Is a WCB Claim Ever Officially Closed?
Your employee has been injured at work, they’ve received treatment, they’ve recovered, they’ve successfully returned to work and the Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) has inactivated their claim but is that claim really closed? Once a worker has recovered from an injury and has returned to their full duties or has reached a medical plateau and is working at their maximum potential, the WCB Alberta sends a letter to the injured worker and their employer outlining what injuries were accepted, the treatment or services provided and the return to work details. The letter also advises that the claim will now be considered inactive. But what happens if a worker develops problems related to their work-related injury after their claim has been inactivated? Unlike private insurance claims, where there are defined time limits in which you can claim benefits, the WCB will always review any new information that is submitted. It does […]
First Aid in the Workplace
First Aid. That’s what it’s called because that’s what it is, the First response to an injury or accident to provide Aid. Accidents aren’t orchestrated, they are opportunistic, unexpected, unplanned events with no way to fully anticipate where and when they will occur. The initial actions taken immediately following an incident are often the most critical in terms of reducing or addressing the severity of an injury or even preventing death. If the first person that responds to a situation has basic first aid training it can improve the odds of a best scenario outcome. It’s why ensuring that every employee has basic first aid training and is able to respond to any injury, accident or emergency that occurs. It is why first aid is the foundation of an effective health and safety management program (HSMP). Although workplace safety regulations and standards for first aid vary by province or territory […]
How’s Your Health & Safety Management Program?
You can’t scrimp on safety! We are all aware that the workforce, across all sectors, has undergone significant upheaval over the past couple of years mainly due to COVID-19 and the impact of a global pandemic. We’ve learned how to work remotely, work creatively, and to think outside the box. We’ve been stressed out, zoomed out, and burned out. There has been an unparalleled number of resignations and retirements in virtually every industry as the labor force has reassessed their lifestyle and priorities. This, combined with the lockdowns, shutdowns and business closures caused by the pandemic, saw the 2020 unemployment rates rise to levels not seen in over 20 years. As the economy started to recover, there were a plethora of job postings and hiring opportunities throughout every industry and a pool of unemployed workers available to fill the positions. As a result, the May 2022 unemployment rate is now […]
30 Seconds: National Day of Mourning in Canada
The statistics are startling and disturbing. According to the latest information from 2019, in Canada alone, there were a total of 925 work-related fatalities; that is approximately 3 lives each and every day. That same year, there were 271,806 time loss claims for work-related injury or disease recorded, an increase of 20,000 claims over 2017, suggesting that an acceptable Workers’ Compensation claim occurs every 30 seconds in our country. At this point, essentially every Canadian has been touched by workplace accidents or incidents either directly or by association. Last year, in Alberta, there were 178 deaths that resulted from workplace injuries or illnesses, that’s a work-related fatality every other day. The impact of work-related injuries and occupational diseases can be devastating, not only to the worker but to their families as well. The struggle to put lives back together and figure out how to cope and carry on following a […]
Pets in the Workplace: Chaos or Calm?
There is still much uncertainty about a return to the workplace, what it will look like and how it will work. Will it be full-time or part-time? Is it safe? How long will it last? Will there be another lockdown? In the midst of this crazy ol’ world we live in right now, perhaps the need to focus on workplace wellness is more important than ever. So what can employers do to reassure their employees and create an inviting work environment? Maybe having pets in the office is an idea worth entertaining. Studies have shown that having animals around can be beneficial from a health and wellness perspective and this holds true for the workplace as well. Bringing a pet to the office can boost employee morale, reduce stress, improve job satisfaction, enhance team-building and even promote physical activity. ‘Bring your pet to work’ is not a new concept. Businesses […]