A group home operator in Thunder Bay has been fined $80,000 after workers were assaulted by a client resident.

According to a release the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development says Dilico Anishinabek Family Care failed to assess the risks of workplace violence which may arise from the nature of the work place.

This dates back to a May 2022 incident, where the client resident at a home for high-risk clients between the ages of 12 and 17, was let into an office shared by a manager and another worker, to allow the client resident to speak to the manager.

Court heard during that interaction the client became verbally aggressive and escalated when they attacked the manager.

The worker, who was also in the office at the time of the incident, attempted to de-escalate the situation verbally but the attempt failed.

They were joined by a second worker who pulled the client off of the manager, allowing them and the first worker to escape, however the second worker was also assaulted before they exited the office, holding the door to contain the client.

The client then fled the office through the window.

Injuries sustained by both the manager and the second worker required paramedics to attend.

An investigation by the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development determined while Dilico had a written workplace violence policy and program, it did not apply to workplace violence involving clients.

It was also discovered the organization had not conducted a workplace violence risk assessment of the group home facility.

Dilico Anishinabek Family Care issued a guilty plea and was convicted on November 17th of this year.

In addition to the fine, as 25 percent victim fine surcharge was also imposed.