Overview of injury data

According to data from the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB), the lost-time injury (LTI) rate in the health care sector was 1.36 per 100 workers in 2018.

Table 1 below shows the number of LTIs, no lost-time injuries (NLTIs) and the LTI frequency rate for Ontario's health care sector from 2014-2018.

Table 1: Ontario health care injury statistics
Statistics20142015201620172018
Total number of LTIs6,5966,5116,9597,1179,890
LTI frequency rate1.341.281.361.391.50
Total number of NLTIs14,68014,18514,35714,96715,647

Source:Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) Enterprise Information Warehouse (EIW) Claim Cost Analysis Schema and Firm Expense Schema, May 2019 data snapshot for all years, courtesy of Public Services Health and Safety Association (PSHSA).

The number of workers in the health care sector is generally increasing. Table 2 contains data from Statistics Canada that shows that the labour force in the healthcare and social assistance sector is increasing.

Table 2: Ontario labour force - health care and social assistance sector
Year20142015201620172018
Workforce estimates816,300828,600855,300881,500866,600

Source: Statistics Canada. Table 14-10-0023-01 - Labour force characteristics by industry, North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) by sex and age group (Accessed: October 17, 2019).

Table 3 shows how the LTI counts have changed for the most common occupational health and safety hazards in the health care sector from 2014-2018. The proportion of each injury type is shown as a percentage for the 2018 injury count.

Table 3: Health care Schedule 1 allowed LTI counts by injury type
Injury type20142015201620172018
Musculoskeletal disorders: other1,4361,3691,5121,6821,815
(23%)
Falls1,2641,1031,1941,2641,435
(18%)
Musculoskeletal disorders: client handling1,1601,1241,1961,1781,375
(17%)
Exposures1,0441,0791,039871589
(7%)
Workplace violence6847658218601,006
(13%)
Contact with/struck by object613645673744773
(10%)
Others (Not coded, fire, explosion, transportation)162227349255585
(8%)
Motor vehicle incidents1491361291,151182
(2%)
Machinery8463467277
(1%)
Transportation1216112718
(0.23%)
Fire, explosion12357
(0.08%)

Source: WSIB (EIW) Claim Cost Analysis Schema, rolling June 2014 to 2018 data snapshots, 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 Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development 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 4 below shows how the LTI counts and LTI frequency rate have changed for all of the health care settings (rate groups) from 2014-2018.

(2.17)

Table 4: LTI counts and LTI frequency by health care setting (rate group)
Rate group20142015201620172018
Long-term care homes1,728
(2.28)
1,760
(2.25)
1,826
(2.32)
1,774
(2.31)
1,700
Retirement homes305
(2.02)
320
(2.01)
292
(1.87)
334
(2.15)
298
(1.74)
Hospitals2,172
(1.04)
2,073
(0.98)
2,164
(1.02)
2,095
(0.96)
2,531
(1.55)
Nursing services970
(1.86)
821
(1.53)
1,020
(1.8)
1,113
(1.83)
1,275
(2.1)
Supported group residences and other facilities549
(2.92)
530
(2.74)
600
(3.07)
629
(3.2)
722
(3.57)
Treatment clinics and specialized services655
(0.86)
781
(0.94)
843
(1.01)
893
(1.11)
1,086
(1.43)
Professional offices and agencies217
(0.47)
226
(0.47)
214
(0.46)
279
(0.54)
260
(0.51)

Source: WSIB Enterprise Information Warehouse EIW Claim Cost Analysis Schema, May 2019 data snapshot, courtesy of Public Services Health and Safety Association (PSHSA)

Long-term care homes

Table 5 shows how the number of LTIs, NLTIs and the LTI frequency rate have changed for long-term care homes from 2014-2018.

Table 5: Long-term care homes injury statistics
Statistics20142015201620172018
Total number of LTIs1,7281,7601,8261,7741,700
LTI frequency rate2.282.252.322.312.17
Total number of NLTIs3,7303,8113,9364,0894,129

Source:Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) Enterprise Information Warehouse (EIW) Claim Cost Analysis Schema and Firm Expense Schema, May 2019 data snapshot for all years, courtesy of Public Services Health and Safety Association (PSHSA).

Table 6 shows the most common occupational health and safety hazards for long-term care homes in 2018 and the percentage of LTIs for each.

Table 6: LTIs by hazards for long-term care homes, 201 8
HazardNumber of LTIsPercentage of total LTIs
Musculoskeletal disorders: client handling37021.8%
Musculoskeletal disorders: other34720.4%
Falls25114.8%
Exposures22413.2%
Not Coded18811.1%
Workplace violence18310.8%
Contact with/Struck by object1277.5%
Machinery90.5%
Motor vehicle incidents(MVI)10.1%
Total1700100% footnote 1

Source:Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) Enterprise Information Warehouse (EIW) Claim Cost Analysis Schema and Firm Expense Schema, May 2019 data snapshot for all years, courtesy of Public Services Health and Safety Association (PSHSA).

