The Government of Ontario, through the Ministry of Colleges and University (MCU), pays the WSIB for the cost of benefits provided to Student Trainees enrolled in an approved program at Durham College and participating in unpaid work placements with employers who are either compulsorily covered or have voluntarily applied to have Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) coverage.

MCU also covers the cost of private insurance with Chubb Insurance, for Student Trainees enrolled in an approved program at Durham College and participating in unpaid work placements with employers that are not required to have compulsory coverage under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act.

The Workplace Educational Placement Agreement (WEPA) Form has been replaced by the Postsecondary Student Unpaid Work Placement Workplace Insurance Claim Form. Placement Employers and Training Agencies (colleges) are not required to complete and sign this form in order to be eligible for WSIB coverage. Instead, this form only needs to be completed and signed by the Placement Employer, the Student and the College when submitting a claim resulting from an on-the-job injury/disease. Please note that colleges will be required to enter their MCU - issued Firm Number in order to complete the claim form.

The new form has been posted on the Ministry’s public website at:

https://forms.mgcs.gov.on.ca/en/

All WSIB or Chubb Insurance procedures must be followed in the event of an injury/disease. In the event of an injury/disease involving a Durham College student on unpaid work placement, the Placement Employer will immediately report the injury/disease to the College’s Placement/Practicum Officer. The Placement Employer will complete and sign the appropriate section of the Claim Form as well as complete a Letter of Authorization to Represent the Placement Employer, as required by WSIB. These will be submitted to the College within three days of the injury/disease. The College will ensure that the WSIB Form 7 Employer’s Report of injury/disease is completed and submitted to WSIB within seven days of learning of the injury/disease.

The college incorporates relevant pre-placement safety training prior to placement and as it relates to the specific program of study. However, the Placement Employer agrees that it will provide the Student Trainee with health and safety training and take appropriate precautions to ensure that the Student Trainee is appropriately supervised in order to protect the Student Trainee from health and safety hazards that may be encountered at the placement organization.

The Placement Employer agrees to provide written confirmation that the Student Trainee has received health and safety training, via the Unpaid Work Placement Student Health and Safety Checklist, should the placement be an on-site experience.

In the event of a claim, the Placement Employer agrees that it will collaborate with the Placement/Practicum Officer to review the Student Trainee’s restrictions and, where possible, modify the program as required in order to accommodate the Student Trainee’s safe and timely return to the placement.

Declaration of Placement Employer

By signature of an authorized representative, the Placement Employer hereby agrees to the above, as per the Guidelines for Workplace Insurance for Postsecondary Students on Unpaid Work Placements (http://www.tcu.gov.on.ca/pepg/publications/UnpaidWork_PlacementsGuide.pdf).