Role of Workers Compensation Board

Workers Compensation Boards

Workers Compensation Boards are independent agents that enforce provincial mandates in the area of workers' health and safety and compensation in four ways:

1. Inspect and assess a workplace for safety and health concerns.
2. Investigate injury claims and incidents.
3. Educate employers and employees through programs and when necessary penalties for infractions.
4. Compensate workers for lost time due to injury.

Workers Compensation Boards have the legislative authority to assess penalties for contravention of health and safety regulations. The employer is ultimately held responsible for the actions of their workers and supervisors, although this does not relieve workers or supervisors of their responsibilities under the regulations. Both workers and supervisors can be held liable for the penalties prescribed under legislation.

Under the legislation, through its officers, the Board is charged with the responsibility of inspecting places of employment. Subsequently the Board may issue orders and directions specifying the means for preventing injuries and industrial diseases. Officers of the WCB are responsible for investigating accidents and the causes of industrial diseases, for assisting and advising employers and employees in the development of industrial health and safety programs and for educating persons employed in industry about industrial health and safety.

Costs of accidents and injuries

The direct costs of an injury are the easiest to see and understand. These costs include emergency room and doctor visits, medical bills, medicines, rehabilitation and lost wages. These direct costs are covered by a company's insurance.

Indirect costs of an injury are often overlooked. These costs can amount up to four times the direct cost of the injury. Indirect costs include administrative time dealing with the injury and medical care, loss of production, raises in premiums, replacing the injured employee's lost hours of employment while hiring another employee, loss of reputation and confidence in employees and clients, unwanted media attention, and more.

Many projects use a company's accident history or incident rate during the tender process and compare it to the other potential bidders when deciding which company to select. A higher rate of incidents may mean loss of a bid and therefore loss of work.

WCB assessment and penalty costs

Every employer in British Columbia is issued a fee assessment to cover all of WorkSafeBC's operating costs. Assessments pay for inspections of the work site, for the training of workers, as well as all of the direct costs of job site injuries.

It's important that you do not cause your employer to be charged and fined for infractions of the regulations. An employee who takes an unsafe shortcut on the job to save two minutes may end up costing their employer a lot of money. When the assessment goes up, it goes up for everyone on the payroll. In some cases, it can price a company out of business.

New and young workers have the highest accident rates. They're often eager to please and try to get a job done hastily. You can help yourself and your employer by practicing safe working habits, ensuring you are trained properly and by demonstrating a good safety attitude on the job site.

Review WorkSafeBC's web site: Resources - Hazards in Different Industries - Shipping and Shipbuilding

Self Quiz

1.  The Workers Compensation Board has the legal authority to inspect places of work for safety violations.  True or False.  (Answer, True.   Under the legislation, through its officers, the Board is charged with the responsibility of inspecting places of employment).

2.  Only employers can be held responsible for workplace safety violations.  True or False.  (Answer, False.  While the  employer is ultimately held responsible for the actions of their workers and supervisors, this does not relieve workers or supervisors of their responsibilities under the regulations. Both workers and supervisors can be held liable for the penalties prescribed under legislation).

3.  Older employees have the highest accident rates because they are not as physically strong.  True or False.  (Answer, False.  New and young workers have the highest accident rates. They're often eager to please and try to get a job done hastily).