At its May 2021 meeting, WorkSafeBC’s Board of Directors approved 2020 and 2021 amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation.

On March 30, 2021, WorkSafeBC’s Board of Directors approved amendments to three existing extensions of coverage under section 7(2)(b) of the Workers Compensation Act (Act) for work experience programs administered by the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction. The Board of Directors also approved extending coverage under section 7(2)(b) of the Act for the Ministry’s Research and Innovation Program.

WorkSafeBC is requesting stakeholder feedback on the proposed ELs for 22 substances.

Our Policy, Regulation and Research Division is requesting feedback on proposed amendments to Part 3 of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation relating to the reassignment of refused work.

At its April 2021 meeting, WorkSafeBC’s Board of Directors approved the 2020 amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation.

Prevention Policy Item R5.48-1 has been amended to maintain the current B.C. exposure limits for substances listed on the 2021 new or revised Threshold Limit Values from the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists.

Our Policy, Regulation and Research Division is releasing a discussion paper on the Permanent Disability Evaluation Schedule Review with options and draft policy to stakeholders for comment.

On January 27, 2021, WorkSafeBC’s Board of Directors approved policy amendments regarding injuries caused by overexertion during accustomed work.

On January 27, 2021, WorkSafeBC’s Board of Directors approved policy changes to the effective date for classification changes due to a change in business operations.

Our Policy, Regulation and Research Division is releasing a discussion paper with options on Consultation on Bill 23 – Permanent partial disability benefits to stakeholders for comment.

Our Policy, Regulation and Research Division is releasing a discussion paper with options on Consultation on Bill 23 – Retirement age determinations to stakeholders for comment.

On August 14, 2020, the Workers Compensation Amendment Act, 2020 (Bill 23) came into effect. Under Bill 23, 34 legislative amendments were made to the Workers Compensation Act. One of these legislative amendments concerns retirement age determinations and comes into effect on January 1, 2021.

On August 14, 2020, the Workers Compensation Amendment Act, 2020 (Bill 23) came into effect. Under Bill 23, 34 legislative amendments were made to the Workers Compensation Act. One of these legislative amendments concerns permanent partial disability benefits and comes into effect on January 1, 2021.

At its November 2020 meeting, WorkSafeBC’s Board of Directors approved the adoption of the 2016, 2017, and 2018 new and revised American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists Threshold Limit Values for selected chemical substances.

On October 21, 2020, the Board of Directors approved amendments to 45 policies in the Rehabilitation Services & Claims Manual, Volume II, the Assessment Manual, and the Prevention Manual, to ensure policy is consistent with 32 amendments to the Workers Compensation Act, which came into effect on August 14, 2020 as a result of Bill 23.

In light of the provincial election, our upcoming virtual public hearing has been postponed.

Our Policy, Regulation and Research Division has prepared a discussion paper on consequential policy amendments to implement the Workers Compensation Amendment Act, 2020 (Bill 23) for stakeholder review and comment.

On July 22, 2020, the Board of Directors approved amendments to Schedule 1 of the Workers Compensation Act, to add a presumption for infections caused by communicable viral pathogens which are the subject of a B.C.-specific emergency declaration or notice. The Schedule 1 amendments were scheduled to come into effect on October 26, 2020.

On July 22, 2020, the Board of Directors approved policy amendments regarding acupuncture.

At its July 2020 meeting, WorkSafeBC’s Board of Directors approved minor substantive amendments to policy in the Rehabilitation Services & Claims Manual, Volume II, consequential to the implementation of the revised Workers Compensation Act (Act), which came into effect on April 6, 2020.