A disturbing new audit has uncovered widespread underreporting of violence against Ottawa paramedics, with survey results showing that the vast majority of emergency medical personnel face regular assaults while on duty.
Alarming Statistics Reveal Silent Epidemic
The Office of the Auditor General conducted a survey that found every single paramedic who responded has experienced some form of violence while performing their duties. Even more concerning, the audit revealed that 82 per cent of respondents who experienced violence on the job did not report the incidents.
The frequency of these violent encounters paints a troubling picture of paramedics' daily reality. According to the findings presented on November 28, 37 per cent of paramedics experience violence at least once a month, while 21 per cent face weekly violence and seven per cent endure multiple violent incidents each week.
Systemic Reporting Failures Identified
Audit principal Julia Weber presented the findings to councillors, explaining that paramedics with longer tenure at the Ottawa Paramedic Service tended to have higher instances of unreported violence. The primary reason for underreporting was a belief that reporting would not lead to action, followed by perceptions that violence is simply part of the job or that incidents were too minor to warrant reporting.
The audit, which was circulated to more than 450 active paramedics and received 128 responses, identified significant systemic issues. Expectations for reporting incidents of violence are not always clear and the mechanisms to track incidents are described as manual and cumbersome, resulting in a current backlog of incidents.
Global Trend Reaches Ottawa
Paramedic Chief Pierre Poirier addressed the audit committee on Friday, stating plainly that the situation is not acceptable. Violence against paramedics is a significant problem that has been highlighted in Australia and the UK over the last decade, and North America is now seeing the same negative trend, he told councillors.
Weber warned that without consistent reporting, the service cannot get an accurate picture of how often violence is occurring, which limits its ability to respond effectively and support paramedics. The lack of reporting could result in reduced employee morale and potential liability issues for the city.
The Ottawa Paramedic Service is now participating in a national study to better quantify and define the problem of assaults against paramedics and determine their gravity, offering hope for future improvements in workplace safety for these essential frontline workers.
