The number of injuries and illnesses caused by violence at work increased by more than 25% between 2018 and 2021, and in most cases women are the victims.
This is shown by the latest statistics on violence, stress and harassment at work from the Commission on Standards, Equal Opportunity, Health and Safety at Work (CNESST).
The number of physical and psychological injuries caused by hits, kicks and volleys of blows, but also by pushing, pinching and nail-biting has increased significantly, especially among medical staff working at the workplace (48.3%) and teachers (29.5%).
According to the report available to the QMI Agency, women are the main victims of these workplace violence. Although they represent just over a third of insured workers, women aged 54 and under suffered “68.1% of physical violence injuries and 55.7% of psychological violence injuries”.
Stress also continues to take its toll, leading to a 9% increase in work-related injuries and illnesses over the same period.
The only encouraging sign in this sad picture is that bullying and sexual harassment indicators have dropped.
tendency
Why is violence and stress becoming more prevalent in Quebec workplaces? “It’s multifactorial,” explained Labor Minister Jean Boulet, who admits to having difficulty pinpointing the specific causes of these increases. “The pandemic and labor shortages have certainly played a role,” he said.
Still, the minister is not surprised by the portrayal of the CNESST statistic. When he took office in 2018, he was already aware that there was a trend in this direction.
“Before I started reforming the Occupational Safety and Health Act, I saw a gradual increase in injuries. From 2009 to 2018 there was already an increase,” he confided in an interview with the QMI agency.
For the minister, the CNESST report is further evidence of the relevance and necessity of his reform, which has been in effect since October 2021. “It shows that action was needed,” he said.
He also believes his reform will reduce the number of workplace violence-related injuries. “I am convinced that we will improve the injury record (…), partly because the mental health of workers is now protected by law.”
Worrying Numbers
3,603 injuries and illnesses due to workplace violence in 2021.
This is an increase of 25.7% compared to 2018.
For physical violence, this increase is 35.9% over the same period. In the case of psychological violence, the figure is 8.2%.
Accidents at work (2021)
- Sprains, strains, tears: 1019
- Bruises and contusions: 470
- Concussion: 323
- Nerve shocks: 392
- Adjustment Disorder: 337
- Anxiety, neurotic disorders: 102
The victims
- Health workers: 1508
- Teacher: 911
- Service staff: 479
Brutal gestures
- Punches, kicks and volleys: 1485 (54.6%)
- Pinch, pinch, nibble, twist: 714 (26.3%)
- Attack: 232 (8.5%)
- Bite: 137 (5%)
Inadequate behaviour
- Harassment: 246 (27.9%)
- Punches, kicks and volleys (24.2%)
- Threat: 162 (18.3%)
- Sexual assault: 64 (7.2%)
- Sexual harassment: 48 (5.4%)
Source: CNESST
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