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.

At its November 2019 meeting, WorkSafeBC’s Board of Directors approved consequential amendments related to statutory revisions to the Workers Compensation Act (Act).

At its November 2019 meeting, WorkSafeBC’s Board of Directors approved amendments to the definition of “fire department” in section 31.1 of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation (OHSR). These changes are consequential to the Bill 18 revisions to the Workers Compensation Act.

On December 11, 2019, the Board of Directors approved amendments to Item C11-85.00, Vocational Rehabilitation – Principles and Goals, Item C11-88.00, Vocational Rehabilitation – Nature and Extent of Programs and Services, and Item C11-89.10, Vocational Rehabilitation – Income Continuity of the Rehabilitation Services & Claims Manual, Volume II.

On December 11, 2019, the Board of Directors approved amendments to 34 policies in the Rehabilitation Services & Claims Manual, Volume II.

At the December 2019 meeting, the Board of Directors (BOD) 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 23, 2019, the Board of Directors approved amendments to policy item #27.00, Activity-Related Soft Tissue Disorders (ASTDs) of the Limbs of the Rehabilitation Services & Claims Manual, Volume II.

On October 23, 2019 the Board of Directors approved amendments to the Permanent Disability Evaluation Schedule (PDES) in the Rehabilitation Services & Claims Manual, Volume II to, to update conditions to ensure the PDES reflects best practices for assessment and diagnosis.

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

WorkSafeBC will hold public hearing sessions in October and November 2019 regarding changes to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation.

The provincial government has passed an Order-in-Council that will bring changes to the language and numbering of the Workers Compensation Act into effect on April 6, 2020.

WorkSafeBC will be holding a public hearing on October 10, 2019 regarding changes to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation.

The Policy, Regulation and Research Division is requesting feedback on proposed amendments to Part 6, Substance Specific Requirements − Cytotoxic Drugs of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation.

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

On May 29, 2019, the Board of Directors approved policy changes facilitating the adoption of an instalment model for quarterly reporting.

On May 29, 2019, the Board of Directors approved amendments to policies in the Rehabilitation Services & Claims Manual, Volume II, the Prevention Manual, and the Assessment Manual related to merits and justice in decision-making.

On April 10, 2019, the Board of Directors approved extending coverage under Section 3(7)(b) of the Worker Compensation Act to participants of the Unpaid Work Experience Program. This program was developed by the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction to assist unemployed and underemployed British Columbians gain valuable work skills in a work environment.

WorkSafeBC is requesting stakeholder feedback on the proposed OELs for 31 substances.