Practice Directives
Practice Directives are issued by the Practice and Quality Support Services to address specific compensation matters. These directives serve to support quality decision making by highlighting key adjudicative considerations consistent with the objective/principle of a particular legislative and/or policy requirement. Where necessary, Practice Directives will also provide for a supporting business process and will include adjudicative examples or job aids to demonstrate appropriate application.
Practice Directives are developed in consultation with subject matter experts within Claims and Rehabilitation Services. Advice and comment is also provided by the Review Division and the Policy, Regulation and Research Department.
Prior to finalizing and issuing a new Practice Directive, a draft is provided to the Policy and Practice Consultative Committee. This is a standing committee that includes representation from the worker and employer communities.
WorkSafeBC officers are required to consider and, where appropriate, apply the guidance provided in the Practice Directives.
Compensation Practice Directives
| P.D. No. |
Title | Effective date |
|---|---|---|
| Chapter 1 | Scope of Volume II of this Manual | |
| C1-1 | Effective Dates and Transition Rules | Effective Apr.1, 2003 Updated Feb. 27, 2007, Apr. 6, 2020 & Dec. 30, 2021 (formerly PD #38A) |
| C1-2 | Binding Nature of Policy | Effective Mar. 2, 2003 Amended Apr. 22, 2003, Apr. 6, 2020 & Dec. 30, 2021 (formerly PD #60) |
|
|
||
| Chapter 3 | Compensation for Personal Injury | |
| C3-1 | Chronic Pain | Effective Jan. 1, 2003 Amended Jan. 1, 2004, Dec. 21, 2010, May 15, 2015, Feb. 28, 2020, Apr. 6, 2020 & Dec. 30, 2021 (formerly PD#61) |
| C3-3 |
Mental Disorder Claims |
Effective Jan. 2, 2013 Amended Jun. 21, 2013, Feb. 18, 2014, May 18, 2018, July 23, 2018, May 21, 2019, Feb. 28, 2020, Apr. 6, 2020, Oct. 30, 2020, May 19, 2021 & Dec. 30, 2021 |
| C3-4 | Section 134(3) Presumption | Effective Apr. 20, 2012 Amended Feb. 28, 2020, Apr. 6, 2020 & Dec. 30, 2021 |
| C3-5 | Compensable Consequences - Psychological Conditions | Effective Feb. 6, 2015 Amended Oct. 30, 2015, Apr. 6, 2020 & Dec. 30, 2021 |
| C3-6 | Teachers' Participation in Extra-Employment Activities | Effective May 9, 2016 Amended Apr. 6, 2020 & Dec. 30, 2021 |
| C3-7 | Mental Disorder Claims – Time Limits for Application Interim practice directive |
Effective Aug. 14, 2020 Amended November 17, 2021 |
|
|
||
| Chapter 4 | Occupational Disease | |
| C4-1 | Adjudication of Contagious Occupational Diseases | Effective Aug. 9, 2005 Amended Jan. 1, 2004, Amended Aug. 18, 2009, Oct. 27, 2009, Apr. 6, 2020, Aug. 20, 2020 & Dec. 30, 2021 (formerly BPIS#10) |
| C4-2 | Activity-Related Soft Tissue Disorder (ASTD) Claims |
Effective Jun. 15, 2004 |
|
|
||
| Chapter 5 | Wage Loss Benefits | |
| C5-1 | Duration of Benefits - Retirement Date |
Effective Oct. 21, 2002 |
| C5-2 | Commencement of Payments | Effective Nov. 19, 2004 Amended Apr. 6, 2020 & Dec. 30, 2021 (formerly BPIS#1) |
| C5-3 | Termination of Temporary Disability Benefits | Effective Dec. 21, 2004 Amended Apr. 6, 2020 & Dec. 30, 2021 (formerly BPIS#2) |
| C5-4 | Suspensions | Effective Mar. 29, 2010 Amended July 12, 2016, Apr. 6, 2020 & Dec. 30, 2021 |
| C5-6 | Return to Work Obligations: Duty to Cooperate and Duty to
Maintain Employment Interim practice directive |
Effective Jan. 1, 2024 |
