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. 

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. 

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. 

Clinical site with WSIB coverage for employees 

Each fieldwork facility that takes students must sign a declaration letter which states that students are covered by WSIB and if the student is injured during an unpaid clinical placement that they will report it to the university. This is typically signed by the education lead who also signed the placement agreement, and it is stored by the Fieldwork Administrator within the OS&OT program. 

In the event of an accident, the fieldwork facility that is WSIB-covered for their employees is required to: 

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

• Student Trainee and Placement Employer must complete and sign the Postsecondary Student Unpaid Work Placement Workplace Insurance Claim form. 

• Placement Employer must complete the Letter of Authorization to Represent the Placement Employer.  

The above forms are to be faxed within two business days to the University WSIB Administrator via the Fieldwork Administrator.  

Fieldwork Accident or Injury Procedure at a Clinical site without WSIB coverage 

The procedure in the event of an accident during a placement where there is no WSIB coverage for their employees is as follows: 

• The student is to promptly obtain first aid 

• The student is to report the accident to the preceptor at the facility 

• See doctor or delegate to receive additional medical documentation about the injury 

• Choose a doctor or other qualified practitioner, if required 

• The student is to report the accident to the University Fieldwork Instructor and Fieldwork Administrator, who will obtain and provide a private insurance claims form. 

A number of documents need to be forwarded to the University WSIB administrator. These include: 

• Confirmation that the student placement during which the injury occurred was a legitimate placement (i.e. part of the students’ academic program and unpaid)

• Student Trainee and Placement Employer must complete and sign the Postsecondary Student Unpaid Work Placement Workplace Insurance Claim form. 

• Placement Employer must complete an additional private insurance form, which is shared on a case-by-case basis by the Fieldwork Administrator. 

The clinical site needs to be available to liaise with the Fieldwork course instructor and Fieldwork Administrator to submit the above forms.