Resident assaulted two workers, and employer must pay $80,000
Ontario employer Dilico Anishinabek Family Care was fined $80,000 as two of its workers were injured after they were assaulted by a resident at the employer’s mental health treatment group home.
The employer must also pay a 25 per cent victim fine surcharge as required by the Provincial Offences Act, to be credited to a special provincial government fund to assist victims of crime.
The facility has residents aged between 12 and 17.
The incident happened on May 16, 2022, group home staff unlocked the office the manager shared with another worker, to allow a client resident in to speak with the manager.
The resident was frustrated about an issue and was verbally aggressive. The situation escalated and the resident assaulted the manager.
One worker, who was also present in the office, attempted to use verbal de-escalation strategies with the client but was unsuccessful.
A second worker then entered the office and pulled the client off the manager. That allowed the manager and first worker to leave the office.
The resident, however, also assaulted the second worker, who got out of the office and held the door shut to contain the resident. But the resident exited the office through the window.
Emergency Medical Services responded to the incident.
Through an investigation, Ontario's Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development found that Dilico Anishinabek Family Care had a written workplace violence policy and program. However, it did not apply to workplace violence involving clients.
The ministry also determined that the organization had not conducted a workplace violence risk assessment of the group home.
Physical assault is “absolutely” an occupational hazard, one expert previously told COS.
“Dilico Anishinabek Family Care failed, as an employer, to assess the risks of workplace violence contrary to subsection 32.0.3(1) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act,” said the Ontario government.
Here’s how to prevent psychosocial hazards in the workplace.
