OHCOW, the Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers, marked its 35th anniversary on Friday with an open house at the Sudbury office on Westmount Avenue.
While the group achieved a significant victory by linking McIntyre Powder to Parkinson’s disease in Northern Ontario miners two years ago, they continue to address various workplace-associated illnesses and injuries. The McIntyre Powder campaign remains ongoing.
Brittney Ramakko, the executive director of the Northern Region at the Sudbury office, highlighted one of OHCOW’s key aims: assisting workers in establishing the work-related nature of their illness or injury.
This raises the question of how OHCOW differs from WSIB, Ontario’s Workplace Safety and Insurance Board, designed to compensate workers claiming workplace-related injuries or illnesses.
“So many of our clients applied for WSIB but were denied,” Ramakko explained.
“So they can come to us. We have teams including an occupational health nurse, occupational hygienist, ergonomists, and physicians. They’ll review and provide an independent evaluation. Additionally, you can come in for a second opinion,” she explained.
Ramakko clarified that OHCOW’s role isn’t to refute WSIB but to meticulously examine any medical or work-related details that might have been overlooked.
Furthermore, she added that OHCOW gathers information from workers on bleak working conditions that could contribute to occupational illness or injury.
OHCOW: Identifying Workplace Hazards and Providing Regional Services
The OHCOW website outlines various workplace hazards, including exposure to vapors, gases, mold, allergens, dangerous chemicals, diesel exhaust particulate, silica, asbestos, noise, and even smoke from wildfires.
Ramakko mentioned that although the community might be aware of the work being done across the North by the Sudbury office, there are, in fact, seven OHCOW clinics located across Ontario – Thunder Bay, Ottawa, Hamilton, Toronto, Sarnia, Windsor, and Sudbury.
Moreover, she stated that the Sudbury office recently moved from a downtown venue to the new spaces at 432 Westmount Avenue, off of BarryDowne.
Ramakko noted that while the downtown location had its merits, parking limitations and accessibility issues posed challenges for many clients. She highlighted the benefits of the new venue on Westmount Avenue.
Sudbury MPP Jamie West, who attended the anniversary celebration, described OHCOW as one of Sudbury’s best-kept secrets due to the importance of workplace health and safety knowledge. West reflected on his previous role as a health and safety representative for smelter workers at Vale. He mentioned that while Vale provided numerous health and safety resources, contacting OHCOW for additional information was often beneficial.
In his capacity as MPP, West presented a congratulatory scroll to OHCOW Sudbury executive director Ramakko.
Accompanying West was Leo Gerard, widely regarded as a legend in promoting worker health and safety in Ontario.
As a former United Steelworkers international director and Companion of the Order of Canada, Gerard expressed his pleasure at being present to celebrate the anniversary.