Introduction to Workers' Compensation (7:I): Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 23:40, 2 September 2024

This information applies to British Columbia, Canada. Last reviewed for legal accuracy by the Law Students' Legal Advice Program on September 2, 2024.

This chapter covers basic legislation, policy, and procedures associated with administrative proceedings under the Workers’ Compensation Act, RSBC 2019, c 1 [“WCA”]. The WCA replaced the former Workers Compensation Act, RSBC 1996, c 492 (the “Former Act”) on April 6, 2020. While there was no substantive change encompassed in this act revision, the section numbers of the WCA have changed significantly.

The WCA is a provincial statute creating a regulatory body called the Workers Compensation Board (WCA, s. 318 [Former Act, s. 81]) and is referred to as “the Board” or “WCB” in this section. Since 2003, the Workers Compensation Board does business under the name of “WorkSafeBC.” However, legally, it is still the “Workers Compensation Board,” and when party to a legal action, that is how it will be named. The Board has exclusive jurisdiction over compensation to injured workers for workplace injuries, amongst other duties.

Today’s workers’ compensation schemes, including BC’s, are based on the historic trade-off: employers fund a no-fault insurance scheme for injured workers and, in return, workers give up their right to legal action against their employer for work-related injuries and occupational diseases (WCA, s. 127 [Former Act, s. 10(1)]). This approach offers several benefits: it takes workplace injury claims out of the courts, minimizing the use of scarce judicial resources and limiting cost and delay for the workers; It gives greater certainty of compensation to workers, and streamlines the compensation process, and; Like any insurance scheme, it spreads losses amongst employers, eliminates the concern about ruinous claims, and provides coverage regardless of fault.

Aside from compensation, the Board's other duties include:

Regulation of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS): In BC, the Board is responsible for workplace health and safety regulations, investigations, and enforcement as set out in Part 2 of the WCA [Former Act, Part 3] and in the Occupational Health & Safety Regulation, BC Reg 296/97 (the “OHSR”). While most enforcement orders and penalties are against employers for safety violations, orders may also be issued against workers. Under the WCA, workers are entitled to refuse unsafe work and to be protected from retaliation for reporting unsafe work practices.
Employer Assessments: The WCA grants specific powers to the Board to set rates and collect assessments from employers to create an Accident Fund. The Accident Fund must be sufficient to finance the compensation system, and each employer is assessed annually based on a complex formula. The WCA requires the Board to operate a fully funded system.

A. Scope of This Section

This section provides information to workers and their representatives on the overall structure and basic procedures of the Board and the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Tribunal (“WCAT”). WCAT is an independent organization that workers or employers can go to if they want to appeal a decision from WorkSafeBC. This section is intended to assist in working on cases and appeals arising from Board decisions made under the WCA. The vast majority of these cases involve Board decisions denying injured and disabled workers particular compensation benefits. This is not surprising given that Board policies are often complex, and that about 100,000 compensation claims are filed by injured workers every year, with about half of these claims involving a serious injury or disability.

Therefore, the primary focus of this material is on compensation matters which may be at issue in Board cases. Assessment and Occupational Health & Safety issues are addressed briefly at the end of the chapter. The Appendices provide information for referrals, community resources, and helpful links for finding law and policy. In particular, the WCA requires the Board, through its Accident Fund, to support the Employer’s Advisers Office and the Worker’s Advisers Office, which can provide employers and workers with free legal assistance. However, the extent of the assistance provided by these advisors changes from time to time and between locations.

