The Auditor General of Québec issues the conclusions of her audit concerning the compensation and rehabilitation of workers who sustain an employment injury - Press Release no. 4

QUÉBEC, May 27, 2015 /CNW Telbec/ - Today, Ms. Guylaine Leclerc makes public the report entitled Value-for-Money Audit (Spring 2015). In Chapter 4, she makes known the results from her work at the Commission de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CSST) and at the Ministère du Travail, de l'Emploi et de la Solidarité sociale.

The CSST does not sufficiently play the expected role of change agent with respect to updating the Occupational Health and Safety Plan in relation to modern labour market issues. Some elements of its governance structure complicate the reaching of agreements and the breaking of deadlocks on important issues. In addition, the organization of the board of director's work is inadequate, notably concerning its planning and follow-up.

The CSST must put more effort into education and promotion among employers and workers to encourage the implementation of interim return-to-work solutions.

Return-to-work intervention practices must be improved. The return-to-work plan does not ensure the coordination desired by the CSST and does not provide an overall view of the file. In addition, despite the major impact that determining suitable employment for the worker could have, the supervision measures do not make it possible to ensure just and fair interpretation of the five criteria provided for in the Act respecting industrial accidents and occupational diseases nor compliance with them.

Some right-holders of workers who died from an employment injury have not received all of the indemnities they were entitled to. Based on our assumptions, the amount not paid by the CSST to right-holders in the files examined is at least $2 million.

At the Bureau d'évaluation médicale, a major lengthening in the processing time of medical assessments has been observed since 2007-2008, which contributes to increasing the risk of chronicity for the worker and the costs of the plan. In 2013-2014, the average time was 88 days, an increase of 29% since 2007-2008.

The Highlights are available at www.vgq.qc.ca. The full report is only available in French.

Source:

Lucie Roy, Director Cabinet, communications et affaires stratégiques Auditor General of Québec Tel.: [phone]

SOURCE Vérificateur Général du Québec

Lucie Roy, Director, Cabinet, communications et affaires stratégiques, Auditor General of Québec, Tel.: [phone]