But insurer claims it has helped injured workers return to work at a high success rate
A group representing injured workers in Ontario is calling on the provincial government to think twice about putting more funding into the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB), according to a report.
Speaking for the Ontario Network of Injured Workers’ Groups (ONIWG), committee chair Steve Mantis noted that the insurer has its shortcomings, and that it is hurting other important programs in the province, according to a TBnewswatch.com report.
Proof of this is that the frequency of injuries or lost time on the job increased by 30,000 people – or 50 per cent – between 2019 and 2022.
“If the WSIB were paying their fair share, then the government would have these funds available to invest in other important programs that people need,” Mantis said in the report.
“Because WSIB is not paying their fair share, it is creating an ongoing hazard in terms of the health of our workers, our community and our society as a whole.”
And many injuries are not being reported, he said.
“As our economy puts more precarious workers in place, people are less willing to say something happened because they're afraid of losing their job, the opportunity for promotion or ongoing employment," he said.
“Our research shows that between 40 and 50 per cent of injuries never get reported at all because of these factors. Workers are now being seen as disposable rather than the most important asset of their company.”
In response, Christine Arnott, public affairs manager at WSIB, noted that the Ontario insurance board has been successful in doing its job.
“Our job is to help people if they get injured or become ill because of their work and deliver value for the premiums Ontario businesses pay to fund the system. Our services and support include access to health care and recovery services as well as providing income protection for those who are off work because of their injury or illness,” she said in an email to Canadian Occupational Safety.
In 2022, WSIB paid over $2.5 billion to help people recover “with peace of mind that they won’t miss a mortgage payment and can put food on the table,” she added.
“Most importantly, we’ve been able to help almost 9 out of 10 people who miss work because of an injury to safely return to their job within 3 months.”
