Adding Diseases Caused by Communicable Viral Pathogens, Including COVID-19, to Schedule 1 of the Workers Compensation Act

Source: WorkSafeBC

The Policy, Regulation and Research Division is releasing a discussion paper on adding diseases caused by communicable viral pathogens, including COVID-19, to Schedule 1 of the Workers Compensation Act with options and draft amendments to stakeholders for comment.

If a disease is identified in Schedule 1 and the worker was employed in the corresponding process or industry listed in the Schedule, then WorkSafeBC presumes the cause of the disease is work-related, unless the contrary is proved.

Proposed deletions are identified with a strikethrough and additions are identified in bold.

Discussion paper

There are a number of ways for stakeholders to provide feedback on the options and draft amendments:

(a) Comment link: Through the Comment link below, you will be able to provide immediate feedback by completing an online submission form.

Please note: Once you click the “submit” button at the bottom of the form you cannot access it again to make additional comments. Therefore, if you wish to make detailed comments in the feedback section, you may want to draft your comments using a word processing format and then cut and paste them into the submission form.

Comment

Alternatively, submissions can be submitted as follows:

(b) Email: policy@worksafebc.com
(c) Mail: Louise Kim
Senior Manager
Policy, Regulation and Research Division
WorkSafeBC
P.O. Box 5350, Stn. Terminal
Vancouver BC V6B 5L5

The consultation period for this item will end at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, June 12, 2020 (consultation has been expedited and will end on June 12th, in order for the Board of Directors to consider the proposed amendments at its July meeting). The Board of Directors will consider stakeholder feedback before making a decision on the draft amendments.

Please note that all comments become part of the Policy, Regulation and Research Division’s database and may be published, including the identity of organizations and those participating on behalf of organizations. The identity of those who have participated on their own behalf will be kept confidential according to the provisions of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.