WSBC FAQ's/Covid/Bill 5 with updates incoming for Bill 41
Understanding Bill 5, Workers Compensation Amendment Act, 2022.
New standards are to be introduced under the Workers Compensation Act that will require all asbestos abatement contractors to be licensed to operate in B.C. It will also require workers and employers who perform this type of work to complete mandatory safety training and certification.
Asbestos abatement work involves: assessing, removing, repairing, transporting and disposing of materials that may contain asbestos. This is to reduce death amongst workers, dealing with asbestos, as there were contributing factors in the 53 of the 161 workplace deaths due to asbestos exposure, in 2021.
When do you submit a COVID Claim?
The Board has advised that employers are required to submit a Form 7 if COVID-19 is work-related. The Board has confirmed that not all positive COVID cases are reportable. The exposure to the worker must be work-related.
As per WorkSafeBC the following conditions must be met: The nature of the worker's employment created a risk of contracting the disease significantly greater than the ordinary exposure of the public at large, A symptom cluster establishes the existence of COVID-19 and there is a medical diagnosis.
Do I need to have a policy if workers are working from home?
If staff is working from home, ensure that there is a policy in place that addresses health and safety for the home office and ways to prevent injuries. In addition, site inspections should be performed to ensure compliance and that the staff member is safe from hazards.