CBC Winnipeg retiree Warren Weldon has shared some very important information for anyone who has worked at CBC Winnipeg and contracted Mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma can be caused by exposure to asbestos. It begins as tumors in the pleura area – a thin membrane with fluid that surrounds the lungs – which leads to restrictive breathing among other symptoms. Mesothelioma tumors can only be found with a CT Scan; an X-Ray will not show details of the pleura.
The CBC Winnipeg building originally had asbestos installed throughout and years of renovations unwittingly exposed staff to asbestos particles in the air. The building has a reputation with Workers Compensation and other insurance providers of being a dangerous place to have worked for a long period because of this and indeed there are many former employees who have contracted this disease for which to date there is no cure.
Warren himself is in a battle with Mesothelioma. He wishes to make others who may have worked in Winnipeg at one time, aware that Workers Compensation has been involved with former employees in pursuing compensation for having been exposed while they were employed in the CBC Winnipeg building:
There are two routes you can take if you have Mesothelioma.
The first is with Worker’s Compensation, 333 Broadway, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 4W3 or telephone toll free 1-855-954-4321.
The second is via Miskin Law, #100 – 351 Charlotte Street, Peterborough, Ontario K9J 2W1; Telephone: 705 755 7363.
The Worker’s Compensation Board advises that it normally takes two to six months to adjudicate a WCB claim, dependent on many factors. Given the latency period associated with developing an asbestos-related condition (10-40 years after the period of exposure), gathering details on past employment and exposures can be challenging. A claimant may in rare cases be able to obtain a small amount more quickly through a law firm, but will receive larger amounts more quickly from the WCB if their claim is accepted. The WCB also collects amounts on payable claims from the asbestos trusts and pays excess amounts to the claimant after recouping what the WCB had paid on a claim.
Please share this message with anyone you know who has worked at CBC Winnipeg in the past. For anyone who worked there and now has Mesothelioma, the compensation would be an important factor for their medical expenses and for any spouse who in the event of being widowed will be receiving 60% of the CBC retiree’s work pension.
I know you all join me in sending thoughts and prayers to Warren and his family and to all other CBC Winnipeg folks who confront this very serious condition.