WSIB Form 6 Ontario: The Employee's Report of Injury Guide

After a workplace injury or illness, the first report can shape how clearly WSIB understands what happened, when it happened, and what help you need. Ontario workers are often completing this step while dealing with pain, missed work, or uncertainty about their rights.

Request help with your WSIB Form 6 claim if you are unsure about the reporting process or what comes next.

Form 6 is more than a piece of paperwork. It gives WSIB your account of the incident and the effects on your health and ability to work, so accuracy and timing matter. Understanding what the form does, when it is required, and how it fits with your employer's report is the best place to start.

What Is WSIB Form 6 in Ontario?

WSIB Form 6 in Ontario is the Employee's Report of Injury/Disease. It is the worker's report to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board when they want to claim benefits for a work-related injury or illness. Completing it starts the claim process and gives WSIB information about what happened, the resulting condition, and the support the worker may need.

Form 6 is not a medical diagnosis and it is not a legal argument. It is your account of the workplace incident or illness. You may be asked to describe when and where it happened, what you were doing, how your symptoms developed, and what treatment you received. Give as much accurate detail as you can. If you are unsure about a date or sequence, say so rather than guessing.

What benefits can Form 6 help you claim?

A work-related injury or illness may involve wage-loss benefits, medical coverage, or both. WSIB uses the information in your report alongside other claim information to assess what happened and what benefits or services may apply. Filing Form 6 does not guarantee that a claim will be approved. WSIB has the authority to decide whether an injury is work-related based on the facts and circumstances of the individual case.

Why does signing Form 6 matter?

Signing the report is more than confirming that you submitted information. Under WSIB's operational policy, signing Form 6 demonstrates your consent to share functional-abilities information relevant to the claim. This information can help WSIB and other participants understand your restrictions and abilities as recovery and return-to-work discussions continue.

WSIB no longer provides a PDF version of the Worker's Report of Injury/Disease. The current reporting process is handled through WSIB's online services, so use the official WSIB forms page for the latest instructions. Keep a copy of what you submit and review it carefully before sending it. If the injury is serious, your claim is disputed, or the report does not reflect what happened, contact the ClaimIt team for guidance. A representative can help you understand your options.

Who Must Complete WSIB Form 6 and When

A worker who has a work-related injury or illness and wants to claim WSIB benefits generally completes Form 6. Tell your employer as soon as possible, especially when you need treatment beyond first aid or cannot work. Do not wait until the six-month reporting window is nearly over to start the process.

Workers claiming benefits for a workplace injury

Form 6 is for the injured worker, not the employer. If you sustained an injury or developed an illness connected to your work and want to claim benefits, you must complete the Employee's Report of Injury/Disease. The report gives WSIB your account of what happened and helps begin the claim process.

You do not have to prove the claim before reporting it. The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board decides whether an injury is work-related after considering the individual facts and circumstances. Your employer must also report when you say you believe an injury is work-related, even if the employer is unsure or disagrees.

Report the injury to your employer immediately

Tell your employer about the injury or illness, and any medical treatment you received, as soon as possible. Give clear details about when and how it happened. Early reporting creates a record while the events are fresh and helps your employer respond to its own reporting obligations.

Ontario workers generally have six months to report a work-related injury or illness to WSIB. That deadline should not be treated as a reason to delay. Report the incident promptly, even if you are uncertain whether your symptoms will continue or whether you will need benefits.

When treatment or missed work makes reporting important

You should report the injury to WSIB when you need treatment from a health professional beyond first aid, or when the injury prevents you from going to work. First aid alone may not require a WSIB report, but a minor injury can become more serious. If symptoms change, seek medical care and update the record rather than assuming the original first-aid response settles the issue.

Keep notes about the incident, symptoms, treatment, and dates. If you are unsure whether your situation meets the reporting threshold, request help with your claim so an experienced representative can review your next step.

Sources: WSIB forms; WSIB injury and illness reporting guidance; WSIB submitting an injury report.

Before You Start: What You Need for Form 6

Before completing Form 6, gather the details that help WSIB understand what happened, when it happened, and how the injury affects your work. You will generally need personal and SIN information, employer details, the incident date and description. Health care information, lost-time details, and information about transportation on the day of the injury.