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-{{REVIEWED LSLAP | date= July 31, 2020}}
+{{REVIEWED LSLAP | date= September 2, 2024}}
 {{LSLAP Manual TOC|expanded = workers}}
-This chapter covers basic legislation, policy, and procedures associated with appeals under ''Workers’ Compensation Act'', RSBC l996, c 492 [WCA].
+This chapter covers basic legislation, policy, and procedures associated with administrative proceedings under the ''Workers’ Compensation Act'', RSBC 2019, c 1 [“'''WCA'''”]. The WCA replaced the former ''Workers Compensation Act'', RSBC 1996, c 492 (the “Former Act”) on April 6, 2020. While there was no substantive change encompassed in this act revision, the section numbers of the WCA have changed significantly.
-The WCA is a provincial statute creating a regulatory body called the Workers Compensation Board of B.C. Since 2003, this body works under the name of “WorkSafe B.C.” and is referred to as “the Board” or WCB in this section.  The Board has exclusive jurisdiction over compensation for injured workers for workplace injuries amongst other duties.  The Board’s origins are perhaps more interesting than its current form suggests.
+The WCA is a provincial statute creating a regulatory body called the Workers Compensation Board (WCA, s. 318 [Former Act, s. 81]) and is referred to as “the Board” or “WCB” in this section. Since 2003, the Workers Compensation Board does business under the name of “WorkSafeBC.” However, legally, it is still the “Workers Compensation Board,” and when party to a legal action, that is how it will be named. The Board has exclusive jurisdiction over compensation to injured workers for workplace injuries, amongst other duties.
-Some of the earliest forms of workers' compensation started with pirates in the pre-Revolutionary Americas.  A pirate who lost an eye was entitled to 100 pieces of eight, roughly one year's pay.   With the industrial revolution, more evolved workers' compensation schemes followed in Europe and eventually spread back to North America where they are now mandatory across Canada and the United States.
+Today’s workers’ compensation schemes, including BC’s, are based on the historic trade-off: employers fund a no-fault insurance scheme for injured workers and, in return, workers give up their right to legal action against their employer for work-related injuries and occupational diseases (WCA, s. 127 [Former Act, s. 10(1)]). This approach offers several benefits: it takes workplace injury claims out of the courts, minimizing the use of scarce judicial resources and limiting cost and delay for the workers; It gives greater certainty of compensation to workers, and streamlines the compensation process, and; Like any insurance scheme, it spreads losses amongst employers, eliminates the concern about ruinous claims, and provides coverage regardless of fault.
-Today’s workers’ compensation schemes, including BC’s, are based on the historic trade-off: employers fund a no-fault insurance scheme for injured workers, to compensate them and assist in their medical treatment, vocational rehabilitation (retraining), and in pension for disability. In return, workers give up their right to legal action against their employer for work-related injuries and occupational diseases [WCA s 10].  Ideally, this approach offers several benefits.  It takes workplace injury claims out of the courts, reducing clutter for them and cost and delay for the workers.  It gives greater certainty of coverage to workers and streamlines the compensation process.  Finally, like any insurance scheme, it spreads losses amongst employers and eliminates the concern about ruinous claims.  Unfortunately, reality often falls short of these ideals and, especially in light of changes since 2002, injured workers often require help and even representation.
+Aside from compensation, the Board's other duties include:
-Aside from compensation, The Board's other duties consists of:
+*Regulation of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS): In BC, the Board is responsible for workplace health and safety regulations, investigations, and enforcement as set out in Part 2 of the WCA [Former Act, Part 3] and in the Occupational Health & Safety Regulation, BC Reg 296/97 (the “'''OHSR'''”). While most enforcement orders and penalties are against employers for safety violations, orders may also be issued against workers. Under the WCA, workers are entitled to refuse unsafe work and to be protected from retaliation for reporting unsafe work practices.
+*Employer Assessments: The WCA grants specific powers to the Board to set rates and collect assessments from employers to create an Accident Fund. The Accident Fund must be sufficient to finance the compensation system, and each employer is assessed annually based on a complex formula. The WCA requires the Board to operate a fully funded system.
-'''Regulation of Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S):''' In BC, the Board is responsible for workplace health and safety regulations, investigations and enforcement as set out in Part III of the WCA and in the ''Occupational Health & Safety Regulation''. While most enforcement orders and penalties are against employers for safety violations,  orders may also be issued against workers. Under the WCA, workers are entitled to refuse unsafe work and to be protected from retaliation for reporting unsafe work practices.
-'''Employer  Assessments:''' The  WCA  grants  specific  powers  to  the  Board  to  set  rates  and collect assessments from employers to create an Accident Fund. The Accident Fund must be sufficient to finance the compensation system and each employer is assessed annually based on a complex formula (see below). The WCA requires the Board to operate a fully funded system.
 == A. Scope of This Section ==
-This section advises workers and their representatives on the overall structure and basic procedures of the Board and its appeal body, the Workers Compensation Appeals Tribunal [WCAT].  It is intended to assist in working on cases and appeals arising from Board decisions made under the WCA.  The vast majority of appeals involve Board decisions denying injured and disabled workers particular compensation benefits.  This is not surprising given that current Board policies are often complex and difficult to understand and that about 100,000 compensation claims are filed by injured workers every year, with about half of these claims involving a serious injury or disability.
+This section provides information to workers and their representatives on the overall structure and basic procedures of the Board and the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Tribunal (“'''WCAT'''”). WCAT is an independent organization that workers or employers can go to if they want to appeal a decision from WorkSafeBC. This section is intended to assist in working on cases and appeals arising from Board decisions made under the WCA. The vast majority of these cases involve Board decisions denying injured and disabled workers particular compensation benefits. This is not surprising given that Board policies are often complex, and that about 100,000 compensation claims are filed by injured workers every year, with about half of these claims involving a serious injury or disability.
-Therefore, the primary focus of this material is on Compensation matters which may be at issue in appeals. Assessment and OH&S issues are addressed briefly at the end of the chapter. The Appendices provide information for referrals and community resources, and helpful links for finding law and policy. In particular, the WCA requires the Board, through its Accident Fund, to support the Employers Advisors and Workers Advisors who can provide employers and workers with free legal assistance.  However, the extent of the assistance provided by these Advisors changes from time to time and between locations.
+Therefore, the primary focus of this material is on compensation matters which may be at issue in Board cases. Assessment and Occupational Health & Safety issues are addressed briefly at the end of the chapter. The Appendices provide information for referrals, community resources, and helpful links for finding law and policy. In particular, the WCA requires the Board, through its Accident Fund, to support the Employer’s Advisers Office and the Worker’s Advisers Office, which can provide employers and workers with free legal assistance. However, the extent of the assistance provided by these advisors changes from time to time and between locations.
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Introduction to Workers' Compensation (7:I): Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 23:40, 2 September 2024

A. Scope of This Section

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