What employers need to know about smoke inhalation in the workplace
Many people who are vacationing or who just like hot weather in general enjoy it when the summer brings the sunshine and high temperatures, but this can also mean dry forests and an elevated fire risk, as it has this summer: there are fires out of control both in Ontario — which have affected air quality into the United States — and hundreds more in the Northwest Territories and parts of British Columbia, which have impacted air quality in those regions and in Alberta. In Alberta, Edmonton & a number of central and northern areas of the province, air quality health index levels have spiked into the 8 to 10 range, which puts them in the “high risk” and even “very high risk” category, according to provincial and federal regulations and standards related to air quality. Calgary is an area of somewhat lower risk, but the winds can change. When […]
Things to consider when voting for or against the ICP program
The Workers’ Compensation Board is re-polling a number of industries to see whether their members want to continue participating in the WCB’s optional Industry Custom Pricing or ICP program. As we have discussed before on the BCL blog, the program offers industries a choice of whether to remain in the traditional system for calculating premiums or to agree to be part of ICP, and while there are benefits to being in this program, there are also some strong negatives, and it’s important to consider both before you agree to join or rejoin. Under custom pricing, companies can get lower premiums in return for giving up the option for cost relief for pre-existing conditions or for allowing the WCB to modify the rate-setting calculations for that industry. The last province-wide vote was held in September of 2025. All the members of a given industry get to vote on whether to become […]
May is Mental Health Awareness Month
May is the month where many organizations in North America pay special attention to mental health. In the United States, May has been Mental Health Awareness Month since 1949 — intended to bring attention to mental health problems, and what can be done to diagnose, treat and de-stigmatize them. Canada has a Mental Health Awareness Week that is usually observed the first week of May. According to The National Alliance on Mental Health Illness, one in 5 people will be affected by a mental health condition in their lifetime, which means that just about everyone is affected or impacted either personally or through their friends, family, and co-workers. Mental Health Research Canada says that 58% of employees are affected by a mental health diagnosis personally or through a close family member. Most employees who received a diagnosis for themselves remain productive, with only 16% reporting significant work impairment. Over half […]
This month we honour fallen workers
April 28th marks the National Day of Mourning in Canada — a day to remember and honour those workers who have lost their lives or suffered injuries on the job. It’s an important reminder of the ongoing need to prioritize workplace safety and prevent future tragedies. We must all do our part to prioritize workplace safety, whether by speaking up about hazards, following safety protocols and guidelines, or advocating for better policies and regulations. Together, we can create a safer and more just workplace for all. According to the latest data from the Government of Alberta, from 2023 to 2024 Alberta’s workforce increased to 2,518,900 workers, a 3.1 per cent increase, and in 2024 WCB Alberta accepted 49,831 claims, of which 75 percent were modified-work claims and 56 percent were lost-time claims. The disabling injury and illness in 2024 were the lowest in the past five-years, the government’s records show, […]
Daylight Saving Time can mean more accidents
It’s that time of the year again: Daylight Saving Time! The time when the clocks go forward an hour (in B.C. they will do so for the last time ever) and everyone loses an hour of sleep. Many of us are happy to do so because it means that it stays light later into the evening, and it also means that spring is around the corner. Unfortunately it also means that many people are operating on an hour less sleep than they would have gotten normally, and that means a greater likelihood of accidents happening. The idea of moving the clocks ahead in the spring and back in the fall is over 100 years old, and for many it still remains a controversial solution to a debatable problem. The argument behind it is based on energy conservation (since it is light later) and also stimulating the retail and entertainment sectors […]