BCL Consulting Blog

Worker’s Compensation isn't just for labourers, or anyone working in a hazardous industry who is subject to physical injuries like broken bones, back sprains, muscle strains and industrial fatalities. Over time, WCB coverage has become much more comprehensive and now, depending on the jurisdiction, up to 90% of the workforce is covered -- including office workers, and the injuries associated with their employment.

The summer is almost upon us! It's a time of sunshine, warm weather, vacations, festivals, exhibitions, concerts, Stampede, landscaping, outdoor activities and, of course, construction. It's also the height of the seasonal workers employment period whether it is extra staff to handle the peak traffic at resorts, camp counsellors, summer students to cover vacations, special event workers or extra hires to  complete construction and other projects while the weather permits. With the hire of new employees, whether permanent, temporary or seasonal, safety in the workplace should be an integral part of the onboarding process and ongoing operations. Every season comes with its own unique set of safety issues and concerns that need to be adhered to in order to prevent or minimize workplace injuries and accidents.

Although your WCB Industry Classification is the foundation on which WCB premiums are established, the most effective way of keeping WCB costs down is to prevent workplace accidents and injuries. To be accident/claim free ensures that you will pay the lowest possible premiums based on your classification, however this is not always an achievable or realistic goal regardless of how many precautions you take. Accidents happen, that’s why they are called accidents but even a reduction in the number of claims, the length of a claim and/or the severity of an injury can have a positive impact on WCB premiums. That is why it is critical to be proactive with an injury or accident and manage a claim closely from the onset.

North America Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week is a time set aside for all employers and employees to review, renew and revamp the health and safety practices of their workplace and work environment, as well as reflect and remember those workers who have been hurt or killed on the job. Although NAOSH week this year was May 3^rd – 8^th, the importance of injury prevention and safety in the workplace should be a year-round process.

Preventing or reducing workplace accidents and injuries can result in fewer WCB claims, lower WCB claims costs and ultimately impact WCB premiums. Three key components of accident and injury prevention are education, experience and attention