Item - 2019.GL5.20

The General Government and Licensing Committee recommends that:  

1.  City Council receive the report (May 6, 2019) from the Executive Director, People, Equity and Human Rights, for information.

This report provides information on the status of the City of Toronto's health and safety system, specifically performance for 2018 and actions and priorities to address identified hazards.

There was a 16.7 percent increase in the number of lost time injuries (LTIs) in 2018 relative to 2017, a 20 percent increase in the number of recurrences, and a 4.5 percent increase in the number of medical aid injuries. The most significant area of increase was in exposure to traumatic or stressful events. There were two significant events in 2018 that contributed to the increase in this category: the North York van attack and the Danforth shooting. An increase was also noted in assaults and violent acts.

The overall invoiced costs related to the City's current WSIB firm numbers increased slightly from $28.3 million in 2017 to $28.6 million in 2018. Decreases in the cost of firefighter cancers as well as decreases in other injury areas were offset by a $3.8 million increase in costs attributable to mental/emotional illnesses or disorders, including traumatic mental stress and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in first responders. Increased costs are predominately attributable to Toronto Fire Services and Toronto Paramedic Services. Legislation introduced in 2016 presumes that if a first responder or other designated worker is diagnosed with PTSD by a psychiatrist or psychologist, the condition is work-related. Toronto Paramedic Services and Toronto Fire Services have developed action plans to address PTSD and submitted them to the Ministry of Labour. The actions that were identified in the plans continue to be implemented.