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Policy decisions finalized November 2002

The following resolutions were finalized by the WCB Panel of Administrators in November 2002. For information about the function and mandate of the Panel, please see Governing Structure.

Hand-arm vibration syndrome

The Panel of Administrators has approved amendments to policy item #39.44 of Volumes I and II of the Rehabilitation Services & Claims Manual.

This policy was amended by deleting wording that precluded a section 23(1) award where the worker has returned to his or her normal or equal paying occupation.

The amendments are effective November 19, 2002, and apply to all section 23(1) decisions adjudicated on or after the effective date.

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

You may also examine the complete resolution. (PDF 60kb)

2003 Priorities

The Panel of Administrators approved the Policy and Regulation Development Bureau's policy and regulation development priorities for 2003. The 2003 Priorities (PDF 78kb) document outlines what projects the Policy and Regulation Development Bureau will be working on in 2003.

For further information about this document, please call 604 276-5160.

Assessment Policy Manual

The Panel of Administrators has adopted a new Assessment Manual to replace the existing Assessment Policy Manual effective January 1, 2003.

The Assessment Manual is written in the new manual format. It represents an editorial consolidation of material from the existing Assessment Policy Manual and relevant and still current material from 29 assessment decisions in volumes 1 - 6 of the Workers' Compensation Reporter. Out-of-date practices and procedures have been removed and the material organized more logically. Some minor "substantive" changes have been made to make policy consistent with current practice or legal requirements.

For information on the new Assessment Manual, please contact Peggy MacDonald of the Assessment Department at 604 244-6181 or toll-free at 1 888 922-2768.

You may also examine the complete resolution. (PDF 775kb)

Chronic Pain

The Panel of Administrators has approved amendments to the Board's policies on pain and chronic pain contained in Chapters 3, 6 and 12 of Volume I and Volume II of the Rehabilitation Services and Claims Manual.

The amended policies set out the definitions for acute, subacute and chronic pain and introduce the concepts of early intervention through early return to work assistance and focussed treatment and rehabilitation to prevent the onset of chronic pain. The amended policies also provide definitions of specific and non-specific chronic pain and clarify those cases that will be considered for a section 23(1) award for chronic pain.

The amendments are effective January 1, 2003 and apply to new claims received and all active claims that are currently awaiting an initial adjudication.

For further information on this issue, please contact Joe Pinto at 604 276-3118 or toll-free within B.C. at 1 888 967-5377, local 3118.

You may also examine the complete resolution. (PDF 145kb)

Construction Sector Experience Rating Pilot Project

The Panel of Administrators has extended the Construction Sector Experience Rating Pilot until December 31, 2003. The Pilot was first approved in January 2000 for a three-year trial.

Under the Pilot, firms in the Construction Sector are subject to maximum experience rating surcharges and discounts of 33.3%, rather than the maximum 100% surcharge and 50% discount that applies to all other firms.

The extension has been granted to allow the Board to evaluate the impact of the Pilot on the Construction Sector and also to give firms in the sector sufficient time to prepare for the transition to the Board's regular experience rating plan.

For information on the Pilot or the extension, please contact Syrus Bacha at 604 244-6125, or toll-free, at 1 888 922-2768, local 6125.

You may also examine the complete resolution. (PDF 21kb)

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