| C5-7 | Administrative Penalties for Failure to Comply with the Duty to
Cooperate or Duty to Maintain Employment Interim practice directive |
Effective Jan. 1, 2024 |
|
|
||
| Chapter 6 | Permanent Disability Benefits | |
| C6-1 | Permanent Partial Disability Benefits | Effective Mar. 3, 2003 Amended Dec. 2, 2019, Feb. 28, 2020, Apr. 6, 2020, Jan. 1, 2021, Dec. 30, 2021, Oct. 3, 2022 & Nov. 16, 2022 (formerly PD#45) |
|
|
||
| Chapter 7 | Protection of and Deductions from Benefits | |
| C7-1 | Payment of Public Guardian and Trustee, and Committee Fees | Effective Aug. 25, 1998 Amended Apr. 6, 2020 (formerly PD#19) |
| C7-3 | Overpayments | Effective Apr. 18, 2008 Amended Feb.18, 2014, Apr. 6, 2020 & Dec. 30, 2021 (formerly BPIS#20) |
| C7-4 | Interest | Effective Apr. 3, 2023 |
|
|
||
| Chapter 9 | Average Earnings | |
| C9-1 | Coverage and Compensation for Self-Employed Persons | Effective Jun. 30, 2002 Updated Aug. 1, 2006, Apr. 6, 2020 & Dec. 30, 2021 (formerly PD#25) |
| C9-2 | Provisional Rate | Effective Mar. 3, 2003 Amended Apr. 6, 2020 & Dec. 30, 2021 (formerly PD#30) |
| C9-3 | Net System of Compensation | Effective Jun. 30, 2002 Amended May 8, 2009, Apr. 6, 2020 & Dec. 30, 2021 (formerly PD#32) |
| C9-4 | Short-Term and Long-Term Average Earnings | Effective Jan.1, 2016 Amended Apr. 6, 2020 & Dec. 30, 2021 (formerly PD#33A) |
| C9-5 | Secondary Employment | Effective Jun. 17, 2003 Amended July 1, 2012, Apr. 6, 2020 & Dec. 30, 2021 (formerly PD#33D) |
| C9-8 | Employment Insurance Payments | Effective Jul.1, 2012 Amended Feb. 28, 2020, Apr. 6, 2020 & Dec. 30, 2021 (formerly BPIS#3) |
| C9-9 | Casual Pattern of Employment | Effective Jan. 1, 2006 Amended Apr. 6, 2020 & Dec. 30, 2021 (formerly BPIS #13) |
| C9-10 | Workers Deducting Business and/or Equipment Expenses | Effective Aug. 1, 2006 Amended Apr. 6, 2020 & Dec. 30, 2021 (formerly BPIS#16) |
| C9-11 | Composition of Earnings | Effective Jan. 14, 2008 Amended Mar. 24, 2016, Feb. 28, 2020, Apr. 6, 2020 & Dec. 30, 2021 (formerly BPIS#19) |
| C9-12 | Long-Term Average Earnings: Section 218 - Exceptional Circumstances | Effective May 1, 2008 Amended Feb. 28, 2020, Apr. 6, 2020 & Dec. 30, 2021 (formerly BPIS#21) |
|
|
||
| Chapter 10 | Health Care | |
| C10-1 | Claims with Opioids, Sedatives/Hypnotics or Other Prescribed Potentially Addictive Drugs | Effective Jan. 1, 2015 Amended date Nov. 29, 2019, Apr. 6, 2020, Dec. 30, 2021 & Nov. 1, 2023 |
| C10-2 | Income Loss Payments | Effective Mar. 3, 2003 Amended March 1, 2017, Apr. 6, 2020 & Dec. 30, 2021 (formerly PD#C9-7) |
| C10-3 | Additional Benefits for Severely Disabled Workers |
Effective July 12, 2016 Amended Apr. 6, 2020 & Dec. 30, 2021 |
| C10-4 | Independence and Home Maintenance Allowance | Effective July 12, 2016 Amended Apr. 6, 2020 & Dec. 30, 2021 |
| C10-5 | Cannabis for Medical Purposes |
Effective July 26, 2021 |
| C10-6 | Preventative Health Care Interim practice directive |
Effective Aug. 14, 2020 |
|
|
||
| Chapter 11 | Vocational Rehabilitation | |
| C11-1 | Vocational Rehabilitation – Income Continuity Benefits | Effective Mar. 3, 2003 Amended Feb. 28, 2020, Apr. 6, 2020, Jan. 1, 2021, Dec. 30, 2021, & Oct. 3, 2022 (formerly PD#18) |
| C11-2 | Vocational Rehabilitation Programs & Services | Effective Nov. 1, 2002 Amended Sept. 1, 2015, Feb. 28, 2020, Apr. 6, 2020 & Dec. 30, 2021 (formerly PD#51) |
| C11-3 | Vocational Rehabilitation – Extent of Service | Effective Nov. 1, 2002 Amended Sept. 1, 2015, Feb. 28, 2020, Apr. 6, 2020, Jan. 1, 2021, Dec. 30, 2021, & Oct. 3, 2022 (formerly PD#52) |
