Need help with WCB registration? Dealing with and reporting injuries? Dealing with forms?
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business and several private organizations have worked with WorkSafeBC to produce the Small Business Primer—A guide to the WCB. Topic areas covered include:
- Why register with the WCB?
- How can I prevent injuries?
- What do I do if there is a workplace accident?
- How do I report a claim?
For a free copy of the Small Business Primer, email smallbiz@wcb.bc.ca or visit WorkSafeBC Small Business Health and Safety Centre to download.
Why register with WorkSafeBC?
There are two reasons to register—it’s the law, and it also has solid practical benefits.
The legal requirement: Most employers in BC are required by law to register with WorkSafe. There are some exceptions but, generally, if you employ or hire people to work for you, you need to take out coverage. See Page 6 of the Small Business Primer to find out if you need to register.
The benefits: Not only does registration protect you from lawsuit, there are also special benefits for you and your employees, including optional coverage small proprietors and a critical incident response program for workers. There is more. For details see page 5 of the Small Business Primer.
How can I prevent injuries?
Preventing injuries is the best way to minimize your workers compensation premiums. However, your effort to protect staff from harm also says a lot about your commitment to them and can build positive morale. Pages 16-17 of the Small Business Primer contain useful tips on setting up a working safety program. You may also want to consult, How to Implement a Formal Occupational Health and Safety Program. Although having a program is not mandatory, it is a legal requirement to have a Health and Safety committee in a business that has more than 20 workers. Remember, it is also a legal requirement to, at a minimum, have a Health and Safety Representative in businesses with over nine employees but less than 20.
Being aware of your business environment can also aid in the prevention of injuries. Understanding the risks that are associated to your business activities and providing instruction and training on how to properly deal with them and/or injury resulting from those risks is a proactive method of injury prevention. For example, there are regulations outlining the employers’ responsibility to employees working alone, such as tour guides, or dealing with violence in the workplace, such as doormen at a bar.
What do I do if there is a workplace accident?
Your response to a workplace accident will depend on the seriousness of the accident and its impact. The basics include:
- Providing first aid if necessary. Call 911 for serious injuries
- Transport the worker to the nearest medical facility
- Report the incident
However, there are several proactive steps you can take to minimize the impact of an injury on your worker. For further information see pages 18 – 20 of the Small Business Primer.
How do I report a claim?
Reporting an injury claim requires filling out the right forms, and you need to do this within specified time frames. Page 21-22 of the Small Business Primer contains useful information on how and when to report, depending on the seriousness of the injury. Fortunately, you can complete all the needed forms in one process by using the online Incident and Injury Report system on WorkSafeBC.
