2014 The causes of cancer and various illnesses are multifactoral, for the purposes of compensation a causal relationship between the workplace and the disease must be shown. Work need not be the sole or predominant cause; however for a claim to succeed the workplace must be shown to be a significant contributing factor. United Steelworkers Local 2251 has been assisting past and present members as well as their survivors with Workplace Safety and Insurance Board claims for occupational diseases. As you can see from the tables below, asbestos has been shown to be a significant contributing factor in the development of various cancers such as lung, laryngeal, and gastro-intestinal cancers. There are other occupational diseases that have a different workplace element accepted as a causal factor. These exposures are not the sole cause for the diseases listed with the exceptions of mesothelioma, asbestosis, and silicosis which are among the few diseases to have only one known cause. The unfortunate reality of occupational disease claims is that not only is there a lack of scientific knowledge concerning the cause for many diseases, there is also the lack of reporting of diseases that have the potential to be work related. Scientific studies are expensive to conduct and as a result the vast majority are sponsored by large corporations. Statistics can provide persuasive evidence for a cause and effect relationship, incidence rates are often used to examine underlying causes. We are managing the information collected during our intake interviews to provide this vital piece of information. After decades of lobbying the government and collecting data regarding cancer/disease incidence rates, the firefighters have been successful with a number of occupational diseases not previously recognized as being work related. Our Union is in the initial phase of this type of work and we are striving to achieve this type of success. We encourage all individuals affected by disease to report it and seek the assistance of their union. United Steelworkers Local 2251 is posting the statistics that we collected as of January 29, 2014 to provide all concerned individuals and/or steelworkers with information that could assist them with a claim. Further we want to ensure that workers become aware that a claim may be filed for a disease they may have contracted due to a workplace exposure. Exposure and work information for our successful claims is summarized from the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board decision letters. The website will be updated with future successes and reported diseases.
Current Reported Illnesses & Diseases Disease Total Intakes Acute Myeloblastic Leukaemia 7 Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis 1 Aneurism 5 Asbestosis 10 Asthma 31 Bronchiectasis 1 Bronchitis 2 Cancer Bladder 52 Cancer Brain 18 Cancer Breast 2 Cancer Colorectal 100 Cancer Esophageal 23 Cancer Eye 2 Cancer Intestinal 3 Cancer Kidney 54 Cancer Laryngeal 17 Cancer Liver 16 Cancer Lung 161 Cancer Nasal 2 Cancer Oral 10 Cancer Pancreas 28 Cancer Prostate 90 Cancer Salivary Gland 6 Cancer Skin 53 Cancer Soft Tissue 6 Cancer Stomach 19 Cancer Testicular 6 Cancer Throat 2 Cancer Thyroid 16 Cancer Tonsil 4 Cancer unknown primary/not stated 8 Cancer Ureter 3 Chronic Lymphatic Leukaemia 12 Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia 10 Chronic Obstructive 120 Coronary Artery Disease 34
Dermatitis 5 Emphysema 3 Encephalitis 1 Heart Condition/Disease non specific 40 Heavy Metal Poisoning 2 Hodgkin s Lymphoma 1 Kidney Failure 4 Kidney Stones 3 Leukaemia non specific 2 Liver Failure 3 Lung Condition non specific 10 Lupus 3 Mercury Poisoning 1 Mesothelioma 6 Morphea 1 Multiple Chemical Sensitivity 1 Multiple Myeloma 11 Multiple Sclerosis 1 Myelodysplastic Syndrome 5 Nickel Allergy 1 Non Hodgkin s Lymphoma 37 Paget s Disease 1 Parkinson s Disease 16 Peripheral Neuropathy 1 Pleural Plaques 31 Polycythemia Vera 2 Polyps 3 Progressive Vision Loss 2 Psoriasis 1 Pulmonary Fibrosis 26 Sarcoidosis 3 Scleroderma 1 Silicosis 1 Supranuclear Palsy 1 Tumour Brain 4 Undiagnosed 106 Wegener s Disease 2 Total = 1176 Reported Diseases/Illnesses
