What to do next
Document exposure history
Set out the tasks, duration, frequency, substances and equipment involved across your employment. Where you have worked for several employers, list them all — apportionment may arise.
Check whether a presumption applies
Quebec recognises presumptions for certain diseases linked to listed occupations, which shifts the evidentiary burden significantly. Ask whether yours qualifies before assembling evidence from scratch.
Get a specialist opinion on causation
A specialist report linking the condition to the exposure is usually decisive. Occupational medicine input carries particular weight in these files.
Frequently asked questions
What if I already left the job?
You can still claim. Latency is expected in occupational disease, and deadlines generally run from when you knew or ought to have known the condition was work-related.
What if several employers contributed?
That is common and the CNESST deals with apportionment. List every relevant employer rather than only the most recent.
Is hearing loss claimable?
Noise-induced hearing loss is a recognised occupational disease in Quebec, with audiometric evidence and noise exposure history central to the claim.
This is general information, not legal advice. Laws vary by location and every situation is different — speak with a qualified lawyer about your specific circumstances.