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WCB urges caution when hiring contractors to fell pine beetle-infested trees on private property
Prince George, B.C. , March 15, 2005 — The Workers' Compensation Board is reminding homeowners in pine beetle-infested areas of the province to be cautious when hiring contractors to cut down affected trees on their property.In recent years, the mountain pine beetle has spread rapidly through mature pine forests in the Interior, with the heaviest infestations being from the South Cariboo north and west to Houston. Infestations are not limited to our forests, but are also occurring on private property in and around urban areas.
Bruce Clarke, WCB Regional Prevention Manager in Prince George, understands people wanting to remove infested trees from their property and urges them to do it safely. "When a homeowner contracts with anyone to do work around their house, and that includes cutting down infested trees, they need to check if they're required to register and pay premiums to the WCB," said Clarke. "Otherwise, they could be held responsible for compensation costs if the worker is injured on their property."
In return for registering and paying premiums, homeowners are protected from potentially crippling lawsuits from people who are injured while working for them. While all workers in B.C. are covered for workers' compensation, not all homeowners are required to register, explains Deepak Kothary, WCB director of Assessment. "If a homeowner hires someone to work for less than 24 hours — whether these hours are consecutive or not — they can register with us but it's not compulsory. Also, the person they've hired may already be registered with us. If that's the case, the homeowner usually doesn't need to register."
Checking if a contractor is already registered can be done easily through the WCB's website at www.worksafebc.com. If the company or worker is not covered, the homeowner can register for the period of time the contractor is employed.
The Workers' Compensation Board is an independent provincial statutory
agency governed by a Board of Directors that serves nearly two million
workers and approximately 179,000 employers. The WCB was born out of a
compromise between B.C.'s workers and employers in 1917 where workers
gave up the right to sue their employers or fellow workers for injuries
on the job in return for a no-fault insurance program fully paid for by
employers. The WCB is committed to a safe and healthy workplace, and to
providing return-to-work rehabilitation and legislated compensation benefits
to workers injured as a result of their employment.
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For more information please contact: |
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| Gladys Johnsen WCB Public Affairs Manager, Prevention Division 604 214-5441 or toll-free in B.C. at 1 888 621-7233, local 5441 |
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