Employer's Report of Injury/Disease

Employer's Report of Injury/Disease

Fast-Fact Summary

• Governing Agency: Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB)
• Form, Bylaw, or Regulation: Form 7; Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997 (WSIA)
• Effective/Current Anchor: 2026 Operational Standards
• Direct Portal or Source: https://www.wsib.ca/en/businesses/claims/report-injury-or-illness

Mandatory Scope

Under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997 (WSIA), any employer operating in Ontario who is covered under Schedule 1 or Schedule 2 must submit an Employer's Report of Injury/Disease (Form 7) when a worker is injured or contracts a disease in the course of their employment. This mandate applies across all construction trades, worker counts, and project values. The reporting obligation is triggered if the work-related injury or disease results in:

• The worker requiring health care from a registered health professional.
• The worker being absent from work.
• The worker requiring modified work at regular pay for more than seven calendar days.
• The worker earning less than their regular pay due to the injury or disease.

Deadlines & Administrative Windows

• Filing Deadline: The WSIB must receive the completed Form 7 within three business days after the employer learns of the reporting obligation.
• Worker Copy Provision: The employer must provide a copy of the completed Form 7 to the worker at the same time it is submitted to the WSIB.
• Recordkeeping Trigger: Employers must retain copies of all submitted Form 7 reports and associated first-aid logs in their internal corporate records for compliance auditing.

Financial & Legal Liability

Failure to comply with the mandatory reporting timelines results in immediate administrative penalties enforced by the WSIB:

• Late Reporting (Within 30 Days): A $250 administrative penalty is levied if the report is received after the three-business-day window.
• Late Reporting (After 30 Days): A $1,000 administrative penalty is levied if the report is received more than 30 calendar days after the reporting obligation arose.
• Average WSIB Premium Rate: $1.23 per $100 of insurable payroll (down from $1.25 per $100 of insurable payroll).
• G6 Non-Residential Construction Rate: $1.61 per $100 of insurable payroll.
• 2026 Maximum Insurable Earnings Ceiling: $121,700.

In the context of construction contracts and payment administration, injury management and WSIB clearance directly impact project cash flow. Under the 2026 Ontario Construction Act anchors:

• 7-Day Invoicing Rule: Invoices are legally deemed proper unless the owner gives a formal written notice of deficiency within 7 days after receiving the invoice. Missing this window forfeits the right to dispute invoice form or structure and starts the 28-day prompt-payment timeline.
• Mandatory Annual Holdback: For contracts extending beyond one year, owners must publish a Notice of Annual Release of Holdback (Form 6) on an electronic construction trade news website within 14 days after each contract anniversary. Payment of the accrued basic holdback must occur between day 60 and day 74 after publication, provided no liens are preserved.
• Repeal of Section 27.1: Payers can no longer publish a notice of non-payment to refuse holdback distribution for deficient or incomplete work. Holdback use is strictly restricted to formal contract abandonment or termination scenarios and preserved lien risk.
• Adjudication Extension: Parties have a strict 90-day window after contract completion, abandonment, or termination to initiate interim binding adjudication through ODACC or a qualified private adjudicator.

Step-by-Step Filing Instructions

• Step 1: Document the Incident: Immediately record the details of the injury or disease in the company first-aid log, noting the date, time, location, and nature of the occurrence.
• Step 2: Access the WSIB Portal: Navigate to the official WSIB online reporting portal at https://www.wsib.ca/en/businesses/claims/report-injury-or-illness.
• Step 3: Complete Form 7: Enter the employer details, worker information, accident details, and wage information. Ensure the description of the incident is precise and matches internal supervisor reports.
• Step 4: Submit Electronically: Submit the completed digital form to the WSIB within three business days of learning of the injury.
• Step 5: Distribute and File: Print or download the submitted form. Deliver a physical or electronic copy to the injured worker immediately, and file the confirmation receipt in the project's health and safety registry.

2026 Inspection Notes

For 2026 construction compliance context, pay close attention to working-at-heights training records, trenching and excavation controls, and training/competency documentation. Do not call this a named official blitz unless the supplied record or source says so. Ministry inspectors will cross-reference on-site training logs with any active Form 7 filings to verify that injured workers had received all mandatory safety training prior to the incident.

Official Sources

• https://www.wsib.ca/en/operational-policy-manual/employers-initial-accident-reporting-obligations
• https://www.wsib.ca/en/forms
• https://www.wsib.ca/en/businesses/claims/report-injury-or-illness