Completing the form can feel difficult when you are in pain or worried about income. You do not need to remember every detail perfectly, but take time to collect what you can. WSIB asks workers to provide as much detail as possible about the injury or illness and its cause.

Your personal and workplace information

Have your legal name, contact information, date of birth, and SIN available. You should also gather your employer's business name, address, contact details, job title, and the department or location where you worked. If you have more than one employer or the injury involved a worksite shared with another business, note those details as well.

What happened and when

Write down the date and approximate time of the incident, where it occurred, what you were doing, and how the injury happened. Include the body part affected and any symptoms you noticed. If the condition developed over time rather than from one event, describe when you first noticed the problem and what work activities appeared to contribute to it.

Keep a simple record of the injury, treatment received, and incident date. This can help you provide consistent information while completing Form 6 and speaking with your employer or health professional. Include names of witnesses if you have them, but do not delay reporting just because you are still trying to locate someone.

Health care, lost time, and transportation

Gather the name and contact information for your doctor, nurse practitioner, clinic, or other health professional, along with the date of your first visit and treatment received. Note whether you missed work, earned less than usual, or returned with restrictions. Also record how you travelled for treatment on the day of the injury. Your employer pays for transportation to a health professional on that day, according to WSIB guidance.

Save copies of your notes and any confirmation after submitting. If you are unsure how to describe the incident or your work limitations, review how WSIB benefits work before you decide on your next step.

How to Fill Out and Submit WSIB Form 6

To complete WSIB Form 6 in Ontario, report your injury online through wsib.ca, provide accurate worker. Employer, accident, health care, and work-loss information, review the declarations, and submit the report. Keep a copy for your records and give a copy to your employer.

Filing Form 6 can feel difficult when you are injured, in pain, or worried about missing work. Take your time and use the information you have. The form is the Employee's Report of Injury/Disease used to begin a WSIB claim. WSIB no longer provides a PDF version, so workers generally complete it online through WSIB's forms and online services.

1. Report the injury to your employer

   Tell your employer about the injury or illness and any treatment as soon as possible. Note when, where, and how the incident happened. If you needed treatment from a health professional beyond first aid or could not work, reporting to WSIB is especially important. The WSIB reporting guidance explains these obligations.

2. Open the online Form 6

   Use wsib.ca to access the online worker report. Have your personal details, employer's information, incident date, and treatment details available. You have a limited period to report a claim, so do not delay while trying to make every answer perfect.

3. Complete each section carefully

   Work through the sections in order: Worker Information, Employer Details, Accident Details, Health Care Information, Lost Time/Return to Work, and Declarations. Describe what happened in clear, specific language. Include the body part affected, symptoms, witnesses if known, treatment received, and any time missed or changes to your duties. If you are unsure about an answer, say so rather than guessing.

4. Review and submit the report

   Check names, dates, contact information, and the description of the incident before submitting. Read the declarations carefully. By completing Form 6, you provide consent for relevant functional-abilities information to be shared for the claim process. Keep a copy of the completed report and give a copy to your employer.

5. Get help if the process is unclear

   If you need help with the online process, this WSIB guidance on submitting an injury report explains the sections and options. If you are concerned about how to describe your injury, lost time, or treatment, follow our step-by-step guide to filing a WSIB claim before making decisions about your claim.

What Happens After You Submit Form 6

After you submit Form 6, the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board reviews your report. Contacts your employer and health professional when needed, and makes an initial decision about your claim. If you are eligible and unable to work, wage-loss benefits and medical coverage may follow while WSIB assesses the facts.

WSIB reviews the information in your report

Form 6 gives WSIB your account of the injury or illness, including what happened, when it happened, and how it affects your ability to work. WSIB may contact your employer and the health professional who treated you to compare the reported circumstances with workplace and medical information.

The decision is not made by your employer. WSIB has exclusive jurisdiction to decide whether an injury or illness is work-related, based on the individual facts and circumstances of the case. Your employer must report certain injuries through Form 7, but an employer's report does not replace your own report as the injured worker.