Retirement homes

Table 7 shows how the number of LTIs, NLTIs and the LTI frequency rate have changed for retirement homes from 2014- 2018.

Table 7: Retirement homes injury statistic
Statistics20142015201620172018
Total number of LTIs305320292334289
LTI frequency rate2.022.011.872.151.74
Total number of NLTIs381393441490541

Source: EIW Claim Cost Analysis Schema for all years - snapshot May 2019, courtesy of Public Services Health and Safety Association (PSHSA).

Table 8 shows the most common occupational health and safety hazards for retirement homes (homes for residential care) in 2018 and the percentage of LTIs for each.

Table 8: LTIs by hazard for retirement homes, 2018
HazardsNumber of LTIsPercentage of total LTIs
Exposures11737%
Musculoskeletal disorders: other5919%
Musculoskeletal disorders: client handling5116%
Falls4514%
Contact with/Struck by object227%
Machinery83%
Not classified72%
Workplace violence52%
Other (MVI, fires & explosions)31%
Total317100% footnote 1

Source:WSIB Enterprise Information Warehouse (EIW) Claim Cost Analysis Schema, May 2019 data snapshot for all years, courtesy of Public Services Health and Safety Association (PSHSA).

Hospitals

Table 9 shows how the number of LTIs, NLTIs and the LTI frequency rate have changed for hospitals from 2014-2018.

Table 9: Hospitals injury statistics
Statistics20142015201620172018
Total number of LTIs2,1722,0732,1642,0952,531
LTI frequency rate1.040.981.020.961.55
Total number of NLTIs6,1425,7625,3315,6646,055

Source:WSIB Enterprise Information Warehouse (EIW) Claim Cost Analysis Schema, May 2019 data snapshot, courtesy of Public Services Health and Safety Association (PSHSA).

Table 10 shows the most common occupational health and safety hazards for hospitals in 2018, and the percentage of LTIs for each.

Table 10: LTIs by hazards for hospitals, 2018
HazardsNumber of LTIsPercentage of total LTIs
Musculoskeletal disorders: other59923.7%
Musculoskeletal disorders: client handling49619.6%
Falls35514.0%
Workplace violence35514.0%
Contact with/Struck by object26210.4%
Exposures2148.5%
Not coded1907.5%
Machinery401.6%
Motor vehicle incidents (MVI)150.6%
Fires and explosions40.2%
Transportation10.0%
Total2,531100% footnote 1

Source:WSIB Enterprise Information Warehouse (EIW) Claim Cost Analysis Schema, May 2019 data snapshot, courtesy of Public Services Health and Safety Association (PSHSA).

Nursing services

Table 11 shows how the number of LTIs, NLTIs and the LTI frequency rate have changed for nursing services from 2014- 2018.

Table 11: Nursing services injury statistics
Statistics20142015201620172018
Total number of LTIs9708211,0201,1131,275
LTI frequency rate1.861.531.81.832.1
Total number of NLTIs1,8641,8632,0502,2092,245

Source: WSIB Enterprise Information Warehouse (EIW) Claim Cost Analysis Schema, May 2019 data snapshot for all years, courtesy of Public Services Health and Safety Association (PSHSA)

Table 12 shows the most common occupational health and safety hazards for nursing services in 2018 and the percentage of LTIs for each.

Table 12: LTIs by hazards for nursing services, 2018
HazardsNumber of LTIsPercentage of total LTIs
Musculoskeletal disorders: client handling34126.7%
Musculoskeletal disorders: other29623.2%
Falls28222.1%
Motor vehicle incidents997.8%
Workplace violence806.3%
Contact with/Struck by object786.1%
Not coded614.8%
Exposures282.2%
Transportation60.5%
machinery40.3%
Total1,275100% footnote 1

Source: WSIB Enterprise Information Warehouse (EIW) Claim Cost Analysis Schema, May 2019 data snapshot for all years, courtesy of Public Services Health and Safety Association (PSHSA).

Supported group living residences and other facilities (group homes)

Table 13 shows how the number of LTIs, NLTIs and the LTI frequency rate have changed for supported group living residences and other facilities from 2014-2018.

Table 13: Supported group living residences and other facilities injury statistics
Statistics20142015201620172018
Total number of LTIs549530600629722
LTI frequency rate2.922.743.073.23.57
Total number of NLTIs913780870905872

Source: WSIB Enterprise Information Warehouse (EIW) Claim Cost Analysis Schema, May 2019 data snapshot for all years, courtesy of Public Services Health and Safety Association (PSHSA).

