- Mesothelioma
- Transfer of costs (Schedule 2 employer)
A teacher worked at one school from 1965 to 1970 and at a second school from 1970 to 1991. He was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma in 2007 resulting from asbestos exposure and died in 2008. The Board charged the costs of the claim to the first school board. That employer appealed, claiming that the costs of the claim should be charged to the second school board.
Both school boards were Schedule 2 employers. Section 94(2) of the WSIA provides that the Schedule 2 employer that last employed the worker in the employment in which an occupational disease occurs is the worker's employer for the purposes of the WSIA. Thus, if the mesothelioma resulted from exposure that occurred while the worker was employed by both of the employers, the cost of the accident would be charged to the second employer.The Vice-Chair reviewed the four potential sources of asbestos exposure in this case and found that the worker was exposed to asbestos while working for the first employer while taking a course in 1968. The other three sources of exposure were only speculative.The Vice-Chair concluded that it was probable that the worker was exposed to asbestos while working for the first employer in 1968 and not probable that he was exposed to asbestos while working for the second employer. The costs of the claim were correctly charged to the first employer. The appeal was dismissed.