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.

On July 22, 2020, our Board of Directors approved amendments to Schedule 1 of the Workers Compensation Act (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.

WorkSafeBC is holding a virtual public hearing on September 30, 2020, for proposed amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation.

Our Policy, Regulation and Research Division is requesting feedback on proposed amendments to Part 8 of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation relating to safety headgear.

Prevention Policy Item R5.48-1 has been amended to maintain the current B.C. exposure limits for substances listed on the 2020 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 to stakeholders for comment. The paper includes options on proposed policy regarding injuries caused by overexertion during accustomed (familiar) work.

The Policy, Regulation and Research Division is requesting feedback on proposed amendments to Part 20 of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation relating to concrete pump operator certification.

WorkSafeBC is requesting stakeholder feedback on the proposed ELs for 24 substances.

The Policy, Regulation and Research Division is releasing a discussion paper on adding diseases caused by communicable viral pathogens, including COVID-19, to Schedule 1 of the Workers Compensation Act with options and draft amendments to stakeholders for comment.

Further to the direction from WorkSafeBC’s Board of Directors (BOD), our Policy, Regulation and Review Division (PPRD) is preparing to release a discussion paper for consultation on adding a presumption for infections caused by communicable viral pathogens (including COVID-19) on an expedited basis.

Our Policy, Regulation and Research Division is requesting feedback on two proposed amendment packages to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation.

At its March 25, 2020 meeting, WorkSafeBC’s Board of Directors approved amendments to section 20.47 of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation.

The provincial government’s revisions to the Workers Compensation Act will take effect in one month, on April 6, 2020. The changes are intended to make laws easier to find and modernize the language so it’s easier to read and understand.

The Policy, Regulation and Research Division is releasing a discussion paper with options on proposed policy regarding Acupuncture to stakeholders for comment.

The Policy, Regulation and Research Division has prepared a discussion paper on Consequential Amendments to the Rehabilitation Services & Claims Manual, Volume II for stakeholder review and comment.