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Retirement of Remaining Workers' Compensation Reporter Decisions From Volumes 1 - 6
The Workers' Compensation Board's ("Board") policy currently includes the policy manuals for each area of the Board's responsibility, and a number of "unretired" decisions in volumes 1 - 6 of the Workers' Compensation Reporter ("Old Reporter Decisions"). These Old Reporter Decisions consist of decisions of the former Commissioners from 1973 to 1991 on a variety of matters. They were adopted as policy by the former Governors in 1991.
Several years ago, in order to reduce the number of sources of policy, the former Panel of Administrators ("Panel") approved a strategy for consolidating the Old Reporter Decisions into the various policy manuals, as appropriate, and then "retiring" them from policy over time.
"Retire" for this purpose means that, as of the "retirement date", an Old Reporter Decision is no longer current policy. "Retiring" does not affect an Old Reporter Decision's status as policy prior to the date it was "retired". A "retired" Old Reporter Decision therefore applies in decision-making on historical issues to the extent it was applicable prior to the "retirement date". "Retiring" also does not affect the disposition of any individual matters dealt with in an Old Reporter Decision.
As the first stage in the "retirement" process, the Panel approved the "retirement" of certain Old Reporter Decisions of a generally historical nature, effective May 1, 2002. An additional 33 Old Reporter Decisions, all related to prevention matters, were the subject of consultation last year and their disposition will be decided in the coming months. The 29 Old Reporter Decisions on assessment issues were consolidated into the new Assessment Manual, as appropriate, and then "retired" effective January 1, 2003.
The Policy and Regulation Development Bureau ("Bureau") intends to accelerate the process of consolidating and "retiring" the remaining Old Reporter Decisions. Attached as Appendix "A" is a list of the Old Reporter Decisions that have not yet been "retired" (other than the 33 prevention Reporter Decisions).
We would like to know which of the remaining Old Reporter Decisions you use in identifying your rights and responsibilities, how you use each Old Reporter Decision, and the frequency with which you use it.
Stakeholders are invited to respond by April 25, 2003.
Stakeholder responses will form part of the consideration in recommending how the remaining Old Reporter Decisions will be consolidated into the policy manuals if appropriate, and "retired". The Bureau hopes to complete this process by the end of the year.
Unfortunately, the remaining Old Reporter Decisions are not available electronically, and volumes 1 - 6 of the Reporter are no longer being published. However, photocopies of the Old Reporter Decisions not yet "retired" (other than the prevention Reporter Decisions) are being provided to the following organizations and groups:
- B.C. Federation of Labour;
- Employers' Forum;
- Employers' Advisers;
- Workers' Advisers; and
- Workers' Compensation Advocacy Group
Photocopies of the Old Reporter Decisions are also available in
the Bureau library, if stakeholders wish to make an appointment to review
them during the Bureau's normal working hours. Finally, the Workers' Compensation
Board Library has copies of volumes 1 - 6 of the Reporter.
Your response may be sent by mail, fax or e-mail to:
Heather Greene
Policy and Regulation Development Bureau
Workers' Compensation Board
PO Box 5350, Stn Terminal
Vancouver, BC
V6B 5l5
Fax: 604 279-7599
E-mail: hgreene@wcb.bc.ca
The opinions expressed by stakeholders will be reflected to the Board of Directors.
Please note that all responses become part of the Bureau's database and may be published, including the identity of those participating on behalf of organizations. The identity of those who have participated on their own behalf will be kept confidential according to the provisions of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
List of Decisions (PDF 25kb)
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