2023 Q1 Overview

CONTINUING FORWARD IN A NEW REALITY

Claims due to COVID-19 decline, accounting change impacts reported funded position

The rate of workplace injury in our province reached another new low in the first quarter of 2023, declining to 1.41 time-loss claims per 100 covered workers.

While the symptoms of COVID-19’s workplace impacts are beginning to ease after a spike in pandemic claims, there was also tangible progress in reducing workplace injury’s impact in the first three months of 2023, particularly in priority sectors of the workforce.

For many years, the WCB has been partnering with others across government and much of the public sector to support long-term culture change in workplace safety and return to work in long-term care, home care and disability support sectors.

This work is showing real and sustained progress, as the injury rate in these sectors continues to decline, as does the number of days lost to workplace injury. In long-term care, the number of Nova Scotians who care for others who suffered a workplace injury resulting in time lost from work, declined slightly to 4.05 time-loss claims per 100 covered workers in Q1 2023. In home care, the rate declined to 6.83.

“These rates are still higher than other sectors, reflecting the incredible challenges long-term care, home care and disability support sectors face,” says Dennita Fitzpatrick, WCB Nova Scotia VP Prevention and Return to Work. “However, these downward trends in the injury rates also show that we are making progress in safety, thanks to the long-term, resilient commitment of so many across this province, and the strategic investment to support care of those who care for others.”

The total number of workdays lost to workplace injury and illness in the province on short-term disability has been declining in recent years, and in Q1 2023 it dipped below one million days.

While some of that progress has been due to workers going on to long-term benefits, that trend is changing. More of the gains in this measure are due to workers returning to the job, or working in suitable duties as part of their recovery.

“Work is such an important part of recovery, and critical to the well-being of Nova Scotians,” Dennita says. “This is an encouraging step forward, and we’re pleased to work together with many other partners as we focus our service on support for workers.”

The impact of psychological injury on the province continued in Q1 2023, and our dedicated program to support workers impacted by traumatic psychological injury continued to show progress, assisting workers in recovering from these often challenging, complex injuries.

Financially, our funded position improved slightly, due to positive investment returns. A change in accounting standards (IFRS 17) means a change in the way liabilities are reported – under the previous methodology the funded position is 94.0 per cent, up from 92.9 per cent at year end 2022. Under the new reporting requirements, the funded position is 92.1 per cent at the end of March, 2023.