Item - 2022.GL32.33

The General Government and Licensing Committee recommend that:  

1. City Council receive the End of Year 2021 Occupational Health and Safety Report (May 30, 2022) from the Acting Chief People Officer for information.

This report provides information on the status of the City’s health and safety system, specifically performance for 2021 and actions and priorities to address identified hazards.

There was a 14.6 percent increase in the number of lost time injuries in 2021 relative to 2020. This increase was primarily due to workplace exposures to COVID-19. The City continually followed the guidance provided by the federal and provincial governments as well as advice provided by Toronto Public Health with respect to its pandemic response.

There was a 20.3 percent increase in the number of recurrences and a 5.4 percent decrease in the number of medical aid injuries in 2021 relative to 2020.

The overall invoiced costs related to the City's current WSIB firm number increased from $38.3 million in 2020 to $39.8 million in 2021.  This increase in costs is primarily attributed to mental/emotional illnesses or disorders including traumatic mental stress and post-traumatic stress disorder in First Responders and to COVID-19. Legislation introduced in 2016 presumes that if a first responder or other designated employee is diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder by a psychiatrist or psychologist, the condition is work-related.