Reported Disease Current Accepted Claims Total Accepted Accepted By WSIB Based On Criteria Acute Myeloid Leukaemia 1 Benzene exposure Asbestosis 9 Asbestos exposure Asthma 1 Asthma Sensitizers Cancer Bladder 1 Cumulative exposures (Foundry Worker) Cancer Bladder 1 Coke Oven Emissions Cancer Bladder 2 Oils & Greases Cancer Colorectal 10 Asbestos exposure Cancer Esophageal 1 Asbestos exposure Cancer Kidney 1 Cadmium, PAH s, Asbestos and other chemicals ARO Decision Cancer Laryngeal 4 Asbestos exposure Cancer Laryngeal 2 Cumulative exposure to welding fumes (Welder) Cancer Lung 63 Asbestos exposure Cancer Lung 1 Cumulative exposure to Asbestos, respirable Quartz, Arsenic, Coal Tar Pitch Volatiles, Silica, Metal Fumes Cancer Lung 1 Cumulative exposure (Foundry Worker) Cancer Lung 3 Cumulative exposure to Asbestos & Coke Oven Emissions Cancer Lung 1 Cumulative exposures to Asbestos, Coke Oven Emissions, Silica Cancer Lung 6 Coke Oven Emissions exposure 1 ARO Decision Cancer Lung 1 Cumulative exposure to Asbestos, Coke Oven Emissions, Coal Tar Pitch Volatiles Cancer Lung 2 Cumulative exposure to Asbestos, Silica, Coal Tar Pitch Volatiles, Hexavalent Chromium (Chrome VI) Cancer Lung 1 Cumulative exposure to Crystalline Silica, Coal Tar Pitch Volatiles Cancer Lung 1 Cumulative exposure to multiple lung carcinogens while working in the Blast Furnaces-ARO Decision Cancer Lung 1 Silica Cancer Skin 22 Process involving use or handling of tar pitch, bitumen, mineral oil, paraffin or any compound, product or residue of these substances Cancer Skin 2 UV from welding flash (Welder) Cancer Skin 1 Process involving use or handling of tar pitch, bitumen, mineral oil, paraffin or any compound, product or residue of these substances, Solar UV radiation Cancer Stomach 3 Asbestos exposure Cancer Tonsil (oropharyngeal) 1 Asbestos exposure-aro Decision Cancer Ureter 1 Multifactoral Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary 69 50mg/m3 yrs Disease Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 2 50mg/m3 yrs and exposure to sulphur dioxide (SO2) Dermatitis 2 Cumulative exposures to irritants Emphysema 2 50mg/m3 yrs Kidney Stones 1 Cumulative exposure to extreme heat
Mesothelioma 6 Asbestos exposure Myelodysplastic Syndrome 1 Benzene exposure Nickel Allergy 1 Nickel exposure Non-Hodgkin s Lymphoma 1 Cumulative exposure to Welding & Soldering, Varsol, Chlorinated Solvents, (trichloroethylene), Benzene, Coke Oven Emissions & Condensate, Light Oil-ARO Decision Non-Hodgkin s Lymphoma 1 Cumulative exposure to benzene and positive report from OHCOW ARO Decision Non-Hodgkin s Lymphoma 1 Cumulative exposure to several substances associated with an increased risk of NHL including; chlorinated solvents, benzene, and coal tar pitch volatiles & positive OHCOW report ARO Decision Non-Hodgkin s Lymphoma 1 Cumulative exposure to trichloroethane, varsol/stoddard solvents and trichloroethylene Pleural Plaques 31 Asbestos exposure Psoriasis 1 Cumulative exposure to irritants Pulmonary Fibrosis 1 Balance of probability based on cumulative dust exposure-aro Decision Pulmonary Fibrosis 1 Cumulative exposures to dust, fumes and particulate Silicosis 1 Silica Total 267
