Health care sector injury statistics

Some quick facts

• More than 850,000 workers are employed in Ontario’s health care sector.
• They work at more than 6,000 hospitals, long-term care homes, retirement homes, community care and other workplaces across the province.
• Health care ranks second highest for lost time injuries (LTIs) among all sectors in Ontario.
• Health care ranks fifth highest for LTI rates among all sectors in Ontario.

The LTI rate in the health care sector was 1.27 per 100 workers, in 2015. This ranks above the overall LTI rate in Schedule 1 employers, but is a decrease from the 2014 health care LTI rate of 1.34 per 100 workers.

Table 1 below shows how the number of LTIs, non lost time injuries (NLTIs) and the LTI frequency rate has changed for Ontario’s health care sector from 2011-2015. Over this time, the LTI frequency rate for the health care sector has decreased by 0.24.

Source: Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) Enterprise Information Warehouse (EIW) Claim Cost Analysis Schema and Firm Expense Schema, December 2016 data snapshot for all years, courtesy of Public Services Health and Safety Association (PSHSA).

Ontario’s health care sector is diverse and complex. Table 2 below shows its labour force is generally increasing.

Source: Statistics Canada. Table 282-0008 - Labour force survey estimates (LFS), by North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), sex and age group (CANSIM (database) (Accessed: January 31, 2017).

Table 3 below shows how the LTI counts have changed for the most common occupational health and safety hazards in the health care sector from 2011–2015.

Source: WSIB Enterprise Information Warehouse (EIW) Claim Cost Analysis Schema, rolling June 2012 to 2016 data snapshots, courtesy of Public Services Health and Safety Association (PSHSA).

Table 4 below shows the most common occupational health and safety hazards for the health care sector, demonstrating the percentage of LTIs each of the hazards resulted in.

Source: WSIB Enterprise Information Warehouse (EIW) Claim Cost Analysis Schema, June 2016 data snapshot, courtesy of Public Services Health and Safety Association (PSHSA).

Health and community care services are provided in a variety of complex settings. Seven settings are covered by the MOL Health Care Health and Safety Program:

• Long-term care homes (homes for nursing care)
• Retirement homes (homes for residential care)
• Hospitals
• Nursing services
• Supported group living residences and other facilities (group homes)
• Treatment clinics and specialized services
• Professional offices and agencies.

Table 5 below shows how the LTI counts have changed for all of the health care settings (rate groups) from 2011-2015.

Source: WSIB Enterprise Information Warehouse (EIW) Claim Cost Analysis Schema and Firm Experience Schema, December 2016 data snapshot for all years, courtesy of Public Services Health and Safety Association (PSHSA)

Table 6 below shows how the LTI frequency rates have changed for all of the health care settings (rate groups) from 2011-2015.

Source: WSIB Enterprise Information Warehouse (EIW) Claim Cost Analysis Schema and Firm Experience Schema, December 2016 data snapshot for all years, courtesy of Public Services Health and Safety Association (PSHSA)

Injury statistics in health care settings

For each setting, common hazards are listed. Select each hazard to go to a hazard description, inspection focus and resources for compliance.

Long-term care homes

Long-term care homes are government funded and regulated by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) under the Long-Term Care Homes Act, 2007. These homes generally offer higher levels of personal care and support (such as 24-hour nursing services or personal support) than offered by retirement homes or supportive housing.

Table 7 below shows how the number of lost time injuries (LTIs), non-lost time injuries (NLTIs) and the LTI frequency rate have changed for long-term care homes from 2011-2015.

Source: WSIB Enterprise Information Warehouse (EIW) Claim Cost Analysis Schema and Firm Expense Schema, December 2016 data snapshot for all years, courtesy of Public Services Health and Safety Association (PSHSA).

Common LTI hazards in long-term care homes include, but are not limited to:

• exposures to hazardous biological, chemical and physical agents
• musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) involving client handling (lifting, transferring and re-positioning patients/residents/clients)
• MSDs involving non-client handling
• slips, trips and falls
• workplace violence
• contact with and struck-by-object injuries

Table 8 below show the most common occupational health and safety hazards for long-term care homes in 2015, demonstrating the percentage of LTIs each of the hazards resulted in.

Table 8: LTIs by hazards for long-term care homes, 2015

Source: WSIB Enterprise Information Warehouse (EIW) Claim Cost Analysis Schema, June 2016 data snapshot, courtesy of Public Services Health and Safety Association (PSHSA).

Other common hazards in long-term care homes include, but are not limited to:

• safety in transition of care
• needle and sharps safety
• infections and infectious diseases
• occupational illnesses and diseases
• antineoplastic and other hazardous drugs
• asbestos
• common industrial hazards in health care workplaces and
• loading dock safety.

