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Policy decisions finalized at the December 14, 2001 WCB Panel of Administrators meeting

The following resolutions were finalized by the WCB Panel of Administrators on December 14, 2001. For information about the function and mandate of the Panel, please see Governing Structure.

Multiple Classification Policy

The Panel of Administrators approved amendments to the Board's multiple classification policy, as provided in Policy No. 30:20:20 of the Assessment Policy Manual.

The purpose of the amendments is to bring the multiple classification policy in line with the Board's employer classification system, which was amended in January 2000. The amendments outline the intent of multiple classification and clarify the conditions under which the Board may assign more than one classification unit to an employer.

The amendments come into effect on January 1, 2002.

For further information on this issue, please contact Peggy MacDonald at 604 232-1841, or toll free within BC at 1-888-922-2768, local 1841.

You may also examine the complete resolution.

Miscellaneous Amendment to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation ("OHSR") section 26.67(6)

The Panel of Administrators has approved the repeal of section 26.67(6) - Load Specifications for Logging Trucks. This prescriptive requirement was found impracticable by a joint committee of industry and labour representatives reporting to the Health and Safety Advisory Committee. Overloading of logging trucks remains a violation of the OHSR addressed by sections 2.2, 4.3(1)(a) and 26.2. The repeal comes into force 90 days after deposit with the Registrar of Regulations.

The Board has given notice and held a public hearing on these amendments in accordance with Section 226(1) of the Workers Compensation Act.

These amendments are part of an on-going review of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation.

For further information on this issue, please contact Nick Attewell at 604 244 6376, or toll free within BC at 1 888 621-7233 local 2618.

You may also examine the complete resolution.

Evaluation of Psychological Impairment

The Panel of Administrators has approved a new disability Table to be used for assessing the percentage of disability resulting from a permanent psychological impairment under section 23(1) of the Workers Compensation Act.

In 1998, the Panel adopted an interim table of percentages of disability for psychological impairment. In addition, the Panel directed that a Psychological Disability Committee be established to review the interim table and to make its final recommendations to the Panel.

The Committee has presented its recommendations to the Panel. As a result, the Panel has approved a new Table as Board policy, and consequential amendments to the Rehabilitation Services and Claims Manual ("RS&CM").

The new Table adopts the interim table with the following three modifications:

  1. like levels of severity of disability are treated consistently
  2. the range of percentages are adjusted to more finely differentiate the degrees of disability, and
  3. disability ratings are made in five percent increments.

The Table is incorporated as policy items #113 - 115 in the Permanent Disability Evaluation Schedule in Appendix 4 of the RS&CM. The revised policy is effective on December 31, 2001.

For further information on this issue, please contact James Watson at 604 231-8650 or or toll free at 1 888 967 5377, local 8650.

You may also examine the complete resolution.