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Policy decisions finalized at the July 17, 2001 WCB Panel of Administrators meeting

The following resolutions were finalized by the WCB Panel of Administrators on July 17, 2001. For information about the function and mandate of the Panel, please see Governing Structure.

Consolidation of Policies from the Prevention Division Policy and Procedure Manual into the Prevention Manual

The Panel of Administrators has approved the consolidation of various policies relating to the former Industrial Health and Safety Regulations, and a policy relating to occupational first aid, from the Prevention Division Policy and Procedure Manual into the Prevention Manual.

The effective date for the consolidated policies is August 1, 2001. On that date, the Prevention Manual policies set out in Appendix "A" to the attached resolution became "published policy" and the Policy and Procedure Manual policies in Appendix "B" to the resolution ceased to be policy.

The consolidated policies appear in the new Manual format. They continue the substantive requirements of the Policy and Procedure Manual policies as those requirements existed prior to August 1, 2001, with any necessary wording changes to reflect legislative and regulatory changes since the Policy and Procedure Manual policies were issued.

The consolidation of these policies and the retirement of a number of Policy and Procedure Manual policies are part of the larger project that will eventually result in all prevention policies being consolidated into the new Prevention Manual and/or retired as appropriate.

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

You may also examine the complete resolution.

Claims Avoidance

The Panel of Administrators has approved amendments to the Board's policy regarding an employer's obligation not to discourage a worker from reporting to the Board, as provided in policy item #94.20 of the Rehabilitation Services and Claims Manual.

The amendments were required in order to recognize the repeal of section 13(2) and the enactment of section 177 of the Workers Compensation Act regarding attempts to prevent reporting. The amendments also recognize that the board may levy an administrative penalty in respect of a violation of section 177.

The amendments come into effect on August 1, 2001.

For further information on this issue please contact Jeffrey Wright at local 604 273-2266, local 6980, or toll free at 1 888 967 5377, local 6980.

You may also examine the complete resolution.

Policies on Occupational Health and Safety Jurisdiction

The Panel of Administrators has approved the retirement of a number of policies, relating to occupational health and safety jurisdiction in BC, from the Prevention Division Policy and Procedure Manual.

These policies include information on:

  • the requirements of occupational health and safety statutes and regulations that are not administered by the WCB
  • the activities of other departments and agencies in situations where the WCB has no authority, and
  • situations where the WCB has authority, but the boundary between WCB jurisdiction and that of other departments and agencies is unclear.

The Panel decided that information regarding other occupational health and safety statutes and regulations and the activities of other departments and agencies is more properly the subject of the Prevention Division's OHS Guidelines. However, the Panel also decided to adopt a general policy (in new Item D2-108-1) containing statements of general principle about the actions to be taken by Board officers who encounter situations covered by the statutes and regulations of other departments and agencies.

The effective date for the Panel's decision is October 1, 2001. On that date, the Policy and Procedure Manual policies in Appendix "A" to the resolution cease to be policy, and the policy in new Item D2-108-1 in the Prevention Manual becomes published policy.

The Panel's decision is part of the larger project that will eventually result in all prevention policies being consolidated into the new Prevention Manual and/or retired as appropriate.

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

You may also examine the complete resolution.

Consolidation of Prevention Policies - Assessment Policy Manual Policies Relating to Prevention Matters

The Panel of Administrators has approved amendments to policies in the Assessment Policy Manual that relate to prevention matters.

The amendments are required to bring them into consistency with the Workers Compensation (Occupational Health and Safety) Amendment Act, 1998.

The affected polices set out in Appendix "A" to the attached resolution are informational in nature. The amendments are part of the larger project that will eventually result in all prevention policies being consolidated into the new Prevention Manual and/or retired as appropriate.

The effective date for the amendments is August 1, 2001.

For further information on this issue, please contact Peggy MacDonald at 604 273-2266 local 1841, or toll free within BC at 1 888 922-2768, local 1841.

You may also examine the complete resolution.