More focus needed to improve workplace injury durations
WCB Nova Scotia’s Report to the Community from the third quarter of 2017 released today

Halifax, NS – There’s progress over the long term, but workplace injury continues to impact Nova Scotia workers, employers, and families, according to WCB Nova Scotia’s Report to the Community for the third quarter of 2017. 
 
“Workplace injuries continue to take too big a toll on workers and their families, as well as workplaces and communities,” said WCB Nova Scotia CEO Stuart MacLean. “These results tell us we need to maintain and strengthen our resolve to prevent injuries and support safe and timely return to work.”

There were 4,367 time-loss injuries from January to September of 2017. During the same period in 2016, there were 4,379 injuries. The injury rate for Q3, which is calculated as the number of injuries per 100 WCB-covered workers, was 1.75. That’s a slight increase from 1.72 at the end of Q2, and is mostly due to a decrease in the calculated covered workforce from July to September. 
 
When workers do get hurt on the job, it’s taking longer to return to work than it has in recent years. The composite duration index, a measure of how long workers are off the job due to injury, is at 115 days at the end of the third quarter, up from 110 at the end of 2016. 
 
Among all industries and sectors, employees in long-term care and home care had the most injuries, usually while lifting, moving, and caring for others. “We can do better,” said MacLean, “The work being done by these sectors, in partnership with government and WCB to develop a plan to reduce injuries, will make a big difference in coming years.” 
 
WCB had a solid financial quarter, with strong investment returns, and continued reduction in the province’s unfunded liability. Read the full report for our complete operational and financial results, along with an update on our ongoing modernization. 
 
Q3 at a glance

Number of time-loss claims in Q3 – 1,500
Time-loss claims per 100 covered workers – 1.75
Composite Duration Index – 115 days
Time loss days paid per 100 covered workers – 237
Acute workplace fatalities YTD – 2
Chronic fatalities YTD (due to occupational disease or other health conditions) – 10
Claims payments made YTD – $204 million 
Five-year rate of return on investment – 9.3 per cent

Selected actual injury descriptions

REPEATED LIFTING OF FURNITURE 
TWISTED BACK WHEN WORKING IN KITCHEN 
FELL FROM LADDER 
WORKER WAS GRABBED BY RESIDENT AT BEDSIDE 
LIFTING PATIENT FROM STAIR CHAIR 
RESIDENT FELL BACKWARDS INTO WORKER 
LIFTING TRAPS TO LOAD TRUCK
FELL DOWN STAIRS WHILE CARRYING LARGE ITEMS 
SLIPPED ON WET STAIRS 
FELL BACKWARD, TWISTED RIGHT FOOT 
CABINET FELL ONTO WORKER

-30-