Quebec

Commission des normes, de l'équité, de la santé ET de la sécurité du travail

Complex application

Tax filing not required

CNESST administers occupational safety and health plans for the province. It works like a public insurer for employers as well as workers and at the same time oversees prevention measures implemented at the workplace.

Workers who suffer an employment injury or develop an occupational disease may receive benefits, such as an indemnity, a reimbursement for certain expenses or an allowance. - Income replacement indemnity for the first 14 days. - Retirement plan indemnity. - Income replacement indemnity.

An employment injury is a personal injury to an employee caused by an accident occuring out of, or while doing your job. It can occur at your work location or outside the premises and even before or after your working hours.

An occupational disease is a disease caused by work, either by the work environment or the tasks related to it.

All workers are covered by the CNESST except:

  • Self-employed workers (called "independent operators")
  • Domestics who do not work for the same individual at least:
    • 420 hours over a period of 1 year (12 months)
    • 30 hours a week over a period of 7 consecutive weeks
  • Volunteers
  • Professional athletes
  • Persons hired by an individual to care for another person (a child, an invalid, a handicapped person, or an elderly person)

This list has all workers not covered under CNESST.

Statement of disability

A certificate signed by a medical practitioner, learning disability assessment, document of federal or provincial disability assistance receipt.

To claim for a work-related accident or occupational disease or condition follow these steps.

For a work related accident:

  1. Inform your employer.
  2. Consult a healthcare professional or physician.
  3. Fill out the Worker's Claim form, sign and fax or mail to your regional CNESST office and give a copy to your employer.
  4. File your claim within 6 months of the accident.
  5. Take any required medical exams.
  6. Inform your employer and the CNESST.

The worker’s claim process is described step by step by the CNESST.

For an occupational disease:

  1. See a healthcare professional or physician.
  2. Inform your employer as soon as possible and submit the medical certificate.
  3. Fill out the worker's claim and the appendix related to your medical situation.

Note that you must send in your claim within 6 months from the date you were diagnosed by your healthcare professional or the date when you realize the connection between your disease and your work.

Last updated: June 2, 2022