Canadian Labour Reporter

WSIB ignoring medical advice: Report TORONTO — A new report suggests Ontario's workers' compensation system is inter- fering with medical care for in- jured workers, sometimes go- ing against doctor's orders. At a press conference held on Nov. 5 at Queen's Park, the Ontario Federation of La- bour (OFL) and the Ontario Network of Injured Workers' Groups released Prescrip- tion Over-Ruled, a report on how the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) sys- temically ignores the advice of medical professionals. The report confirms what advocates have heard for years, said the OFL's secretary-trea- surer Nancy Hutchinson. "The WSIB system is more interested in clearing its case load than supporting workers who have been seriously in- jured on the job," Hutchinson said. "These doctors are blow- ing the whistle on the WSIB's punitive practice of deeming injured workers eligible to re- sume work when their treating physicians and medical profes- sionals have clearly stated the opposite." Alongside Hutchinson at the press conference were Gior- gio Ilacqua and Keith Klassen, two registered psychologists in Ontario who detailed their interactions with the WSIB. They alleged that injured work- ers are repeatedly re-victimized by the provincial compensation system. "The red tape is tangling up legitimate claims and prevent- ing injured workers from get- ting the coverage they need," Ilacqua said. "Behind every claim is a real person with a family that has been turned up- side down by a workplace injury — they deserve immediate and consistent care, not bureaucra- cy and red tape." The report made several recommendations, beginning with a formal investigation by the province's ombudsman into the WSIB's treatment of medi- cal advice. The WSIB said in a statement that it was not consulted when the OFL was putting together its report. However, it said it takes the responsibility to in- jured workers very seriously and that when a claim is filed, the WSIB will take steps to en- sure a comprehensive under- standing of the recommenda- tions from the injured worker's medical professionals. "The WSIB has quality as- surance programs to ensure the efficacy and quality of these services. There are significant safeguards in the system and stringent checks and balances," the board added. OPSEU demands protection for health-care staff KINGSTON, ONT. — The Ontario Public Service Employ- ees Union (OPSEU) is demand- ing Providence Care Mental Health Services in Kingston place security on an inpatient unit where staff members have been attacked on multiple oc- casions. The union filed an appeal with the Ontario Labour Rela- tions Board (OLRB) to order the employer to put protec- tions in place. Staff members have been threatened, choked, punched and kicked on the in- stitution's adult mental health unit. An inspector from the Min- istry of Labour visited the unit on Oct. 20 following an em- ployee complaint of inadequate safety measures. According to the union, workplace violence on the unit has increased because of chronic short-staffing at night and on weekends. "We know when staff aren't safe, that means the patients aren't safe either," said OPSEU president Warren (Smokey) Thomas. "When employers break the law, we need the Ministry of La- bour to make them stop. Strong enforcement of our laws is vi- tal to address the imbalance of power in the workplace." In the past year, the union said, Providence Care Mental Health Services saw more than 300 incidents of workplace vio- lence. LABOUR BRIEFS 2 Canadian HR Reporter, a Thomson Reuters business 2015 FORMERLY CLV REPORTS Serving labour relations professionals since 1956 www.labour-reporter.com Published weekly by omson Reuters Canada Ltd. 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