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Contracts, Insurance, Student Accident or Injury

Information for Students

Student Accident/Injury Insurance 

The Government of Ontario, through the Ministry of Colleges and Universities (MCU), pays the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) for the insurance coverage of student trainees enrolled in an approved program at the training agency (University of Toronto) during unpaid work placements with employers that have WSIB coverage for their employees.

MCU also covers the cost of private insurance students whose placement is with employers that are not required to have WSIB coverage for their employees. Coverage is in effect from the start date of the unpaid work placement to its end. 

MCU Guidelines for Workplace Insurance

Student Trainees are eligible for accident/injury insurance:

  • If the work placement is a program requirement; and 

  • If the Unpaid Work Placement is arranged or authorized by the University of Toronto as a requirement of the Student Trainee’s Approved Program to gain required work skills and experience. 

Student Trainees are not eligible for accident/injury insurance:

  • If the program is not funded through MCU operating grants; or 

  • If the placement is not a required part of their program and they have arranged or organized it themselves; or 

  • If they are paid a salary by the placement employer; or 

  • If as part of their program they do unpaid research. 

It is recognized that some students will travel with or without their preceptors to visit clients in the community. As long as the student is travelling from the fieldwork site to the clients’ homes the student will be covered by WSIB in case of incident. The program does not cover the “break” travel time when the student is not visiting clients, or the student is getting to and from work.

Should a student trainee be injured or contract a disease while on an unpaid work placement, the University of Toronto is required to disclose personal information relating to the claim to the MCU, WSIB or private Insurance. Student trainees are required to report all accidents/incidents both to their placement employer (immediate supervisor) and to the training agency (OS&OT fieldwork instructor and fieldwork administrator) within 24 hours. 

During an international placement, students are to immediately contact the Safety Abroad Office for any accidents, illness, theft and breach of security, harassment or sexual assault, etc. Safety Abroad Office has a partnership with International SOS who are available 24/7 by Phone: +1 215-942-8478, Website: log on to the International SOS Member Portal with your University of Toronto email address or their free Assistance App and chat with their professionals.

Students are also asked to contact the International Fieldwork Coordinator, Director of Clinical Education and the Administrative Assistant – Clinical Education via email as soon as possible after the incident.

Liability Insurance Coverage

The University maintains a policy of comprehensive, general liability insurance on behalf of students against malpractice, personal injury or property claims against the student.

During fieldwork placements, students are required to follow the policies and procedures of the facility to which they have been assigned. This includes policies and procedures pertaining to safety, emergency procedures, client confidentiality, etc. 

Information for Fieldwork Partners

Site Placement Agreement

Occupational therapy students are assigned to fieldwork placements only at organizations that have a signed Affiliation or Placement Agreement with the Temerty Faculty of Medicine and/or Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Toronto. This agreement specifies in writing the terms of the relationship between the fieldwork facility and the university. The agreement also outlines the University’s responsibility for maintaining comprehensive liability insurance for the actions of its student occupational therapists during the fieldwork course or experience.

All occupational therapists who supervise students must have at least one year of clinical experience, be a member in good standing of the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario (or the equivalent if placement is in another province or country) and be eligible for membership with CAOT. 

In the event a student obtains an injury while on a fieldwork placement

In the event a student has an accident while on a fieldwork placement: 

  • The student is to report the accident to the preceptor

  • The preceptor will ensure that first aid is given immediately and provide transportation to a hospital, doctor’s office or the student’s home, if necessary 

  • The placement employer and /or the preceptor will contact the Director of Clinical Education and cc rss.otclined@utoronto.ca