Homophobia factored into injury, WSIB says
Board approves chronic mental stress claim for firefighter who says colleagues spread rumours of suicide attempt
A Toronto 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’s Workplace Safety and Insurance Board.
The claim, by Ed Azadeh, was approved following WSIB interviews with colleagues, who confirmed that some called Azadeh “Special Ed” and that after he attempted suicide in June 2022, first responders — his colleagues — spread rumours about the incident.
The decision also refers to a medical report from a psychologist written in March 2023, diagnosing Azadeh with PTSD related to “the cumulative effect of exposure to traumatic events as a firefighter,” but also “workplace stressors including lack of training, support, mistreatment, harassment and discrimination.”
Successful claims for chronic mental stress are rare — a Toronto Star investigation found last year that the WSIB rejects such claims more than 90 per cent of the time.
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.
“Firefighter Azadeh is a valued and respected member of the Toronto Fire Services team,” said Matthew Pegg, fire chief and general manager, Toronto Fire Services. “This 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.”
Mental stress caused by an employer’s management decision is generally not covered by the WSIB, 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 is determined to be workplace harassment.
According to the decision, the evidence indicated “substantial work-related stressors, that arose out of and in the course of (Azadeh’s) employment, and which predominantly caused (his) appropriately diagnosed mental stress injury.”
In his claim, Azadeh said that when he brought concerns of harassment and discrimination to his manager, they wer e dismissed; 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 “ghetto” building in a “messy and dirty” apartment and had attempted suicide due to family issues, which was untrue.
The decision noted that TFS human resources limited his support circle by issuing a letter to colleagues and friends to stop communications with him.
Azadeh, who joined TFS in March 2017, has also brought a complaint to the Ontario Human Rights Commission.
Pegg said TFS staff have access to a “comprehensive 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.”
The Toronto Professional Fire Fighters’ Association didn’t respond to a comment request.