WORKERS COMPENSATION BOARD 6951 Westminster Highway Richmond, BC V7C 1C6 Mailing address: P.O. Box 5350 Vancouver, BC V6B 5L5 Workers in virtually all industries in BC are protected by the Workers’Compensation Act, which is administered by the Workers’Compensation Board. The Act provides financial, medical and rehabilitation assistance to workers who become disabled by occupational injury or disease, and empowers the WCB to make and enforce accident prevention, industrial hygiene and first aid regulations for the work force. Compensation under the Act includes:
- payment for time lost from work
- medical aid
- awards for permanent disabilities
- physical and vocational rehabilitation services
- pensions to dependents of workers killed on the job
- counselling and placement services to dependents
The WCB also administers The Criminal Injury Compensation Act on behalf of the Ministry of the Solicitor General. The criminal injury program compensates victims and immediate family members for any of 56 criminal offences set out in the Act and those injured while assisting police officers. The WCB may grant compensation in the form of a lump sum payment and/or a periodic award.
Although provincially legislated, the WCB is funded entirely by assessments on industries covered by the Act. To receive benefits, injuries should be reported to the employer as soon as possible after the occurrence; the employer must then report the injury to the WCB within three days. Check the telephone directory white pages under Workers' Compensation Board. The WCB also has an Internet Web Site at http://www.wcb.bc.ca. This site provides up-to-date information on all aspects of the WCB and its programs and includes a wealth of resource material.
273-2266 (Richmond) FAX 276-3191 1-800-661-2112 (Toll free) Home Page http://www.wcb.bc.ca