Retirement homes

Retirement homes provide residential services primarily to seniors who are generally able to care for themselves but may require some support with daily activities. Services and levels of care vary at these operations. Workers at these operations include nursing staff, personal support workers and support service staff such as housekeepers and kitchen staff.

Table 9 below shows how the number of LTIs, NLTIs and the LTI frequency rate have changed for retirement homes from 2011-2015.

Source: WSIB Enterprise Information Warehouse (EIW) Claim Cost Analysis Schema and Firm Expense Schema, December 2016 data snapshot for all years, courtesy of Public Services Health and Safety Association (PSHSA).

The Retirement Homes Act, 2010 establishes mandatory care, safety and administrative standards for retirement homes in Ontario. The act is administered by the Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority. For more information, see the act and its regulations.

Common LTI hazards in retirement homes include, but are not limited to:

• exposures to hazardous biological, chemical and physical agents
• MSDs involving non-client handling
• MSDs involving client handling (lifting, transferring and re-positioning patients/residents/clients)
• slips, trips and falls
• contact with and struck-by-object injuries
• common industrial hazards in health care workplaces
• workplace violence.

Table 10 below show the most common occupational health and safety hazards for retirement homes (homes for residential care) in 2015, demonstrating the percentage of LTIs each of the hazards resulted in.

Source: WSIB Enterprise Information Warehouse (EIW) Claim Cost Analysis Schema, June 2016 data snapshot, courtesy of Public Services Health and Safety Association (PSHSA).

Other common hazards in retirement homes include, but are not limited to:

• safety in transition of care
• needle and sharps safety
• infections and infectious diseases
• occupational illnesses and diseases
• asbestos and
• loading dock safety.

Hospitals

Hospitals are the largest employers in the health care sector. Hospitals vary in the types of services they offer. Included are general hospitals, rehabilitation hospitals, extended care hospitals, psychiatric hospitals, addiction hospitals, paediatric and other specialty hospitals.

Table 11 below shows how the number of LTIs, NLTIs and the LTI frequency rate have changed for hospitals from 2011-2015.

Source: WSIB Enterprise Information Warehouse (EIW) Claim Cost Analysis Schema and Firm Expense Schema, December 2016 data snapshot for all years, courtesy of Public Services Health and Safety Association (PSHSA).

Common LTI hazards in hospitals include, but are not limited to:

• MSDs involving non-client handling
• MSDs involving client handling (lifting, transferring and re-positioning patients/residents/clients)
• exposures to hazardous biological, chemical and physical agents
• slips, trips and falls
• workplace violence
• contact with and struck-by-object injuries.

Table 12 below show the most common occupational health and safety hazards for hospitals in 2015, demonstrating the percentage of LTIs each of the hazards resulted in.

Source: WSIB Enterprise Information Warehouse (EIW) Claim Cost Analysis Schema, June 2016 data snapshot, courtesy of Public Services Health and Safety Association (PSHSA).

Other common hazards in hospitals include, but are not limited to:

• common industrial hazards in health care workplaces
• safety in transition of care
• needle and sharps safety
• infections and infectious diseases
• occupational illnesses and diseases
• antineoplastic and other hazardous drugs
• ventilation maintenance and monitoring
• asbestos
• loading dock safety
• construction hazards, and
• emergency management (preparedness, response and recovery).

Nursing services

Nursing services include agencies that provide temporary or long-term professional health services (including nursing and medical), other health and community care services (such as non-professional physical and personal care) and home support services (such as homemaking).

Table 13 below shows how the number of LTIs, NLTIs and the LTI frequency rate have changed for nursing services from 2011-2015.

Source: WSIB Enterprise Information Warehouse (EIW) Claim Cost Analysis Schema and Firm Expense Schema, December 2016 data snapshot for all years, courtesy of Public Services Health and Safety Association (PSHSA).

Health care personnel in this group can include dental technicians and hygienists, physiotherapists, nursing staff and personal support workers.

Common LTI hazards in nursing services include, but are not limited to:

• MSDs involving non-client handling
• MSDs involving client handling (lifting, transferring and re-positioning patients/residents/clients)
• slips, trips and falls
• transportation hazards (including motor vehicle incidents)
• contact with and struck-by-object injuries
• workplace violence
• exposures to hazardous biological, chemical and physical agents.

Table 14 below show the most common occupational health and safety hazards for nursing services in 2015, demonstrating the percentage of LTIs each of the hazards resulted in.

Source: WSIB Enterprise Information Warehouse (EIW) Claim Cost Analysis Schema, June 2016 data snapshot, courtesy of Public Services Health and Safety Association (PSHSA).

