A-2 WorksafeBC Regulations Introduction
In most provinces, one or more agencies are responsible for ensuring safe and healthy working environments at job sites. These organizations are often known as the Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) or an Occupational Health and Safety department. In British Columbia, WorkSafeBC is the provincial organization responsible for promoting workplace health and safety for workers and employers. When a work-related injury, disease, or death occurs, WorkSafeBC works with affected parties to provide return-to-work rehabilitation, health care benefits, compensation, and other services. WorkSafeBC also consults with and educates employers and workers on safe work practices, including monitoring workplaces within its jurisdiction.
This section covers a number of key documents, listed below. Compliance with all of these documents is required to help ensure a safe work environment.
- The Workers Compensation Act (WCA) is provincial legislation that authorizes and guides WorkSafeBC (the Workers’ Compensation Board of British Columbia). The WCA also sets out the rights and responsibilities of employers and workers related to health and safety.
- The Hazardous Products Act is federal legislation that defines which materials are included in the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS).
- The Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Regulation contains the legal requirements that all workplaces within WorkSafeBC’s inspection jurisdiction must meet. WorkSafeBC regularly reviews and updates the OHS Regulation based on experience and changes in knowledge, technology, and work practices.
- The OHS Guidelines are intended to help explain how to comply with legislation, not to provide exclusive interpretations. They provide guidance on technical matters needed to apply the Act and Regulations effectively and consistently. Because the OHS Guidelines are dynamic documents that are regularly updated, they are best accessed and maintained online.
Learning Objectives
You must be familiar with the Workers Compensation Act and Workers’ Compensation Board of BC (WorkSafeBC).
When you have completed this section, you should be able to:
- Define terms used in the Workers Compensation Act.
- Describe the conditions under which compensation will be paid and the benefits available.
- Describe the workplace responsibilities of WorkSafeBC (the Worker’s Compensation Board), the employer, and the worker.
- Describe the WCA requirements for reporting accidents.
- Use the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation.
Resources
You will be required to reference publications and videos available online at WorkSafeBC.
The following five documents on the WorkSafeBC website are essential to understanding and meeting the minimum requirements for occupational health and safety in British Columbia:
- Workers Compensation Act (B.C.) (Act)
- Hazardous Products Act (Canada) summaries (HPA)
- Occupational Health and Safety Regulation (OHS Regulation)
- Prevention Manual (policies)
- OHS Guidelines, to help interpret and apply the OHS Regulation and the Act
Terminology
The following terms will be used throughout this section. A complete list of terms for this section can be found in the Glossary or in Part 1 of the Workers Compensation Act.
- accident: An unexpected event at work that causes injury or harm, such as slipping on a wet floor or getting hurt while using tools. (Section A-2.1)
- board: (Workers’ Compensation Board) The group that runs workers’ compensation. It decides rules, helps injured workers, and makes sure workplaces follow safety laws. (Section A-2.1)
- claim: An official request made to WorkSafeBC for compensation after a worker is injured or becomes ill because of work. (Section A-2.4)
- compensation: Money or support given to a worker who is hurt at work, to help pay for things like medical care or time off work. (Section A-2.1)
- compliance: Following the rules and laws that are in place, such as workplace safety rules set by WorkSafeBC. (Section A-2.5)
- construction: Work that involves building, fixing, or repairing things like houses, buildings, pipes, or plumbing systems. (Section A-2.1)
- dependant: A person who relies on a worker for money or care, such as a child or a spouse. (Section A-2.1)
- employer: A person or company that hires workers and pays them to do a job, such as a plumbing business owner. (Section A-2.1)
- employment: Having a job where a person works for an employer and gets paid. (Section A-2.1)
- hazard: Anything at work that could cause injury, illness, or harm, such as unsafe tools, chemicals, or dangerous conditions. (Section A-2.1)
- industry: A group of businesses that do the same type of work, such as plumbing, construction, or trades. (Section A-2.1)
- member of family: A close relative, such as a parent, child, sibling, or spouse. (Section A-2.1)
- OHS Regulation: A set of safety rules that explain how workplaces must protect workers’ health and safety. (Section A-2.5)
- person: Any human being, including a worker, employer, or family member. (Section A-2.1)
- procedure for refusal: The process a worker follows when they have reasonable cause to believe that doing a task or using equipment would create an undue hazard and could put them in danger. (Section A-2.5)
- reconsider: To look at a decision again to see if it should be changed. (Section A-2.1)
- regulation: A rule made to explain how a law should be followed, such as safety rules for plumbing work. (Section A-2.1)
- retirement benefit: Money paid to a worker after they stop working, often because they are older or injured. (Section A-2.1)
- undue hazard: A serious or unnecessary danger that could cause harm to a worker. (Section A-2.5)
- worker: A person who does a job for an employer, such as a plumber or construction worker. (Section A-2.1)
- Workers Compensation Act: A law that explains how workers are protected if they are injured or become ill because of their job, and how employers must help pay for this protection. (Section A-2.2)
References
WorkSafeBC. (n.d.-a). Hazardous Products Act (Canada): Summaries.
https://www.worksafebc.com/en/law-policy/health-safety/hazards-exposures/hazardous-products
WorkSafeBC. (n.d.-b). Prevention Manual: Policies.
https://www.worksafebc.com/en/law-policy/occupational-health-safety/prevention-manual
WorkSafeBC. (n.d.-c). Occupational Health and Safety Regulation.
https://www.worksafebc.com/en/law-policy/occupational-health-safety/searchable-ohs-regulation
WorkSafeBC. (n.d.-d). OHS Guidelines.
https://www.worksafebc.com/en/law-policy/occupational-health-safety/ohs-guidelines
WorkSafeBC. (n.d.-e). Workers Compensation Act (British Columbia).
https://www.worksafebc.com/en/law-policy/occupational-health-safety/searchable-ohs-regulation/workers-compensation-act
