Claim Characteristics and Return to Work Outcomes for Ontario Public Safety Personnel with Mental Stress Injury Program Claims, 2014-2023.

purposeIn Canada, rates of psychological injury for public safety personnel (PSP), along with related workers' compensation costs, have been on the rise in the past decade. This study explored approved workers' compensation claims filed by PSP for work-related psychological injuries through the Ontario Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) between 2014 and 2023. Specifically, we wanted to understand the variability in demographic and claim characteristics and how return to work (RTW) outcomes compared amongst PSP occupations.

methodsThis research employed a descriptive and quantitative analysis to identify trends in claim volumes, injury categories, and patterns in RTW outcomes for communicators, correctional workers, firefighters, paramedics, and police.

resultsClaimants were more often male with an average age of 41.3 years and 13 years of work experience at the time of injury. Police and paramedics accounted for over 60% of all claims and significant heterogeneity was observed across all occupations. Cumulative traumatic injury claims were more common than single event claims, and PTSD was the most common category of claim. 93.3% of all claims resulted in time lost from work, the median claim length was 14.4 months (Q1 = 0.8, Q3 = 38.7), and only 35.7% of claimants had a successful RTW outcome documented. The most favorable profile for RTW success was for younger and less experienced workers, with single event or traumatic mental stress claims.

conclusionOur findings can inform the development of more effective public policies and workers' compensation processes, ultimately contributing to more timely and effective support for PSP who sustain work-related psychological injuries.