Role of the Workers’ Compensation Board: Investigate, inspect, educate, and compensate

Workers’ Compensation Boards are independent agents that enforce provincial mandates in the area of workers’ health and safety and compensation. WorkSafeBC is the agent for WCB in British Columbia and mandates in four  ways:

• inspect and assess a workplace for safety and health concerns
• investigate injury claims and incidents
• educate employers and employees through programs and when necessary assess penalties for infractions
• compensate workers for time lost due to injury

Workers’ Compensation Boards have the legislative authority to assess penalties for contravention of health and safety regulations. The employer is ultimately held responsible for the actions of their workers and supervisors, although this does not relieve workers or supervisors of their responsibilities under the regulations. Both workers and supervisors can be held liable for the penalties prescribed under legislation.

Under the legislation, through its officers, the board is charged with the responsibility of inspecting places of employment. Subsequently the board may issue orders and directions specifying the means for preventing injuries and industrial diseases.

Officers of the WCB are responsible for investigating accidents and the causes of industrial diseases, for assisting and advising employers and employees in the development of industrial health and safety programs, and for educating persons employed in industry about industrial health and safety.