B.C. workers hurt on the job offered more medical support
Posted July 14, 2020 3:07 pm.
Last Updated July 14, 2020 3:08 pm.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — Workers hurt while on the job can now be approved for medical treatment before a claim is filed with WorkSafe BC as part of changes to the Workers Compensation Act introduced Tuesday.
B.C.’s Labour Minister Harry Bains says the new legislation will better support those injured workers, especially during a pandemic.
.@HarryBainsSN says legislation introduced today will better support injured workers and their families. He says impact of #COVID19 has hit that message home.
Improvements include medical treatment approved before a claim is filed with @WorkSafeBC. #bcpoli #safety @NEWS1130— Marcella Bernardo (@Bernardo1130) July 14, 2020
“They’re going through difficult times. We all understand, but workers need to be ensured that their health and safety is protected and the customers’ health and safety need to be protected.”
WorkSafe BC has already carried out more than 12,000 inspections this year compared to 15,000 for all of 2019.
Bains says hundreds of employees are already suffering because of COVID-19 with key areas of concern including health care.
“Fifty to 60 per cent [of COVID-19 claims] are being accepted because of the COVD-19 situation. It’s hard for workers to go seek doctor’s advice or a doctor’s note,” he says.
“Warehousing, trade, construction, those are the places that they hear more complaints. Those are the places they are actually revving up their enforcement inspections as well. That system is in place and they’re working well.”
Other changes coming include:
Giving judges the power to approve search and seizure warrants, so @WorkSafeBC can investigate safety violations
And giving people a voice via victim impact statements provided during serious workplace prosecutions in court#bcpoli @NEWS1130
— Marcella Bernardo (@Bernardo1130) July 14, 2020
Other changes modernizing the Workers Compensation Act include raising the maximum annual salary on which benefits are based, as well as giving judges the power to approve search and seizure warrants during safety violation investigations. Families of someone killed at work will also be able to provide victim impact statements during court proceedings.
Last year, B.C. recorded 140 workplace deaths and the province typically sees more than 100,000 new claims because of a workplace injury or fatality.
Bains says changes in the works now are NOT expected to increase @WorkSafeBC costs because the accident surplus fund has enough money to cover new expenses such as raising the maximum annual salary on which benefits are based. #bcpoli @NEWS1130
— Marcella Bernardo (@Bernardo1130) July 14, 2020
Bains adds overall costs and premiums are not expected to increase because WorkSafeBC’s accident surplus fund has enough money to cover expenses such as raising the maximum annual salary on which benefits are based.
Work continues with the federal government to make sure employees get guaranteed sick pay, Bains says, but there isn’t a firm timeline on when that information will be announced by Ottawa.