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Policy decisions finalized at the April 28, 2000 WCB Panel of Administrators meeting
The following is a summary of the policy decisions finalized by the WCB Panel of Administrators on April 28, 2000. For information about the function and mandate of the Panel, please see Governing Structure.
- Bladder Cancer Claims from Aluminum Smelter Workers
- Retiring Workers’ Compensation Reporter Decisions No. 1 — 423
Bladder Cancer Claims from Aluminum Smelter Workers
The Panel of Administrators has approved changes to policy item #30.10 of the Rehabilitation Services and Claims Manual.
The changes are based on current scientific and medical knowledge regarding the relationship between bladder cancer and work in the potrooms of an aluminum smelter. The two stakeholder groups primarily affected by the policy change were consulted and their feedback was presented to the Panel of Administrators.
The changes are meant to:
- reflect current scientific evidence that benzo-a-pyrene is a better predictor of bladder cancer risk among aluminum smelter workers than benzene-soluble materials;
- clearly set out the criteria upon which these claims are to be adjudicated; and
- facilitate consistent and timely decision-making based on current scientific information.
The approach taken in the policy is consistent with that taken in Quebec –the only other Canadian jurisdiction that has aluminum smelters and that recognizes bladder cancer as an occupational disease specific to aluminum smelter workers. The revised policy is effective April 28, 2000.
For further information on this issue, please contact Jay Rowland or D. Campbell in Occupational Disease Services at (604) 276-3007 or toll free at 1-800-661-2112.
You may also examine the complete resolution.
Retiring Workers’ Compensation Reporter Decisions No. 1 — 423
The Board’s "published policy" currently includes Workers’ Compensation Reporter Decisions No. 1 — 423, as well as the policy manual(s) for each area of the Board’s responsibilities.
In order to reduce the number of sources of "published policy", the Panel has approved a strategy for consolidating Decisions No. 1 — 423 into the various policy manuals, as appropriate, and retiring the Decisions over time.
As the first stage in this process, the Panel has approved the retirement of certain Decisions of a generally historical nature effective May 1, 2000. The remaining Decisions will be reviewed in the context of future policy projects and consolidated with new policy as appropriate and then retired. Eventually all of Decisions No. 1 — 423 will be retired.
An Index of retired Decisions, with an explanation of the concept of retirement, appears on this website. The Index will also appear as an Appendix to each policy manual.
For further information on this issue, please contact Heather Greene at (604) 276-5160 or toll free within B.C. at 1-800-661-2112.
You may also examine the complete resolution.