January 9, 2013

WSIB notes 10-year decline in claims

TORONTO

Fewer claims are entering the system and more injured workers are getting back to work sooner, says the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board’s (WSIB) By the Numbers report, which looks at the last 10 years of statistics.

Since 2002, there has been a four per cent reduction in registered claims and a 24 per cent decline in the lost time injury rate. At the same time, the number of workers covered increased by 20 per cent.

“Our 10 year historical trends indicate that significant improvements in claims management, health care and return to work has resulted in better outcomes for injured workers and employers, while reducing benefit costs,” reads By the Numbers: 2011 WSIB Statistical Report.

Though the WSIB covers a wide variety of employers within 16 diverse industry sectors, five sectors — construction, health care, manufacturing, services and transportation — accounted for more than 80 per cent of WSIB covered workers and allowed lost time claims.

The year of 2011 saw the lowest levels of claim durations in 10 years, which indicates that more workers are returning to work sooner, says the WSIB.

Male workers represented 52 per cent of Ontario’s employed workforce and 62 per cent of all allowed lost time claims.

Female workers represented 48 per cent of Ontario’s employed workforce and 38 per cent of all allowed lost time claims.

Workers ages 25-54 represented over 69 per cent of Ontario’s employed workforce and approximately 70 per cent of all allowed lost time claims.

Sprains and strains represented over 45 per cent of all allowed lost time claims.

The WSIB identified three types of high impact claims, involving the lower back, shoulder and fractures, which represent approximately 34 per cent of all allowed lost time claims and 45 per cent of all lost time benefit payments.

The WSIB has changed its approach to the annual release of statistics by launching a new web statistics report.

The WSIB says its new report makes statistics more accessible and easier to interpret.

By the Numbers is now available at wsibstatistics.ca. As well as demographic information, it includes analysis of historical trends. It profiles Ontario workers, employers, claims, and benefit payments.

Also included are new features such as enhanced visuals, enlargeable maps and graphics, scrolling and toggling features, and quick-click options for immediate display of data and statistics.

The new report also provides open data through downloadable tables available to the public.

DCN NEWS SERVICES

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