WCB

Workers' Compensation Boards of Canada is the site for the overall association of Worker's Compensation Organizations in Canada.

Workers' Compensation Boards are set up to help prevent and control injury and illness in the workplace. Once an injury or an illness does occur, then the Board will assess the situation and take the necessary measures for treatment and rehabilitation. Each province or territory will have a specific regulatory body.

WCB is a no-fault insurance system. The employers have to pay into this pool for each employee that they have. Certain employees who do not have more at-risk types of jobs, such as office workers, retail employees and salespeople will be exempt from the contributions. It all depends on the exposures to injury from a particular job. Once an injury or illness has occurred, the the person who is hurt does not have to establish negligence. The requirement is that the injury or illness occurred while on the job.

If a business has WCB coverage, then this will pay out for employee injury and the commercial insurance does not respond. This is why it is important to advise your broker or agent, if all your employees are covered by WCB.

See Also:

  • AWCBC Association of Workers' Compensation Boards of Canada. This organization supports the various provincial and territorial organizations, and helps with information exchange to support the common goals of healthy workers at healthy workplaces.
  • ACT This can refer to Workers’ compensation legislation as in Workers' Compensation Act.
  • ADJUDICATION The process of determining if you are entitled to benefits, and to what level you are entitled to under the Workers' Compensation Act.
  • ASSESSMENT OR AMOUNT OF PREMIUM This is the amount charged by the Workers' Compensation Commission/Board. The employer has to provide these funds, to pay the benefits for work-related accidents, injuries or diseases.
  • ASSESSMENT RATE The assessment rate is applied when determining the amount of payment an employer makes to the Workers' Compensation Board/Commission. The rate is based on the type of industry. The employer is assessed a set amount for every $100 of qualifying payroll.
  • BENEFIT A benefit is the service provided or payment available from the Workers' Compensation Commission/Board for an injured worker or their dependent. This is in relation to an injury or condition, that has been deemed to be entitled to be provided.
  • BOARD (BOARD OF DIRECTORS) The governing body of the corporate Workers’ Compensation Board/Commission. Also referred to as Board of Directors.
  • BY APPLICATION This is when the coverage for that worker or industry, is not compulsory under the Workers' Compensation Act so it is deemed to be voluntary or requested.
  • CCOHS Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety. This is a federal government agency, with a vision that all Canadian work-related illnesses and injuries, could one day be eliminated.
  • CLAIMS ADJUDICATION This the process that determines an injured worker’s or the dependant’s, entitlement to services and benefits under Workers’ Compensation legislation.
  • CLAIMS ADJUDICATOR The claims adjudicator is an employee specially trained to determine if a worker's injury or illness warrants a benefit. The benefit amount is determined, as well as the on-going treatment of the illness or injury.
  • CLASS To class employers is to determine an economic grouping, to help establish a rate. Experience is also part of the class grouping.
  • CLASSIFICATION The classification is determined, by the specific employer's industry designation and type of operation.
  • COLLECTIVE LIABILITY This is one of the basic concepts, whereby all the employers in a rate group or class, are liable for the costs from any and all accidents or diseases, relating to their occupation, that have occurred in the operations of those employers.
  • COMMUTE/COMMUTATION This relates to how the benefit is paid. Instead of periodic payments, the benefit is paid in one lump sum.
  • COMPULSORY COVERAGE This is when the employer must provide premium for the employee. An employer’s operation/business (industry), that is stated as being included within the scope of the Act. Such an employer must pay assessments, and whose workers are eligible for benefits, if injured.
  • COVERAGE When a benefit is determined to apply to a worker or an undertaking within the Act.
  • DETERMINATION This is a ruling made by the Workers' Compensation Board/Commission in regards to a provision of the Act.
  • ECONOMIC LOSS When a worker has suffered an injury that results in temporary disability, or a permanent impairment of his/her ability to work. This will affect the future earnings of this person.
  • INDUSTRY A group of employers engaged in a unique type of undertaking.
  • LOST TIME CLAIMS You need medical documentation to support this claim, when there is a loss of your earnings beyond the day you were injured. If there is only the medical expenses from that specific date and you did not lose time off the job, then there would be no lost time paid.
  • LUMP SUM As the name implies, this is a one-time payment rather then periodic payments. An example, is a pension can sometimes be amended to a lump sump payment.
  • NON-ECONOMIC LOSS OR IMPAIRMENT A worker who has an injury which results in permanent impairment, may receive a monetary award for the resulting loss of enjoyment of life.
  • OAS Old age security is a federally legislated pension, payable to eligible people age 65.
  • OH&S Occupational Health and Safety is Occupational Health and Safety.
  • PENSION This is a benefit paid to the worker or that worker's dependents, as result of an injury or occupational disease, determined to be worthy of payment, which results in a permanent disability. The money is paid for the duration of the disability, and could be paid for a lifetime. The amount paid can be reduced based on earning capacity. Sometimes, it can be paid in a one time total payment.
  • PERSONAL/OPTIONAL COVERAGE This is the coverage for the employer, contractor, independent operator, sole proprietor, partner, member of the family or some other person, who would not have the coverage of the Act. This person can apply and if the Board accepts, then they can have the same coverage as other workers.
  • PPD/PTD This refers to permanent partial disability or permanent total disability.
  • REGULATION Rules, procedures, amounts and details for operation of the Act.
  • SELF-INSURER This employer is individually responsible, for the costs of any injuries or diseases that happen to his employees. This can also be referred to, as an individually liable employer or a deposit account. This liability could be addressed through the insurance policy, under the commercial general liability package.
  • STAKEHOLDER This is an individual or group who has a special interest in the WCB. An example, is injured workers, employers organizations, labour organizations, health care workers, health care professionals and providers or the general public.
  • SUBROGATION This is when the Workers' Compensation Board/Commission "stands in the shoes" of the injured workers, the dependent or the employer, and will also benefit from any settlements or rights obtained.
  • SURVIVOR When a person has died as a result of a workplace disease or injury, then the survivor is this person's dependent, spouse,or common-law partner.
  • UNFUNDED LIABILITY This represents the amount by which the present value of the Workers’ Compensation Board/Commission’s liabilities, exceeds its assets.
  • VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION This is a program designed to help restore an injured worker's earnings, back to what it would have been, had the accident or illness never occurred.