The Yukon Workers’ Compensation, Health and Safety Board has completed an investigation into an incident at a local Residential Youth Treatment Services (RYTS) facility.

In early May, a RYTS worker was assaulted by a client and injured. Both the worker and employer reported the incident to the board the following week.

Andrew Robulack, the board’s public relations liaison, said last week the investigation took slightly longer than most because of the nature of the incident.

“Where it’s an environment that’s caring for people, our officers just felt that it was necessary to put a little more time into it, to come up with that resolution,” he said.

He couldn’t speak to the details of the injury or the assault.

He said the first thing the board asks of an employer is to do a self-audit and try to identify the cause of the incident, as well as a plan for mitigating ongoing risk.

“When we enter workplaces like that, officers go in with a collaborative spirit,” he said.

In this particular case, officers found there had previously been a risk assessment done, and a safe work procedure put in place for dealing with this client.

By the time the board became involved, the employer and worker had reassessed the situation and begun work on a new procedure.

Robulack said officers found the appropriate steps were taken, and staff involved were proactive and co-operative in improving safety.

Robulack said if another incident occurs, officers will go in with the same approach rather than treating this as part of an ongoing incident.

“Any incident of this nature represents a slice in time, as they say,” he said.

He said the board doesn’t take an active role in returning to monitor the situation, but is satisfied the facility will follow through on the new plans and procedures for this situation.