Accident while on a student placement

To report an accident or illness that occurred during your placement hours, you are required to complete the steps below. The student, placement employer, and the placement coordinator all have duties and responsibilities to ensure that the necessary requirements are fulfilled.

Reporting an accident

In all cases, it is important to:

Your report will be reviewed and you will be contacted for follow-up. For any further questions, please write to [email protected].

Coverage for workplace injuries through the Ministry of College and Universities (MCU) applies to all students in an unpaid placement who meet the eligibility criteria outlined in this document.

Eligible

Student Trainees are eligible to receive MCU-paid WSIA covered benefits (WSIB) or Chubb coverage if the placement meets the following criteria:

  • The Placement is unpaid. Students are still eligible for coverage if they receive one or more of the following types of payment:

    • Social assistance benefits
    • Training allowances
    • Honoraira
    • Reimbursement of expenses
    • Stipends of any money paid to the Student Trainee by the Training Agency

  • The Placement, which may be required or optional/elective, is part of an Approved Program, includes a formal assessment component, and successful completion of the placement is recognized by the Training Agency for the purpose of the completion of the Approved Program.

  • The Placement is authorized by the Training Agency.
  • The Placement is a non-classroom activity. Any in-class portion of a training program that occurs at the Training Agency is not an Unpaid Work Placement.
  • Student Trainees who attend an unpaid placement outside of Ontario, even if the employer is based in Ontario, will have limited coverage through Chubb given that such placements are outside WSIA legislation. Student Trainees placed at uOttawa will receive limited coverage through a separate policy. The Student Trainee is advised to obtain additional insurance for these instances.

Ineligible

Student Trainees are ineligible for MCU coverage if:

  • Student Trainees are paid a salary
  • Student Trainees are placed with uOttawa (including unpaid research)
  • Student Trainees are participating in the classroom portion of the training program
  • International Student Trainees are attending an unpaid placement in the country of their primary residence

Summary

If the Placement Employer has WSIB coverage for their own employees, the Student Trainee will have WSIB coverage through MCU, assuming they meet the eligibility requirements. Please refer to the MCU WSIB Q&A for updates related to COVID-19.

If the Placement Employer does not have WSIB coverage for its own employees, the Student Trainee will have coverage under Chubb, through the MCU, assuming they meet the eligibility requirements. Chubb covers claims associated with accidents for students on unpaid placements but excludes coverage for students carrying out a placement from their home institution (note: uOttawa maintains a parallel policy for these circumstances). Chubb coverage does not include claims resulting from any infection, including COVID-19.  Confirmation of whether the Placement Employer has WSIB coverage will be available from your Placement Coordinator.