Other common hazards in nursing services include, but are not limited to:

• safety in transition of care
• needle and sharps safety
• infections and infectious diseases and
• occupational illnesses and diseases.

Supported group living residences and other facilities

Supported group living residences primarily provide residential care for people who require care or support, including people with developmental disabilities, mental health disabilities and/or substance abuse problems. Activities include providing care for residents who have decreased physical capacity or cognitive ability and require supervision and assistance with daily living. Residents may also require other types of support related to emotional or psycho-social needs through social and recreational services.

Table 15 below shows how the number of LTIs, NLTIs and the LTI frequency rate have changed for supported group living residences and other facilities from 2011-2015.

Source: WSIB Enterprise Information Warehouse (EIW) Claim Cost Analysis Schema and Firm Expense Schema, December 2016 data snapshot for all years, courtesy of Public Services Health and Safety Association (PSHSA).

Common LTI hazards in supported group living residences and other facilities include, but are not limited to:

• workplace violence
• MSDs involving non-client handling
• slips, trips and falls
• MSDs involving client handling (lifting, transferring and re-positioning patients/residents/clients)
• contact with and struck-by-object injuries
• transportation hazards (including motor vehicle incidents)
• exposures to hazardous biological, chemical and physical agents.

Table 16 below show the most common occupational health and safety hazards for supported group living residences and other facilities (group homes) in 2015, demonstrating the percentage of LTIs each of the hazards resulted in.

Source: WSIB Enterprise Information Warehouse (EIW) Claim Cost Analysis Schema, June 2016 data snapshot, courtesy of Public Services Health and Safety Association (PSHSA).

Other common hazards in group living residences and other facilities include, but are not limited to:

• safety in transition of care and
• infections and infectious diseases.

Treatment clinics and specialized services

Treatment clinics and specialized services include drug and alcohol treatment centres, public health clinics, Community Care Access Centres, community clinics and skills development programs. Activities include continual assessment and rehabilitative treatment for non-institutional patients whose physical or mental condition is expected to improve.

Table 17 below shows how the number of LTIs, NLTIs and the LTI frequency rate have changed for treatment clinics and specialized services from 2011-2015.

Source: WSIB Enterprise Information Warehouse (EIW) Claim Cost Analysis Schema and Firm Expense Schema, December 2016 data snapshot for all years, courtesy of Public Services Health and Safety Association (PSHSA).

Common LTI hazards in treatment clinics and specialized services include, but are not limited to:

• MSDs involving non-client handling
• slips, trips and falls
• contact with and struck-by-object injuries
• workplace violence
• exposures to hazardous biological, chemical and physical agents
• transportation hazards (including motor vehicle incidents)
• MSDs involving client handling (lifting, transferring and re-positioning patients/residents/clients).

Table 18 below show the most common occupational health and safety hazards for treatment clinics and specialized services in 2015, demonstrating the percentage of LTIs each of the hazards resulted in.

Source: WSIB Enterprise Information Warehouse (EIW) Claim Cost Analysis Schema, June 2016 data snapshot, courtesy of Public Services Health and Safety Association (PSHSA).

Other common hazards in treatment clinics and specialized services include, but are not limited to:

• safety in transition of care
• needle and sharps safety
• infections and infectious diseases and
• antineoplastic and other hazardous drugs.

Professional offices and agencies

Professional offices and agencies include doctors’ clinics, dental surgery clinics, other allied health professional clinics and medical laboratories and specimen collection centres in a community setting. Activities include the private practice of medicine or a specialty of medicine — in individual or group practice — by registered physicians and surgeons.

Table 19 below shows how the number of LTIs, NLTIs and the LTI frequency rate have changed for professional offices and agencies from 2011-2015.

Source: WSIB Enterprise Information Warehouse (EIW) Claim Cost Analysis Schema and Firm Expense Schema, December 2016 data snapshot for all years, courtesy of Public Services Health and Safety Association (PSHSA).

Common LTI hazards in professional offices and agencies include, but are not limited to:

• slips, trips and falls
• MSDs involving non-client handling
• contact with and struck-by-object injuries
• exposures to hazardous biological, chemical and physical agents
• transportation hazards (including motor vehicle incidents)
• workplace violence
• MSDs involving client handling (lifting, transferring and re-positioning patients/residents/clients).

Table 20 below shows the most common occupational health and safety hazards for professional offices and agencies in 2015, demonstrating the percentage of LTIs each of the hazards resulted in.

Source: WSIB Enterprise Information Warehouse (EIW) Claim Cost Analysis Schema, June 2016 data snapshot, courtesy of Public Services Health and Safety Association (PSHSA)

Other common hazards in professional offices and agencies include, but are not limited to:

• needle and sharps safety and
• infections and infectious diseases.