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
Statistics 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Total number of LTIs 6,596 6,511 6,959 7,117 9,890
LTI frequency rate 1.34 1.28 1.36 1.39 1.50
Total number of NLTIs 14,680 14,185 14,357 14,967 15,647

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
Year 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Workforce estimates 816,300 828,600 855,300 881,500 866,600

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 type 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Musculoskeletal disorders: other 1,436 1,369 1,512 1,682 1,815
(23%)
Falls 1,264 1,103 1,194 1,264 1,435
(18%)
Musculoskeletal disorders: client handling 1,160 1,124 1,196 1,178 1,375
(17%)
Exposures 1,044 1,079 1,039 871 589
(7%)
Workplace violence 684 765 821 860 1,006
(13%)
Contact with/struck by object 613 645 673 744 773
(10%)
Others (Not coded, fire, explosion, transportation) 162 227 349 255 585
(8%)
Motor vehicle incidents 149 136 129 1,151 182
(2%)
Machinery 84 63 46 72 77
(1%)
Transportation 12 16 11 27 18
(0.23%)
Fire, explosion 1 2 3 5 7
(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 group 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Long-term care homes 1,728
(2.28)		 1,760
(2.25)		 1,826
(2.32)		 1,774
(2.31)		 1,700
Retirement homes 305
(2.02)		 320
(2.01)		 292
(1.87)		 334
(2.15)		 298
(1.74)
Hospitals 2,172
(1.04)		 2,073
(0.98)		 2,164
(1.02)		 2,095
(0.96)		 2,531
(1.55)
Nursing services 970
(1.86)		 821
(1.53)		 1,020
(1.8)		 1,113
(1.83)		 1,275
(2.1)
Supported group residences and other facilities 549
(2.92)		 530
(2.74)		 600
(3.07)		 629
(3.2)		 722
(3.57)
Treatment clinics and specialized services 655
(0.86)		 781
(0.94)		 843
(1.01)		 893
(1.11)		 1,086
(1.43)
Professional offices and agencies 217
(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
Statistics 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Total number of LTIs 1,728 1,760 1,826 1,774 1,700
LTI frequency rate 2.28 2.25 2.32 2.31 2.17
Total number of NLTIs 3,730 3,811 3,936 4,089 4,129

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
Hazard Number of LTIs Percentage of total LTIs
Musculoskeletal disorders: client handling 370 21.8%
Musculoskeletal disorders: other 347 20.4%
Falls 251 14.8%
Exposures 224 13.2%
Not Coded 188 11.1%
Workplace violence 183 10.8%
Contact with/Struck by object 127 7.5%
Machinery 9 0.5%
Motor vehicle incidents(MVI) 1 0.1%
Total 1700 100% 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
Statistics 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Total number of LTIs 305 320 292 334 289
LTI frequency rate 2.02 2.01 1.87 2.15 1.74
Total number of NLTIs 381 393 441 490 541

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
Hazards Number of LTIs Percentage of total LTIs
Exposures 117 37%
Musculoskeletal disorders: other 59 19%
Musculoskeletal disorders: client handling 51 16%
Falls 45 14%
Contact with/Struck by object 22 7%
Machinery 8 3%
Not classified 7 2%
Workplace violence 5 2%
Other (MVI, fires & explosions) 3 1%
Total 317 100% 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
Statistics 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Total number of LTIs 2,172 2,073 2,164 2,095 2,531
LTI frequency rate 1.04 0.98 1.02 0.96 1.55
Total number of NLTIs 6,142 5,762 5,331 5,664 6,055

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
Hazards Number of LTIs Percentage of total LTIs
Musculoskeletal disorders: other 599 23.7%
Musculoskeletal disorders: client handling 496 19.6%
Falls 355 14.0%
Workplace violence 355 14.0%
Contact with/Struck by object 262 10.4%
Exposures 214 8.5%
Not coded 190 7.5%
Machinery 40 1.6%
Motor vehicle incidents (MVI) 15 0.6%
Fires and explosions 4 0.2%
Transportation 1 0.0%
Total 2,531 100% 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
Statistics 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Total number of LTIs 970 821 1,020 1,113 1,275
LTI frequency rate 1.86 1.53 1.8 1.83 2.1
Total number of NLTIs 1,864 1,863 2,050 2,209 2,245

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
Hazards Number of LTIs Percentage of total LTIs
Musculoskeletal disorders: client handling 341 26.7%
Musculoskeletal disorders: other 296 23.2%
Falls 282 22.1%
Motor vehicle incidents 99 7.8%
Workplace violence 80 6.3%
Contact with/Struck by object 78 6.1%
Not coded 61 4.8%
Exposures 28 2.2%
Transportation 6 0.5%
machinery 4 0.3%
Total 1,275 100% 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
Statistics 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Total number of LTIs 549 530 600 629 722
LTI frequency rate 2.92 2.74 3.07 3.2 3.57
Total number of NLTIs 913 780 870 905 872

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
Hazards Number of LTIs Percentage of total LTIs
Workplace violence 220 30.5%
Musculoskeletal disorders: other 134 18.6%
Falls 123 17.0%
Contact with/Struck by object 85 11.8%
Musculoskeletal disorders: client handling 60 8.3%
Not coded 50 6.9%
Exposures 25 3.5%
Motor vehicle incidents 15 2.1%
Machinery 8 1.1%
Transportation 2 0.3%
Total 722 100% 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
Statistics 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Total number of LTIs 655 781 843 893 1,086
LTI frequency rate 0.86 0.94 1.01 1.11 1.43
Total number of NLTIs 1,151 1,115 1,267 1,146 1,264

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
Hazards Number of LTIs Percentage of total LTIs
Musculoskeletal disorders: other 290 26.7%
Falls 290 26.7%
Contact with/Struck by object 164 15.1%
Workplace violence 143 13.2%
Not coded 55 5.1%
Exposures 36 3.3%
Musculoskeletal disorders: client handling 27 2.5%
Motor vehicle incidents 9 0.8%
Machinery 6 0.6%
Transportation 2 0.2%
Total 1,086 100% 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
Statistics 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Total number of LTIs 217 226 214 279 260
LTI frequency rate 0.47 0.47 0.46 0.54 0.51
Total number of NLTIs 503 455 467 461 541

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
Hazards Number of LTIs Percentage of total LTIs
Musculoskeletal disorders: other 67 25.8%
Contact with/Struck by object 31  11.9%
Falls 72 27.7%
Motor vehicle incidents 25 9.6%
Not coded 18 6.9%
Exposures 16 6.2%
Workplace violence 13 5.0%
Musculoskeletal disorders: client handling 11 4.2%
Transportation 3 1.2%
Machinery 4 1.5%
Total 260 100% 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 injuries 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19
Complaints 594 634 735 839 899
Work refusals 6 8 5 6 13
Fatalities 0 0 0 0 0
Critical injuries 124 85 128 212 288

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.

Footnotes

Updated: August 19, 2021
Published: September 20, 2018