Table 14 shows the most common occupational health and safety hazards for supported group living residences and other facilities (group homes) in 2018 and the percentage of LTIs for each .

Table 14: LTIs by hazards for supported group living residences and other facilities, 2018
HazardsNumber of LTIsPercentage of total LTIs
Workplace violence22030.5%
Musculoskeletal disorders: other13418.6%
Falls12317.0%
Contact with/Struck by object8511.8%
Musculoskeletal disorders: client handling608.3%
Not coded506.9%
Exposures253.5%
Motor vehicle incidents152.1%
Machinery81.1%
Transportation20.3%
Total722100% footnote 1

Source: WSIB Enterprise Information Warehouse (EIW) Claim Cost Analysis Schema, May 2019 data snapshot for all years, courtesy of Public Services Health and Safety Association (PSHSA).

Treatment clinics and specialized services

Table 15 shows how the number of LTIs, NLTIs and the LTI frequency rate have changed for treatment clinics and specialized services from 2014-2018.

Table 15: Treatment clinics and specialized services injury statistics
Statistics20142015201620172018
Total number of LTIs6557818438931,086
LTI frequency rate0.860.941.011.111.43
Total number of NLTIs1,1511,1151,2671,1461,264

Source: WSIB Enterprise Information Warehouse (EIW) Claim Cost Analysis Schema, May 2019 data snapshot for all years, courtesy of Public Services Health and Safety Association (PSHSA).

Table 16 show the most common occupational health and safety hazards for treatment clinics and specialized services in 2018 and the percentage of LTIs for each.

Table 16: LTIs by hazard for treatment clinics and specialized services, 2018
HazardsNumber of LTIsPercentage of total LTIs
Musculoskeletal disorders: other29026.7%
Falls29026.7%
Contact with/Struck by object16415.1%
Workplace violence14313.2%
Not coded555.1%
Exposures363.3%
Musculoskeletal disorders: client handling272.5%
Motor vehicle incidents90.8%
Machinery60.6%
Transportation20.2%
Total1,086100% footnote 1

Source: WSIB Enterprise Information Warehouse (EIW) Claim Cost Analysis Schema, May 2019 data snapshot, courtesy of Public Services Health and Safety Association (PSHSA).

Professional offices and agencies

Table 17 shows how the number of LTIs, NLTIs and the LTI frequency rate have changed for professional offices and agencies from 2014- 2018.

Table 17: Professional offices and agencies injury statistics
Statistics20142015201620172018
Total number of LTIs217226214279260
LTI frequency rate0.470.470.460.540.51
Total number of NLTIs503455467461541

Source: EIW Claim Cost Analysis Schema for all years - snapshot May 2019, courtesy of Public Services Health and Safety Association (PSHSA).

Table 18 shows the most common occupational health and safety hazards for professional offices and agencies in 2018 and the percentage of LTIs for each.

Table 18: LTIs by hazard for professional offices and agencies, 2018
HazardsNumber of LTIsPercentage of total LTIs
Musculoskeletal disorders: other6725.8%
Contact with/Struck by object31 11.9%
Falls7227.7%
Motor vehicle incidents259.6%
Not coded186.9%
Exposures166.2%
Workplace violence135.0%
Musculoskeletal disorders: client handling114.2%
Transportation31.2%
Machinery41.5%
Total260100% footnote 1

Source: WSIB Enterprise Information Warehouse (EIW) Claim Cost Analysis Schema, May 2019 data snapshot, courtesy of Public Services Health and Safety Association (PSHSA).

Occupational health and safety events and injuries

Occupational health and safety events and injuries reported to The Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development are summarized in Table 19.

Table 19: Health care sector events and injuries
Events and injuries2014-152015-162016-172017-182018-19
Complaints594634735839899
Work refusals685613
Fatalities00000
Critical injuries12485128212288

Statistical notes

  • Only critical injury events reported to the ministry are included for each sector.
  • This represents data that were reported to the ministry and may not represent what actually occurred at the workplace.
  • Some events may not have been classified under a specific subsector at the time data was downloaded for this report.
  • The critical injury numbers represent critical injuries reported to the ministry and not necessarily critical injuries as defined by Regulation 834 under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA).
  • Non-workers who are critically injured may also be included in the ministry's data.
  • The Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development tracks and reports fatalities at workplaces covered by the OHSA. This excludes deaths from natural causes, deaths of non-workers at a workplace, suicides, deaths as a result of a criminal act or traffic accident (unless the OHSA is also implicated) and deaths from occupational exposures that occurred many years ago.
  • Data subject to change because of inspectors' updates to the database.