Current Accepted Claims Including Departments Where Exposures Occurred 1 Acute Myeloid Leukaemia Benzene 2 Asbestosis Asbestos exposure 3 Asbestosis Asbestos exposure Algoma Ore 4 Asbestosis Asbestos exposure 5 Asbestosis Asbestos exposure 6 Asbestosis Asbestos exposure 7 Asbestosis Asbestos exposure 8 Asbestosis Asbestos exposure 9 Asbestosis Asbestos exposure 10 Asbestosis Asbestos exposure 11 Asthma Sensitizers 12 Cancer Bladder Cumulative exposure Foundry Open Hearth 13 Cancer Bladder Coke Oven Emissions 14 Cancer Bladder Oils & Greases 15 Cancer Bladder Oils & Greases 16 Cancer Colorectal Asbestos exposure 17 Cancer Colorectal Asbestos exposure 18 Cancer Colorectal Asbestos exposure 19 Cancer Colorectal Asbestos exposure 20 Cancer Colorectal Asbestos exposure 21 Cancer Colorectal Asbestos exposure Bloom & Billet 22 Cancer Colorectal Asbestos exposure 23 Cancer Colorectal Asbestos exposure 24 Cancer Colorectal Asbestos exposure 25 Cancer Colorectal Asbestos exposure Utilities 26 Cancer Esophageal Asbestos exposure Transportation
Merchant Mill 27 Cancer Kidney Cadmium, PAH s, Asbestos and other chemicals ARO Decision 28 Cancer Laryngeal Asbestos exposure Blast Furnace 29 Cancer Laryngeal Asbestos exposure Bloom & Billet Cold Mill 30 Cancer Laryngeal Asbestos exposure 31 Cancer Laryngeal Asbestos exposure 32 Cancer Laryngeal Cumulative exposure to welding fumes Welder 33 Cancer Laryngeal Cumulative exposure to welding fumes Welder 34 Cancer Lungs Asbestos exposure Bloom & Billet 35 Cancer Lungs Asbestos exposure 36 Cancer Lungs Asbestos exposure Structural 37 Cancer Lungs Asbestos exposure Open Hearth 38 Cancer Lungs Asbestos exposure Structural 39 Cancer Lungs Asbestos exposure 40 Cancer Lungs Asbestos exposure Transportation 41 Cancer Lungs Asbestos exposure Structural 42 Cancer Lungs Asbestos exposure Merchant Mill Blast Furnace 43 Cancer Lungs Asbestos exposure Bloom & Billet 44 Cancer Lungs Asbestos exposure Bar & Strip 45 Cancer Lung Asbestos exposure 46 Cancer Lungs Asbestos exposure Cold Mill 47 Cancer Lungs Asbestos exposure Transportation 48 Cancer Lungs Asbestos exposure Blast Furnace Transportation 49 Cancer Lungs Asbestos exposure Bloom & Billet 50 Cancer Lungs Asbestos exposure 51 Cancer Lungs Asbestos exposure Structural
52 Cancer Lungs Asbestos exposure 53 Cancer Lungs Asbestos exposure 54 Cancer Lungs Asbestos exposure Construction 55 Cancer Lungs Asbestos exposure Transportation 56 Cancer Lungs Asbestos exposure Transportation 57 Cancer Lungs Asbestos exposure 58 Cancer Lungs Asbestos exposure Open Hearth 59 Cancer Lungs Asbestos exposure Bar & Strip Stores 60 Cancer Lungs Asbestos exposure Open Hearth 61 Cancer Lungs Asbestos exposure 62 Cancer Lungs Asbestos exposure Open Hearth 63 Cancer Lungs Asbestos exposure Energy 64 Cancer Lungs Asbestos exposure Bar & Strip 65 Cancer Lungs Asbestos exposure 66 Cancer Lungs Asbestos exposure Quality Control 67 Cancer Lungs Asbestos exposure Bloom & Billet Cold Mill 68 Cancer Lungs Asbestos exposure Structural 69 Cancer Lungs Asbestos exposure Transportation 70 Cancer Lungs Asbestos exposure 71 Cancer Lungs Asbestos exposure Open Hearth Services 72 Cancer Lungs Asbestos exposure Continuous Casting 73 Cancer Lungs Asbestos exposure Continuous Casting 74 Cancer Lungs Asbestos exposure 75 Cancer Lungs Asbestos exposure 76 Cancer Lungs Asbestos exposure 77 Cancer Lungs Asbestos exposure 78 Cancer Lungs Asbestos exposure 79 Cancer Lungs Asbestos exposure 80 Cancer Lungs Asbestos exposure Algoma Contractors 81 Cancer Lungs Asbestos exposure Algoma Contractors 82 Cancer Lungs Asbestos exposure Structural
83 Cancer Lungs Asbestos exposure 84 Cancer Lungs Asbestos exposure Cold Mill 85 Cancer Lungs Asbestos exposure Algoma Contractors 86 Cancer Lungs Asbestos exposure 87 Cancer Lungs Asbestos exposure 88 Cancer Lungs Asbestos exposure Bar & Strip 89 Cancer Lungs Asbestos exposure Bar & Strip 90 Cancer Lungs Asbestos exposure Ironmaking 91 Cancer Lungs Asbestos exposure 92 Cancer Lungs Asbestos exposure Transportation 93 Cancer Lungs Asbestos exposure 94 Cancer Lungs Asbestos exposure 95 Cancer Lungs Asbestos exposure 96 Cancer Lungs Asbestos exposure 97 Cancer Lungs Asbestos exposure 98 Cancer Lungs Cumulative exposure to Asbestos, respirable Ironmaking Quartz, Arsenic, Coal Tar Pitch Volatiles, Silica, Metal Fumes 99 Cancer Lungs Cumulative exposure (Foundry