What is the OWA?
The Office of the Worker Adviser (OWA) is an independent agency of the Ontario Ministry of Labour. The OWA provides free services to non-unionized injured workers and their survivors in workplace insurance matters (formerly called workers' compensation).The OWA was established in 1985, along with the Office of the Employer Adviser (OEA) and the Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal (WSIAT). The OWA is not part of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB).
What Does the OWA Do?
- The OWA represents non-unionized injured workers and their survivors at the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) and at the Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal (WSIAT).
- When possible, the OWA uses alternative dispute resolution to resolve cases as early as possible and to eliminate the need for formal hearings.
- The OWA provides non-unionized injured workers with the information they need to handle their own cases when appropriate.
- The OWA establishes community partnerships with other groups that work with non-unionized injured workers.
- The OWA provides educational services to non-unionized injured workers and those in the community who assist these workers
How Can the OWA Help?
If you are an injured worker, or a survivor of an injured worker, the OWA can:
- Represent you in your appeal at WSIB or the Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal (WSIAT),
- Provide information over the phone about workplace insurance benefits and procedures,
- Provide written materials on common workplace insurance problems, and
- Inform you about other places where you can find help.
The OWA also provides education services to workers and their representatives on workplace insurance topics.
For more information: http://www.owa.gov.on.ca/en/about/Pages/default.aspx
