WorkSafe BC (WCB) is a third-party Board that covers injuries that occur on the job, and in some cases, the property surrounding a workplace. For example, if the employer failed to salt and de-ice the parking lot and an employee slipped and fell causing injury, this would be considered a workplace injury. WorkSafe BC covers a wide range of work-related injuries and it does not necessarily need a singular or specific incident to file a claim. Claims can also be filed under aggravation of a pre-existing condition, repetitive strain, strains and pains. An example of repetitive injury would be carpal tunnel syndrome and sciatica.
When any injury or pain starts at work, report it! See a first aid attendant and have it documented in the log book. See a healthcare provider, either a walk-in clinic or family doctor as soon as you can and advise them this is a work-related injury. Go on-line at WorkSafeBC.ca and file your claim. If work needs to be missed due to an injury, WorkSafe BC will cover 70% as ‘IOD Pending’ and 75% of wage loss when approved. There will be no disruption to your pay schedule. Furthermore, WorkSafe covers 100% for healthcare needs to aid in healing such as physiotherapy, acupuncture as well as needed medical aids such as back braces, splints, medications, and bandages etc.
Our employer will often offer time off the floor to rest, provide modified duties, or accommodation “off the books’ so that paperwork will not be filled out which often leads to workplace injuries going unreported. In all cases where accommodation is offered, the Union should be involved so that claims are not swept under the rug or misreported as STDP. Often workers are advised that types of injuries are not covered by WorkSafe and push towards filing a claim with STDP which does not support work related injuries. Or advise that “if there is no time loss, there is no need to file a claim with WCB”. This is 100% false.
When Canada Post persuades workers from reporting injuries with WorkSafe BC this is called claim suppression. The workers right to report injuries is protected by “The Workers Compensation Act” and the employer is subject to monetary penalties as well as other punitive measures if proven to have suppressed work injury claims.
Another subtle type of claim suppression is when Canada Post offers BBQ’s, pizza and other snacks like doughnuts if the work floor meets a threshold of a number of days with no ‘reported’ injuries. Snacks should not out weight the importance of Health and Safety and deter workers right to reporting WorkSafe BC Claims. This is also a form of claim suppression as it uses peer pressure to suppress proper, legal reporting of workplace injuries.
We have all seen the Canada Post slogans ‘See Something, Say Something’ and ‘Make it safe and Make it home’. The practice of claim suppression in any form, shows that Canada Post’s only concern is to have a catchy phrase and undermine the importance of preventing further injuries along with preventing the proper reporting of workplace injuries.
If you have any questions about WCB, or believe your supervisor/superintendent is suppressing your claim, please contact the Union hall immediately.
In Solidarity,
Raylene Marshall, 2nd Vice President lb/CUPE-3338