Worker) Foundry 100 Cancer Lungs Asbestos exposure & Coke Oven Emissions 101 Cancer Lungs Asbestos exposure & Coke Oven Emissions 102 Cancer Lungs Asbestos exposure & Coke Oven Emissions 103 Cancer Lungs Crystalline Silica & Coal Tar Pitch Volatiles Blast Furnace 104 Cancer Lungs Coke Oven Emissions 105 Cancer Lungs Coke Oven Emissions 106 Cancer Lungs Coke Oven Emissions 107 Cancer Lungs Coke Oven Emissions 108 Cancer Lungs Coke Oven Emissions 109 Cancer Lungs Coke Oven Emissions 110 Cancer Lungs Cumulative exposures to Asbestos, Coke Oven Emissions & Coal Tar Pitch Volatiles 111 Cancer Lungs Cumulative exposures to Asbestos, Silica, Coal Tar Pitch Volatiles & Chrome VI 112 Cancer Lungs Cumulative exposures to Asbestos, Silica, Coal Tar Pitch Volatiles & Chrome VI 113 Cancer Lungs Cumulative exposure to multiple lung carcinogens Ironmaking while working in the Blast Furnaces 114 Cancer Lungs Silica
115 Cancer Skin Process involving use or handling of tar pitch, 116 Cancer Skin Process involving use or handling of tar pitch, 117 Cancer Skin Process involving use or handling of tar pitch, 118 Cancer Skin Process involving use or handling of tar pitch, 119 Cancer Skin Process involving use or handling of tar pitch, 120 Cancer Skin Process involving use or handling of tar pitch, 121 Cancer Skin Process involving use or handling of tar pitch, 122 Cancer Skin Process involving use or handling of tar pitch, 123 Cancer Skin Process involving use or handling of tar pitch, 124 Cancer Skin Process involving use or handling of tar pitch, 125 Cancer Skin Process involving use or handling of tar pitch, 126 Cancer Skin Process involving use or handling of tar pitch, 127 Cancer Skin Process involving use or handling of tar pitch, 128 Cancer Skin Process involving use or handling of tar pitch, 129 Cancer Skin Process involving use or handling of tar pitch, Quality Control Ironmaking Bar & Strip Structural Ironmaking Bloom & Billet 130 Cancer Skin Process involving use or handling of tar pitch, Bloom & Billet
131 Cancer Skin Process involving use or handling of tar pitch, 132 Cancer Skin Process involving use or handling of tar pitch, 133 Cancer Skin Process involving use or handling of tar pitch, 134 Cancer Skin Process involving use or handling of tar pitch, 135 Cancer Skin Process involving use or handling of tar pitch, 136 Cancer Skin Process involving use or handling of tar pitch,, Solar UV radiation 137 Cancer Skin Process involving use or handling of tar pitch,, Solar UV radiation Cold Mill Electrician (Construction) 138 Cancer Skin UV from welding flash Welder 139 Cancer Skin UV from welding flash 140 Cancer Stomach Asbestos exposure 141 Cancer Stomach Asbestos exposure 142 Cancer Stomach Asbestos exposure 143 Cancer Tonsil Asbestos exposure ARO Decision 144 Cancer Ureter Multifactoral 145 Chronic Obstructive Ironmaking 146 Chronic Obstructive 147 Chronic Obstructive Open Hearth 148 Chronic Obstructive 149 Chronic Obstructive 150 Chronic Obstructive
151 Chronic Obstructive 152 Chronic Obstructive 153 Chronic Obstructive 154 Chronic Obstructive 155 Chronic Obstructive 156 Chronic Obstructive 157 Chronic Obstructive 158 Chronic Obstructive 159 Chronic Obstructive 160 Chronic Obstructive 161 Chronic Obstructive 162 Chronic Obstructive 163 Chronic Obstructive 164 Chronic Obstructive 165 Chronic Obstructive 166 Chronic Obstructive 167 Chronic Obstructive Open Hearth Bar & Strip Tube Mill Structural Bloom &Billet Transportation Merchant Mill Cold Mill Algoma Ore 168 Chronic Obstructive 169 Chronic Obstructive 170 Chronic Obstructive Continuous Casting 171 Chronic Obstructive 172 Chronic Obstructive Algoma Ore
