Anyone can now get treatment for PTSD as a work-related occupational disease

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This article was published 08/06/2015 (3986 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A firefighter trapped in a house fire. A social worker dealing with a tense child apprehension. A store clerk staring down the barrel of shotgun during a holdup.

Under legislation tabled Monday by the Selinger government, each would be eligible to be treated for post-traumatic stress as a work-related condition through the Workers Compensation Board.

“It’s unique that it covers all working people who are eligible for workers comp,” Premier Greg Selinger said. “It doesn’t restrict itself.”

The proposed change is in the Workers Compensation Amendment Act. It would allow those diagnosed with PTSD to be automatically presumed to have suffered it as a result of their work.

It would extend coverage and benefits to all workers eligible under WCB who are diagnosed with PTSD by a medical professional.

Selinger said the change applies to more than front-line emergency workers who experience a traumatic event at work.

“It makes sense to deal with the issue regardless of what occupation you have,” he said. “By assuming it’s connected to the workplace, it allows for more rapid access to supports and treatment and compensation.”

He said Manitoba’s proposed legislation stands out because it would cover the approximately 70 per cent of Manitoba businesses that are required to purchase WCB coverage.

He said the measure will not affect WCB rates.

The bill is the result of lobbying by nurses, firefighters, first responders and the Manitoba Government and General Employees’ Union.

Sandi Mowat, president of the 12,000-member Manitoba Nurses Union, said caring for severely ill or injured patients for long periods takes an emotional toll.

“Despite the fact that research has identified that nurses maybe are more prone to PTSD than war veterans, nurses are often misdiagnosed with occupation burnout or compassion fatigue,” Mowat said. “Currently, many of our nurses are dealing with symptoms of PTSD and are being ignored.”

Firefighter Ed Wiebe said the proposed legislation is welcomed.

Wiebe was one of six firefighters trapped by fire on the second floor of a burning home on Gabrielle Roy Place Feb. 4, 2007.

The blaze killed Capt. Harold Lessard and Capt. Thomas Nichols. Wiebe was in a coma for eight days. He suffered third-degree burns over most of his body and nine of his fingers were amputated or partially amputated.

“A lot of my struggle with my PTSD was my struggle in what was I going to do when I went back to work,” Wiebe said. “I wanted get back on the job. I wanted to get on the fire truck and return to what I did before. The reality is I wasn’t able to do that, so what was I able to do?”

He said he was off work for about four years and is now an instructor at the firefighter training centre on McPhillips Street, a job that allows him to contribute to the fire department.

Alex Forrest, president of the United Firefighters of Winnipeg, said the department has seven firefighters diagnosed with PTSD and approved by WCB for treatment.

He said a further 36 firefighters who say they have PTSD have come forward in the past six months, but at this point are loath to go through WCB because under current rules it’s onerous to show it’s work-related.

bruce.owen@freepress.mb.ca