The health care sector faces some key challenges which could significantly affect worker health, lost-time injury (LTI) rates (injuries that result in lost time at work) and non lost time injury (NLTI) rates (injuries that do not result in lost time at work).

These challenges include:

  • increased care requirements resulting from the aging of Ontario’s population
  • increased patient and resident needs
  • increased obesity rates
  • increased support for people with dementia
  • increased demand on health and community care services
  • globalization of occupational health and safety issues such as –
    • emerging infectious diseases
    • pandemics and
    • other environmental health risks
  • recruitment and retention due to –
    • an aging workforce
    • shortage of skilled professional staff, and
    • an increase in the casual and part-time workforce