WSIB confirms homophobia contributed to 海角社区官网firefighter’s stress injury
Successful claims for chronic mental stress are rare 鈥 a 海角社区官网Star investigation found last year that the WSIB rejects such claims more than 90 per cent of the time.
A 海角社区官网firefighter who claims he was subjected to harassment by colleagues and managers because he is gay has had his claim alleging chronic mental stress approved by Ontario鈥檚 Workplace Safety and Insurance Board.
The claim, by Ed Azadeh, was approved following WSIB interviews with colleagues, who confirmed that some called Azadeh 鈥淪pecial Ed鈥 and that聽after he attempted suicide in June 2022, first responders聽鈥 his colleagues聽鈥斅爏pread rumours聽about the incident.
The decision also refers to a medical report from a psychologist written in March 2023, diagnosing Azadeh with PTSD聽related to 鈥渢he cumulative effect of exposure to traumatic events as a firefighter,鈥 but also 鈥渨orkplace stressors including lack of training, support, mistreatment, harassment and discrimination.鈥
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Successful claims for chronic mental stress are rare聽鈥斅燼 海角社区官网Star investigation found last year that the WSIB rejects such claims more than 90 per cent of the time.聽
The decision means Azadeh will receive WSIB healthcare and loss-of-earnings (LOE) benefits dating back to June 25, 2022, the day following his suicide attempt. Azadeh shared the decision with the Star, but declined to comment.
鈥淔irefighter Azadeh is a valued and respected member of the 海角社区官网Fire Services team,鈥 said Matthew Pegg, fire chief and general manager, 海角社区官网Fire Services.
鈥淭his is a sensitive and complicated situation that is being handled with the utmost of care, and given the fact that this remains the subject of an ongoing WSIB claim and is a confidential employee-relations matter, we are unable to provide further comment at this time.鈥
Mental stress caused by an employer鈥檚 management decision聽is generally not covered , the decision notes. Nor are changes to work duties or working conditions, disciplinary actions or interpersonal conflicts between workers and their supervisors, colleagues or customers. But a person may be entitled to WSIB benefits if the situation聽is determined to be聽workplace harassment.
According to the decision, the evidence indicated 鈥渟ubstantial work-related stressors, that arose out of and in the course of (Azadeh鈥檚) employment, and which predominantly caused (his) appropriately diagnosed mental stress injury.鈥
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In his claim, Azadeh said that when he brought concerns about harassment and discrimination to his manager, the manager dismissed them; co-workers turned on him when he sought their support; and his privacy was compromised after colleagues who responded to a 911 call following his suicide attempt told others that he lived in a 鈥済hetto鈥 building in a 鈥渕essy and dirty鈥 apartment and had attempted suicide due to family issues, which was untrue.聽
The decision noted that TFS human resources limited Azadeh鈥檚 support circle by issuing a letter to colleagues and friends to stop communications with him.
Pegg said TFS staff have access to a 鈥渃omprehensive suite of supportive benefits and coverage, including focused mental health supports, in addition to having direct access to our TFS Medical Office, the TFS Chief Medical Officer, the TFS Psychologist and a robust and supportive peer support team.鈥
The 海角社区官网Professional Fire Fighters鈥 Association did not respond to a request for comment.聽聽
Francine Kopun is a 海角社区官网Star journalist and senior writer,
based in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter:
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