Regardless of whether the injured individual is an employee, family member, visitor, contractor or a member of the general public, if they sustain a critical injury at your workplace, it is essential to report the injury to the Ministry of Labour.
Critical injuries
According to the Occupational Health and Safety Act, a critical injury is one that falls into one of the following categories:
- Places life in jeopardy
- Causes unconsciousness
- Results in substantial blood loss
- Involves the fracture of a leg or arm (excluding a finger or toe)
- Involves the amputation of a leg, arm, hand or foot (excluding a finger or toe)
- Results in burns to a major portion of the body
- Causes the loss of sight in an eye
Steps to take in the event of a critical injury:
- Administer medical care and first aid.
- Call 911 immediately.
- Contact your manager, the owner, and the health and safety representative.
- Secure the area (e.g., tape off or block off the scene). Do not move or remove any items, but ensure that the welfare of the animals is not compromised. If possible, move the animals to a secured area.
- The manager or owner must call the Ministry of Labour at (877) 202-0008 to report the critical injury.
- The manager, owner or health and safety representative should take pictures of the scene after the injured person has been removed. This is particularly important if the movement of animals cannot be controlled.
- The manager or owner will obtain witness statements.
- The manager or owner must complete an Event Investigation Report. This written report must be submitted to the director of the Ministry of Labour within 48 hours. Any Ministry of Labour orders or paperwork received during the investigation must be posted on the Health and Safety Communication Board.
- The manager or owner will work with the injured team member(s) to create a return-to-work program.
Near misses and non-critical injuries
A non-critical injury is a physical injury that is not life-threatening. A near-miss occurs when an injury does not happen but could have caused harm. Although no injury may occur during a near-miss event, it is important to report such incidents as a proactive measure to prevent future injuries.
Steps to take for non-critical injuries or near-misses:
- Administer first aid to the injured person(s).
- Call 911, if necessary.
- Contact your manager, the owner, and the health and safety representative.
- The manager or owner will obtain witness statements.
- The manager or owner will complete an Event Investigation Report.
- The manager or owner will complete the WSIB Form 7 and submit it to the WSIB within three days of the injury date. This form should also be retained on file. The form can be filled out online here.
- The manager or owner will work with the injured team member(s) to determine if time off or modified work is necessary. The priority is to minimize time away from work and offer an accommodated position, if possible.
Additional considerations for workplace injuries
- Confidentiality: Do not post pictures, comments or statuses online. This helps maintain the confidentiality of the investigation and protects the injured team member(s).
- Media communication: To maintain the confidentiality of the investigation, no one other than the owner should speak to the press or media. The owner is responsible for making any public statements.
Injuries can happen in an instant, whether you are performing a task you have done countless times or something new. It is vital to take a proactive approach to safety. Train all team members regularly and ensure they feel confident working in a safe environment.
