Difference Between WSIB Forms 6, 7 and 8

If you are searching for the difference between WSIB Form 6, Form 7, and Form 8, the short answer is that each report comes from a different person. The worker completes Form 6, the employer completes Form 7, and the treating health professional completes Form 8. Together, they give the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board a fuller picture of the injury or illness.

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This guide is a decision aid, not a substitute for legal advice. It focuses on who is responsible for each report, what information it contributes, and what an injured worker can do when a form is late, incomplete, or different from their own account.

WSIB Form 6, Form 7, and Form 8 at a glance

These reports are not three versions of the same document. They answer different questions. Form 6 explains what the worker says happened. Form 7 explains what the business reports about the incident and employment. Form 8 provides information from the health professional who assessed or treated the worker.

For a broader overview of other Ontario WSIB documents, see Claimit's complete guide to WSIB forms. The sections below focus only on the three reports in this comparison.

What is WSIB Form 6, and when does a worker complete it?

Form 6 belongs to the injured worker. It is where you describe what happened, when symptoms began, what part of your body was affected, when you told your employer, and what treatment you received. It is your factual account, not a medical diagnosis and not a legal argument.

The WSIB's current Form 6 page says the PDF Worker's Report of Injury/Disease is no longer available and directs workers to online services. Use the official process rather than relying on an old blank PDF. Keep a record of what you submit, and see Claimit's WSIB Form 6 guide for worker-focused review tips.

Ontario's WSIB policy addresses two related requirements: filing a claim and consenting to the disclosure of relevant functional abilities information. The policy says a worker generally must meet both requirements within six months of an injury, or within six months of learning of an occupational disease, although the WSIB may extend or waive the requirements in some circumstances. Review the official WSIB claim and consent policy for the current rule.

If you are concerned about timing, do not wait for the employer's Form 7 before asking how to start your own report. An employer's delay does not replace the worker's responsibility to report an injury.

Who completes WSIB Form 7?

Form 7 presents the employer's side of the incident. It can include information about the business and worker, the date and details of the injury or illness, health care, lost time, return to work, wages, work schedule, and the employer's declaration.

The official WSIB Form 7 reference guide says a business must report when it learns that an employee requires health care and/or is absent from regular work, earns less than regular pay for regular work, requires modified work at less than regular pay, or requires modified work at regular pay for more than seven calendar days after the injury or illness. It also says the business must report even if it is not yet known whether the injury or illness was caused by work. The WSIB decides work-relatedness based on the facts and circumstances.

The employer should give the worker a copy of the completed report. Read it carefully. Check the date, location, mechanism of injury, job duties, work status, wage information, and any statement that does not match what happened. You can tell the WSIB about an error or provide your own account. A Form 7 is not the final decision on whether a claim is allowed.

If the employer's report contains a serious error, the worker can document the correction and request help. Claimit's guide to an incorrect employer Form 7 covers practical steps for addressing a report that does not reflect the worker's account.

What is WSIB Form 8, and who sends it?

Form 8 comes from the health professional who first treats the worker. It provides clinical information that helps the WSIB assess entitlement and understand the worker's condition. The report is separate from the worker's description and the employer's report, so it should be based on the provider's assessment and the information shared during the visit.

The WSIB's Health Care Practitioner's Reports policy says the WSIB supplies initial reporting forms to health professionals and depends on them to return required forms within 48 hours of treating injured workers. The same policy identifies Form 8 as the health professional's report and says it can also be used for a recurrence.

At your first visit, tell the provider that the injury or illness is work-related. Explain what happened and describe the symptoms accurately. Ask whether the provider has submitted the required report and keep copies of any documents you receive. If the medical report is incomplete or does not reflect your visit, raise the concern promptly rather than assuming someone else will correct it.

For a deeper explanation of this report, see Claimit's WSIB Form 8 guide for Ontario workers. The worker's role is not to fill in the health professional's report, but the worker's clear history and follow-up questions can help the provider record the relevant facts.

How do Forms 6, 7, and 8 work together?

A typical reporting sequence looks like this:

1. The worker tells the employer about the injury or illness and seeks appropriate medical attention.
2. The worker submits their own report through the current WSIB online process.
3. The employer submits Form 7 when the reporting obligation applies and gives the worker a copy.
4. The treating health professional sends Form 8 and any required follow-up information.
5. The WSIB reviews the reports and other evidence when making decisions about entitlement, benefits, and services.

The forms do not need to use identical wording. A worker may describe pain in everyday language, an employer may describe the job task, and a provider may use clinical terms. The important question is whether the central facts are compatible: what happened, when it happened, what symptoms followed, what treatment was provided, and how work was affected.

Other documents may become relevant later, including a Functional Abilities Form for return-to-work planning, medical records, witness information, or a decision letter. Those documents are not substitutes for Forms 6, 7, or 8. They add context to the claim.

If your WSIB forms tell different stories, request a representative connection before the issue grows.

What should you do if the forms conflict?

Not every difference is a true conflict. One report may use the date of the first symptom while another uses the date the worker sought treatment. A provider may describe a diagnosis that was not known on the first day. Start by identifying the specific issue instead of treating every wording difference as a contradiction.

Useful records may include your submitted Form 6 confirmation, the copy of Form 7, appointment notes, medical records, messages to the employer, schedules, pay information, photographs, and witness names. Keep a simple timeline with dates and what happened. Do not alter a document or ask someone to change a report to make the wording match.

Tell the WSIB promptly if the employer's report is wrong or if the medical information is incomplete. Use clear language such as, "The Form 7 says I returned to regular duties on this date, but my schedule shows modified duties," and attach the record that supports your explanation.

When the disagreement affects whether the injury is accepted, whether benefits continue, or whether you can return to work safely, consider getting help from an Ontario WSIB lawyer or paralegal. The right professional can review the issue and explain the next step without treating Claimit as a law firm or as the decision-maker.

For related timing concerns, review Claimit's resource on the WSIB Form 6 deadline. A deadline problem or disputed report deserves prompt attention.

Get help reviewing a disputed WSIB form or claim.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between WSIB Form 6, Form 7, and Form 8?

Form 6 is the worker's report, Form 7 is the employer's report, and Form 8 is the treating health professional's report. Each person reports different information about the same workplace injury or illness.

Does an injured worker complete Form 7?

No. The employer or business completes Form 7. The employer should provide the worker with a copy, which the worker should review for factual errors and report to WSIB if something is incomplete or incorrect.

Does WSIB Form 6 still have a PDF?

The WSIB's current Form 6 page says the PDF Worker's Report of Injury/Disease is no longer available and directs workers to report an injury or illness through WSIB online services.

Who completes WSIB Form 8?

The treating health professional completes Form 8. The worker should explain that the injury or illness happened at work and ask the provider about the required report and any follow-up information.

What if the information on Form 6 and Form 7 does not match?

Identify the exact error, gather records that support your account, and tell WSIB what is inaccurate or incomplete. If the disagreement affects entitlement or benefits, consider speaking with a WSIB lawyer or paralegal.

Choose an Ontario WSIB representative to discuss your claim.