Home / Health / Miners' Mystery Illness: WSIB Denies Claims
Miners' Mystery Illness: WSIB Denies Claims
13 Mar
Summary
- Aluminum dust exposure may be linked to rare sarcoidosis disease.
- WSIB has rejected compensation claims from former miners.
- Activist Janice Martell is building a registry to investigate patterns.
Hugh Carlson, a 78-year-old former gold miner, has been diagnosed with sarcoidosis, a rare immune system disorder. Carlson believes his condition may be a result of exposure to aluminum dust, also known as McIntyre Powder, which was used in mines decades ago as a supposed protection against silicosis. His claim for compensation from the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) was initially rejected.
Janice Martell, an advocate for miners exposed to McIntyre Powder, has identified 15 individuals with sarcoidosis among 700 miners in her voluntary registry. She notes that all these claims have been rejected by the WSIB, despite a 2023 medical review indicating an increased risk of sarcoidosis with silica dust exposure. Martell has expanded her registry to include all Ontarians to explore occupational exposure patterns related to sarcoidosis.
The WSIB stated that claim decisions are made with the best available information and are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. They acknowledge that the scientific literature on the relationship between sarcoidosis and occupational exposures is evolving, and they may approve claims if exposure levels are shown to significantly increase risk based on current research.
