Over the course of our careers at Canada Post, many of us may experience a work-related injury. This could be due to various reasons such as a dog bite, repetitive strain injury, exacerbation of a pre-existing condition, or other types of injuries. It’s important to file a claim in all such instances, even if there’s no loss of wages.
Upon filing a WCB claim, a Case Manager will review all the documents submitted by your healthcare providers, your account of the incident leading to the work-related injury, and any documents provided by our employer from their investigation. All these documents can be accessed in the Work Safe BC portal, allowing each injured member to view any information related to their file.
Sometimes, the job description our employer submits may not match the actual tasks we perform daily, or the reported injury occurrence may not align with the workers’ submissions. In such cases of conflicting statements, the assigned WorkSafe BC Case Manager may request a job site visit to better understand the work performed, take photographs, or gain a general understanding of the work area to help clarify the work descriptions provided.
Furthermore, any worker with an ongoing claim can request WCB to conduct a job site visit to help explain body movements, demonstrate the repetitive movement during the workday, or show how certain tasks such as lifting and carrying parcels may lead to the reported work-related injury.
The Work Safe BC Case Manager will coordinate with the member and the employer to schedule a time and date to observe the work floor and job duties. When this visit is scheduled, it’s crucial to inform the Local Office to arrange for Union Representation during this visit. Union Representation can assist in explaining task processes, route structures, and provide overall support to workers with their claim. While Canada Post may sometimes notify the Local of the job site visit as a courtesy, this isn’t always the case. It largely depends on the management team and the Local’s working relationship with them. Therefore, it’s always best practice to reach out to our Local office to inform them of the WCB job site visit and arrange Union Representation.
Remember to always report work-related injuries!
In Solidarity,
Raylene Marshall