Michael Arsenault suffered a right lateral low back strain while trying to lift a patient on March 7, 2016 at P.E.I. Atlantic Baptist Home, a 100-bed nursing care home in Charlottetown.
He had been receiving $849.22 every two weeks in worker’s compensation, but the Workers Compensation Board of P.E.I. determined he was no longer entitled to payments.
Arsenault was on an ease back program that was designed to have him return to work full time in June.
He does not feel capable of returning to his full duties, which used to include lifting residents 12 to 15 times per day.
The WCB believes Arsenault can tackle his job so it has cut off his payments.
His first appeal was rejected and is awaiting word from WCB on his second appeal.
Arsenault, who has been working in health care for 39 years, was hoping to put in a couple more years before he retired.
He says retiring now would pose a financial strain for he and his wife.
“I could retire, but I would be living pretty meager,’’ he said.
He is angry over WCB ending his compensation.
“Well, I think it’s ridiculous if a person cannot work due to an injury on the job, he or she should be covered,’’ he said.
“I would like to go back to try it but my back is still sore and there is not much that I would be able to do.’’
Kate Marshall, director of workplace services with WCB, said she could not speak to a specific case.
However, she said generally speaking if someone is injured on the job and is cleared to work in some capacity, WCB looks at how that might be accomplished.
If a person is not able to return to full duty, consideration is given to making modifications to job duties.
Michael Arsenault suffered a right lateral low back strain while trying to lift a patient on March 7, 2016 at P.E.I. Atlantic Baptist Home, a 100-bed nursing care home in Charlottetown.
He had been receiving $849.22 every two weeks in worker’s compensation, but the Workers Compensation Board of P.E.I. determined he was no longer entitled to payments.
Arsenault was on an ease back program that was designed to have him return to work full time in June.
He does not feel capable of returning to his full duties, which used to include lifting residents 12 to 15 times per day.
The WCB believes Arsenault can tackle his job so it has cut off his payments.
His first appeal was rejected and is awaiting word from WCB on his second appeal.
Arsenault, who has been working in health care for 39 years, was hoping to put in a couple more years before he retired.
He says retiring now would pose a financial strain for he and his wife.
“I could retire, but I would be living pretty meager,’’ he said.
He is angry over WCB ending his compensation.
“Well, I think it’s ridiculous if a person cannot work due to an injury on the job, he or she should be covered,’’ he said.
“I would like to go back to try it but my back is still sore and there is not much that I would be able to do.’’
Kate Marshall, director of workplace services with WCB, said she could not speak to a specific case.
However, she said generally speaking if someone is injured on the job and is cleared to work in some capacity, WCB looks at how that might be accomplished.
If a person is not able to return to full duty, consideration is given to making modifications to job duties.
