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Policy decisions finalized at the November, 2003 WCB Board of Directors meetings

The following resolutions were finalized by the WCB Board of Directors in November, 2003. For information about the function and mandate of the Board of Directors, please see Governing Structure.

Approval to Release to Public Hearing Proposed Amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation (BC Regulation 296/97, as amended), the Regulations for Agricultural Operations (BC Regulation 146/93, as amended) and the Industrial Health and Safety Regulation (BC Regulation 585/77).

At its meeting on November 19, 2003, the Board of Directors approved proposed amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation, Regulations for Agricultural Operations, and the Industrial Health and Safety Regulation for release to public hearing.

The following amendment packages are under review and will be the subject of the public hearing:

  • Part 4 Occupational Environment Requirements
  • Part 4 Workplace Conduct and Violence in the Workplace
  • Part 7 Noise, Vibration, Radiation and Temperature
  • Part 11 Fall Protection
  • Part 13 Ladders, Scaffolds and Temporary Work Platforms
  • Part 28 Agricultural Operations
  • Miscellaneous Sections

The public hearing is scheduled for March of 2004. Venues for oral presentations will be facilitated in Nanaimo, Richmond, Prince George, Kelowna, and Nelson.

You may examine the complete resolution. (PDF 1.5mb)

For further information, please contact David Young at 604 276-5160.

Classification Changes

The Board of Directors approved amendments to the policies that guide the WCB in determining the effective date of a change in an employer's classification. At the November 19, 2003 Board of Directors meeting, changes to Assessment Manual Items AP1-37-2 (Classification - Multiple), AP1-37-3 (Classification - Changes) and AP1-42-3 (Transfer of Experience Rating) were approved.

The key changes to the policies include:

  • Amendments to the classification changes policy to provide three general reasons for classification changes, with corresponding effective dates based on the reason for the change and direction on the transfer of experience rating.
  • Amendments to multiple classification policy to remove references to effective dates and direct the reader to the classification changes policy.
  • Amendments to the transfer of experience rating policy to specify that when a transfer of experience rating is being considered in the context of a change in classification, the change in classification policy is considered.

These policy changes are effective January 1, 2004 and will apply to all new decisions on or after that date.

You may also examine the complete resolution.(PDF 165kb)

For further information on this issue, please contact Syrus Bacha at 604 244-6125 or toll-free within B.C. at 1 888 922-2768, local 6125.

Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B: Housekeeping Changes

The Board of Directors approved a housekeeping amendment to the Occupational Disease Recognition Regulation and consequential changes to policy items #26.02 and #32.60 of the Rehabilitation Services & Claims Manual to bring them up-to-date with current medical terminology.

The key changes include:

  • Changing all the references in regulation and policy from "Infectious Hepatitis" to "Hepatitis A."
  • Removing "Serum Hepatitis" from the Regulation. "Serum Hepatitis" is an outdated description of Hepatitis B, which is already recognized as an occupational disease by inclusion in Schedule B to the Workers Compensation Act.

The amendment to the Occupational Disease Recognition Regulation will come into force 90 days after their deposit under the Regulations Act. The changes to published policy will take effect on the same date as the amendments to Occupational Disease Recognition Regulation and will apply to all new decisions on or after that date.

You may also examine the complete resolution. (PDF 85kb)

For further information on this issue, please contact Jay Rowland at 604 276-3317 or toll free within B.C. at 1 888 967-5377, local 3317.

Skills Development and Labour Statutes Amendment Act, 2003

Changes to the workers' compensation system contained in the Skills Development and Labour Statutes Amendment Act, 2003 ("Bill 37") will take effect on December 31, 2003. Bill 37 will amend the Workers Compensation Act ("Act") to:

  • change how survivor benefits are calculated;
  • recognize that a psychologist may diagnose a worker's mental stress condition; and
  • introduce a lay advocate provision permitting non-lawyers to represent a person in a workers' compensation matter.

Once effective, the amendments to the survivor benefit provisions of the Act, except those related to inflation adjustments, will be retroactive to June 30, 2002.
As a result of the legislative changes in Bill 37, policies in the Rehabilitation Services & Claims Manual addressing compensation for the surviving dependants of a deceased worker have been revised. In addition, policies dealing with mental stress and cost of living adjustments have been amended in accordance with the new legislative provisions.

You may also examine the complete resolution.(PDF 1.8mb)

For further information on this issue, please contact Susan Furlong at 604 276-5160.

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