Occupational diseases can often seem invisible. Unlike a traumatic workplace injury, these illnesses often develop slowly, after years of breathing toxic dust, handling hazardous chemicals, or working in environments that cumulatively damage the body over time. And for many workers, by the time symptoms appear, proving that their illness was caused by work becomes an uphill battle.

In the latest episode of Labour Pains, we’re speaking with Janice Martell, one of Canada’s leading advocates for workers suffering from occupational disease. Through her groundbreaking work documenting the harms of McIntyre Powder exposure in miners, and now her advocacy around sarcoidosis and other emerging occupational illnesses, Janice has helped expose the gaps in how the WSIB recognizes diseases caused by workplace exposure.

Janice has launched a new voluntary registry open to all Ontario workers with a diagnosis of sarcoidosis. This is the first step in researching the relationship between work and this disease. Affected workers (or next-of-kin) can reach the registry by calling 705-822-3171.

Labour Pains: An Injured Worker Podast (formerly InjuredWorkerCast) features conversations in the field of health & safety and workers’ compensation in Ontario, Canada and beyond. 

It is produced by Injured Workers Community Legal Clinic, and is not a substitute for professional legal advice.

For more information on workers compensation issues, campaigns, and resources, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠injuredworkersonline.org⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Music and Audio Editing by David Newberry.