173 Chronic Obstructive 174 Chronic Obstructive 175 Chronic Obstructive 176 Chronic Obstructive 177 Chronic Obstructive 178 Chronic Obstructive 179 Chronic Obstructive 180 Chronic Obstructive 181 Chronic Obstructive 182 Chronic Obstructive 183 Chronic Obstructive 184 Chronic Obstructive 185 Chronic Obstructive 186 Chronic Obstructive 187 Chronic Obstructive 188 Chronic Obstructive 189 Chronic Obstructive 190 Chronic Obstructive 191 Chronic Obstructive 192 Chronic Obstructive 193 Chronic Obstructive 194 Chronic Obstructive 195 Chronic Obstructive Continuous Casting Utilities Cold Mill Bloom & Billet Bar & Strip, Structural Bar & Strip Blast Furnace Algoma Ore Division Tube Mill Tube Mill
196 Chronic Obstructive 197 Chronic Obstructive 198 Chronic Obstructive 199 Chronic Obstructive 200 Chronic Obstructive 201 Chronic Obstructive 202 Chronic Obstructive 203 Chronic Obstructive 204 Chronic Obstructive 205 Chronic Obstructive 206 Chronic Obstructive 207 Chronic Obstructive 208 Chronic Obstructive 209 Chronic Obstructive 210 Chronic Obstructive 211 Chronic Obstructive 212 Chronic Obstructive 213 Chronic Obstructive 214 Chronic Obstructive 215 Chronic Obstructive 216 Chronic Obstructive 50mg/m3 yrs and exposure to sulphur dioxide (SO2) 50mg/m3 yrs and exposure to sulphur dioxide (SO2) Algoma Ore Algoma Ore Bloom & Billet Open Hearth Algoma Ore Structural 217 Dermatitis Cumulative exposure to irritants Cold Mill
218 Emphysema 219 Emphysema Transportation 220 Kidney Stones Cumulative exposure to extreme heat Transportation 221 Mesothelioma Asbestos exposure 222 Mesothelioma Asbestos exposure 223 Mesothelioma Asbestos exposure Continuous Casting 224 Mesothelioma Asbestos exposure Bar & Strip Unfinished Auto Parts Merchant Mill 225 Mesothelioma Asbestos exposure 226 Mesothelioma Asbestos exposure 227 Myelodysplasia Benzene () 228 Nickel Allergy Nickel exposure 229 Non Hodgkin s Lymphoma 230 Non Hodgkin s Lymphoma 231 Non Hodgkin s Lymphoma 232 Non Hodgkin s Lymphoma Cumulative exposure to Welding & Soldering, Varsol, Chlorinated Solvents, (trichloroethylene), Benzene, Coke Oven Emissions & Condensate, Light Oil- ARO Decision Cumulative exposure to Benzene and positive report from OHCOW-ARO Decision Cumulative exposure to several substances associated with an increased risk of NHL including; chlorinated solvents, benzene, and coal tar pitch volatiles & positive OHCOW report ARO Decision Cumulative exposure to trichloroethane, varsol/stoddard solvents and trichloroethylene Open Hearth BOSP 233 Pleural Plaques Asbestos exposure 234 Pleural Plaques Asbestos exposure Quality Control 235 Pleural Plaques Asbestos exposure Bloom & Billet Ironmaking
236 Pleural Plaques Asbestos exposure 237 Pleural Plaques Asbestos exposure 238 Pleural Plaques Asbestos exposure 239 Pleural Plaques Asbestos exposure Structural 240 Pleural Plaques Asbestos exposure Roll Shop 241 Pleural Plaques Asbestos exposure Transportation Algoma Contractors 242 Pleural Plaques Asbestos exposure Transportation 243 Pleural Plaques Asbestos exposure Ironmaking 244 Pleural Plaques Asbestos exposure 245 Pleural Plaques Asbestos exposure Utilities 246 Pleural Plaques Asbestos exposure Utilities 247 Pleural Plaques Asbestos exposure 248 Pleural Plaques Asbestos exposure Engineering 249 Pleural Plaques Asbestos exposure 250 Pleural Plaques Asbestos exposure 251 Pleural Plaques Asbestos exposure Transportation 252 Pleural Plaques Asbestos exposure 253 Pleural Plaques Asbestos exposure Transportation 254 Pleural Plaques Asbestos exposure Algoma Ore 255 Pleural Plaques Asbestos exposure 256 Pleural Plaques Asbestos exposure 257 Pleural Plaques Asbestos exposure Continuous Casting 258 Pleural Plaques Asbestos exposure Algoma Ore 259 Pleural Plaques Asbestos exposure 260 Pleural Plaques Asbestos Exposure Utilities 261 Pleural Plaques Asbestos Exposure Ironmaking 262 Pleural Plaques Asbestos exposure Algoma Ore 263 Pleural Plaques Asbestos Exposure 264 Psoriasis Cumulative exposure to irritants 265 Pulmonary Fibrosis Balance of probability based on cumulative dust exposure 266 Pulmonary Fibrosis Cumulative exposures to dust, fumes and particulate Algoma Ore 267 Silicosis Silica