Managing your WorkSafeBC Insurance Costs

Ensure that your workers are well educated in what recovery at work and return to work looks like so there is less of a learning curve when they are actually injured and trying to navigate the system. If they buy-in and understand what to do, it should help communication from all parties with WorkSafeBC. Second, if you follow-up with a case manager and you are not hearing back from them, you may improve those chances by being as detailed as you can when you leave messages so they best know how to answer your question when they respond. You can always ask to speak to case manager’s manager. To do this, ask for their phone number and do not worry that you will upset them, as this is standard protocol, and everyone is well aware and supportive of that approach, as needed. Last, contact the Claims Nurse Line for guidance. This is an employer support line that is managed by a registered nurse team of experts in occupational injury and return to work programs. The nurses provide a clinical perspective that is separate from claims entitlement and prevention issues and focuses on early intervention and offers of modified work. Phone: 604.279.8155 (Lower Mainland) Toll-free: 1.877.633.6233 Hours of operation: Monday to Friday (excluding holidays), 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. If none of these options are working, try the Employer’s Advisors office to see if they can better support you.

You can see when the reports were last published and updated by scrolling down on the main screen. Some reports update at different frequencies and some are dependant on end of year statistics that may lag into July of the year following to allow employers to report and reconcile their accounts with WorkSafeBC. If you have a particular report that you would like more recent data for, you can contact [email protected] to see when it is expected to next be updated.

The maximum potential savings section shows what could be saved with the 50 percent discount on the base rate. To drive down costs, you should prevent injuries and illness and improve loss-time results, which often drive claims costs. This is easier said then done, so you can use the EHSPTK to analyze where some of the greatest challenges are and then build a strategy to drive the costs down. You can contact Megan Martin at [email protected] or use the services of the the Employer’s Advisors office if you would like help with navigating the tool. For advice and support, contact us for confidential help from a Safety Advisor.

As soon as the first year (with payroll) hits the 3-year window, ER will commence. For instance, if the company started in 2020, the earliest ER starts is 2022.

This is where the history comes in. Once the claim costs leave the 3-year window, it will get bucketed with the history (also referred to as experience rating factor).

Improvements may be observed as soon as the current year hits the 3-year window for rate calculation. For instance, if there are noticeable improvements in claims costs in 2022, the first year 2022 will appear in the 3-year window for rate calculation is in 2024.

The following resource may be helpful: Recovery & work - WorkSafeBC. Ensure workers are well educated in what recovery at work and return to work looks like so there is less of a learning curve when they are actually injured and trying to navigate the system. If they buy in and understand what to do, it should help communication from all parties with WorkSafeBC and improve their chances of following the program as you have outlined it. Second, positive safety culture at the workplace as supported through a psychologically safe work environment will help. Show care and concern to the worker to let them know they are valued and that you are trying to help aid their recovery and protect their wages by offering them modified work duties. The supervisor is a great tool to help maintain the connection with the worker. Third, a WorkSafeBC Claims nurse line deals with all sorts of questions from employers. They may be able to answer or provide some guidance to you. You can also reach the Claims Nurse Line by phone: 604.279.8155 (Lower Mainland) or toll-free: 1.877.633.6233. Hours of operation: Monday to Friday (excluding holidays), 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This is an employer support line that is managed by a registered nurse team of experts in occupational injury and return to work programs. The nurses provide a clinical perspective that is separate from claims entitlement and prevention issues and focuses on early intervention and offers of modified work. The employer’s advisors office may be able to better support a review of your practices and offer workable solutions. And third-party support is available from companies such as MSABC Associate Member TeksMed.

Dampening measures apply to disability award payments in much the same way as they apply to temporary wage loss payments. For more information on dampening measures, see our webinar on Managing Your WorkSafeBC Insurance Costs.