This site will look much better in a browser that supports web standards, but it is accessible to any browser or Internet device.

WorkSafeBC

regulation and policy banner

Policy decisions finalized at the September 21, 1999 WCB Panel of Administrators meeting

The following is a summary of the policy decisions finalized by the WCB Panel of Administrators on September 21, 1999. For information about the function and mandate of the Panel, please see Governing Structure.

Extension of "Recommended Schedule of Sanctions" in Prevention Policy 1.4.1 Beyond October 1, 1999

The Workers Compensation (Occupational Health and Safety) Amendment Act, 1998 generally came into force on October 1, 1999. It has replaced the occupational health and safety provisions of the Workers Compensation Act with a new Part 3 — Occupational Health and Safety. The new Part 3 provides for a system of administrative penalties that the Board may impose on employers for occupational health and safety violations.

The Board is working on a policy with respect to determining administrative penalty amounts under Part 3.

As an interim measure, the Panel has decided that the "Recommended Schedule of Sanctions" formerly used to determine additional assessment amounts under the pre-October 1st Act will apply to administrative penalties imposed under the new Part 3 until a new policy on administrative penalty amounts becomes effective.

For further information on this issue, please contact Nick Attewell at 604 273-2266 or toll free within B.C. at 1 888 621-7233, local 2618.

You may also examine the complete resolution.

Naming WCB-owned Buildings

The Panel of Administrators has decided that, as a matter of policy, the Board will not name the buildings it owns.

For further information on this issue, please contact David Poon at 604 276-3225.

You may also examine the complete resolution.

Assessment Penalties

Effective September 7, 1999, the Panel approved changes to the penalty and interest provisions that apply when employers fail to provide their assessment payments or payroll information to the Board. The penalty rate under section 38(2), for failing to provide payroll information, was set at 8%; the penalty rate under section 40(2), for failure to make a return on the required form and remit the assessment payment, was increased to 8% but will be calculated on a reduced amount; the penalty rates under section 47(1) were set at 8% for failure to pay on time and 1% per month on outstanding (overdue) amounts, and the Vice President was given the authority to change the monthly rate to reflect changes in the Bank of Canada prime rate; the interest rate under section 49(1), for paying less than what is due, was decreased to 8%; the maximum penalty under section 40(2) of $1500 was eliminated; and the committee established under section 47(2) was given the authority to reconsider its own decisions where there is significant new evidence or a clear mistake of evidence, law or policy in their previous decision.

For further information on these issues, please contact Meg Brighton at (604) 244-6354 or toll free at 1 888 922-2768, local 6389.

You may also examine the complete resolution.