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Letter to the editor of the Langley Times
Re: "Writer feels Bronk's pain", published on June 4, 2003
I would like to respond to statements made in this letter and comment generally on issues raised in recent articles in the Langley Times. In doing so, I also suggest that readers reflect on the public service the WCB plays in British Columbia.
At the WCB our mandate - our reason for being - is the prevention of workplace injury, illness, and disease and the safe return to work of injured workers. Additionally, we provide legislated compensation benefits to injured workers or their dependants. We are also charged with protecting the public interest and providing sound financial management of the system to ensure its viability in the future. We are committed to fair decision-making and make our determinations based on law - the Workers Compensation Act. Many of these decisions are complex and sometimes a worker may not agree with the decision. There is an appeal system in place to review contested decisions. Yes, we make mistakes, but less than one percent of the more than two million decisions made each year on WCB claims are appealed. The vast majority of injured workers have positive experiences with the WCB, which our surveys demonstrate.
The issues raised in recent coverage in the Langley Times exemplify the complexity of some claims. There are cases when a worker clearly suffers from a mental or physical health problem, but if it did not arise in and out of the course of employment, the WCB has no legal authority to provide benefits. We empathise with these individuals, but we must protect the integrity of the system.
I would like to restate this: The WCB is a provider of a valuable public service in this province. Our work brings us in direct contact every day with people who have been injured in the workplace, others who have an occupational disease, and with the families of workers who have been killed in the course of their employment. We are committed to providing compassionate and quality service to these workers and their families and to the small and large employers who fund the system.
Sincerely,
Donna Freeman
Manager of Corporate Public Affairs
Workers' Compensation Board of B.C.