When benefits may begin

WSIB can provide wage-loss benefits and medical coverage for work-related injuries. Under WSIB operational policy, a first benefit payment covering up to two weeks of lost earnings may be issued once the worker is capable of receiving it. Even before consent is provided. Further benefits generally require a claim and consent, or a valid waiver.

This means submitting Form 6 is an important first step, but it does not guarantee that every benefit will be approved. Keep records of your symptoms, treatment, missed work, and communications. Those details can help clarify your claim if WSIB asks follow-up questions.

If WSIB asks for more information

Respond as completely and promptly as you can. If you want a legal representative to access claim-related information, WSIB provides a Direction of Authorization form for that purpose. You can also review the steps to file a WSIB claim if you need help understanding a decision or communicating about your claim.

Request help from a representative if your claim is disputed, your benefits are delayed, or the information collected does not reflect what happened.

Sources: WSIB injury and illness reporting guidance; WSIB submitting an injury report; WSIB forms.

Common Form 6 Mistakes and When to Get Legal Help

Answer: The most common Form 6 problems are incomplete injury details, differences between the worker's report and the employer's report, and uncertainty about what happens next. Form 6 starts the worker's claim, but WSIB decides work-relatedness based on the full record. If your benefits, medical care, or ability to work are at risk, qualified help can make the process easier to understand.

Check the details before you submit

Describe what happened, when it happened, where it happened, and what symptoms or limitations followed. Include relevant treatment information and be as precise as you can. Avoid guessing, minimizing the injury, or leaving key answers blank. Keep a copy of what you submit and note the date. If your condition changes, update the appropriate people rather than trying to rewrite history.

Form 6 and Form 7 are different reports

A worker's Form 6 and an employer's Form 7 serve different purposes. They should not be treated as interchangeable, and a difference between them does not automatically decide the claim. This comparison can help you identify which report you are responsible for.

Employers may have to report even when they are unsure whether an injury is work-related. WSIB has exclusive jurisdiction to determine work-relatedness, so an employer's disagreement is not the final decision.

When a representative may help

Consider getting advice if important facts are disputed, your employer has not reported the injury. WSIB questions the claim, or you are unsure how a decision affects wage-loss benefits or medical coverage. A Direction of Authorization can allow a legal representative to access claim-related information. This is general information, not legal advice.

Find a WSIB lawyer or paralegal who focuses on workplace injury claims and may be able to discuss your situation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a WSIB Form 6?

Form 6 is the Employee's Report of Injury or Disease. An injured worker completes it to report a work-related injury or illness to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board and begin a claim for benefits. The report should explain what happened, when it happened, and the treatment or work limitations that followed. WSIB identifies Form 6 as the worker's report.

Who must complete Form 6?

A worker who has a work-related injury or illness and wants to claim WSIB benefits generally completes Form 6. If the injury requires treatment from a health professional beyond first aid, or prevents you from working, it should be reported to WSIB. When first aid is the only treatment, reporting to WSIB may not be necessary, according to WSIB reporting guidance.

When should I submit Form 6?

Tell your employer about the injury or illness as soon as possible, including any medical treatment you received. Complete and submit your worker report promptly while the details are fresh. If you are unsure whether your situation should be reported, keep records of the incident, symptoms, treatment, and time missed from work while you seek guidance.

Does my employer need to see my Form 6?

Yes. Keep your employer informed about the injury and provide the relevant report as part of the workplace reporting process. Share accurate details about what happened and any work restrictions, but keep a copy of everything you submit for your own records. Your employer may also have a separate reporting obligation through Form 7.

What happens after I submit Form 6?

WSIB reviews the information and may contact you, your employer, and your health professional before making an initial decision about entitlement. Respond promptly to requests for clarification and continue documenting treatment, symptoms, missed work, and return-to-work changes. If the claim is denied or the process becomes difficult, you can seek help from a representative who handles WSIB matters.

Ready to Compare WSIB Legal Representatives?

Form 6 is an important part of reporting a workplace injury and starting a WSIB claim. If you want support understanding your options, get started by comparing verified WSIB lawyers and paralegals who may be able to help with your Form 6 and claim.