| C11-4 | Vocational Rehabilitation Relocation | Effective Nov. 1, 2002 Amended Jan. 29, 2003, Apr. 6, 2020 & Dec. 30, 2021 (formerly PD#54) |
|
|
||
| Chapter 12 | Claims Procedures | |
| C12-1 | Disclosure of Personal Information | Amended effective Mar. 3, 2003, Apr. 6, 2020 & Dec. 30, 2021 (formerly PD#8) |
| C12-2 | Violations of the Act: Agreement to Forego Benefits and Employers Preventing Reporting | Effective Dec. 17, 2001 Amended Dec. 2, 2019, Apr. 6, 2020 & Dec. 30, 2021 (formerly PD#26) |
| C12-5 | Authorization for Obtaining and Releasing Personal Information | Effective Oct. 1, 2008 Amended Apr. 11, 2018, Apr. 6, 2020, Dec. 30, 2021 & June 6, 2022 (formerly PD#63) |
| C12-6 | Implementation of Appellate Decisions | Effective Jul. 4, 2005 Amended Apr. 6, 2020, Dec. 30, 2021 & Apr. 3, 2023 (formerly BPIS#9) |
| C12-7 | Surveillance and Other Evidence | Effective May 2, 2007 Amended Mar. 24, 2016, Feb. 28, 2020, Apr. 6, 2020, June 5, 2020 & Dec. 30, 2021 (formerly BPIS#18) |
| C12-8 | Managing Claims of Psychologically Vulnerable Workers | Effective Oct. 24, 2008 Amended Mar. 29, 2010, Apr. 6, 2020, May 3, 2021, May 19, 2021, Dec. 30, 2021 & Jan. 19, 2022 |
| C12-9 | Responding to a Risk or Threat of Suicide | Effective Oct. 24, 2008 Amended June 1, 2017, Apr. 6, 2020, May 19, 2021 & Dec. 30, 2021 |
|
|
||
| Chapter 14 | Changing Previous Decisions | |
| C14-1 | Bill 63 Effective Dates and Transition Rules for Reopenings, Reconsiderations, Reviews and Appeals | Effective Mar. 3, 2003 Amended Apr. 6, 2020 & Dec. 30, 2021 (formerly PD#57) |
| C14-2 | Reconsiderations | Effective Mar. 31, 2005 Amended Sept. 30, 2013, Apr. 6, 2020, Oct. 29, 2020 & Dec. 30, 2021 (formerly BPIS#5) |
| C14-3 | Reopenings | Mar. 31, 2005 Amended Jan. 30, 2015, Apr. 6, 2020, Nov. 24, 2020 & Dec. 30, 2021 (formerly BPIS#6) |
| C14-4 | Findings of Fact | Effective Jun. 26, 2006 Amended Apr. 6, 2020 & Dec. 30, 2021 (formerly BPIS#14) |
|
|
||
| Chapter 16 | Third Party/Out-of-Province Claims | |
| C16-3 | Out-Of-Province Injuries | Effective Oct. 12, 2005 Amended Feb. 28, 2020, Apr. 6, 2020 & Dec. 30, 2021 (formerly BPIS#11) |
|
|
||
| Chapter 17 | Charging of Claim Costs | |
| C17-1 | Section 240(1)(d) - Relief of Costs: Eligibility and Application | Effective May 12, 2005 Amended May 3, 2013, Apr. 6, 2020 & Dec. 30, 2021 (formerly BPIS#7) |
| C17-2 | Experience Rating Cost Exclusions | Effective Jul. 4, 2005 Amended Apr. 6, 2020 & Dec. 30, 2021 (formerly BPIS#8) |
| C17-3 | Section 240(1)(d) - Relief of Costs: Evaluation and Determination of the Amount | Effective Nov. 2, 2005 Amended Nov. 8, 2017, Apr. 6, 2020 & Dec. 30, 2021 (formerly BPIS#12) |
|
|
||
| Chapter 18 | Retirement Benefits | |
| C18-1 | Retirement Benefits | Effective Jul. 16, 2002 Amended Apr. 6, 2020 & Dec. 30, 2021 (formerly PD#48) |
|
|
||
Archived Best Practices Information Sheets
Archived Compensation Practice Directives
Archived Disability Awards-Additional Factors
Archived Psychological Impairment GuidelinesRelated Practices
Disability Awards - S.195(1) Specifications and Calculations
Permanent Disability Benefits for Loss of Range of Motion - Chronic Pain (Jozipovic Decision)
Practice Q&A: Mental Disorder Claims - Eligible Occupations under the Presumption
Psychological Impairment Guidelines
Vocational Rehabilitation – VR Worker Travel Expenditure Guidelines