When a worker contracts COVID-19 as a direct result of their employment, they are entitled to compensation if the following conditions are met:
- Evidence that the worker has contracted COVID-19, either: …a medical diagnosis in a medical report, or…non-medical factual evidence where other evidence establishes the existence of COVID-19.
- The nature of the worker’s employment created a risk of contracting the disease significantly greater than the ordinary exposure risk of the public at large.
A work-related example would be an acute care hospital worker, who is treating patients who have been diagnosed with COVID-19. In these cases, they are at greater risk than the general public of contracting the disease.
Claims submitted for COVID-19 contracted through a work-related exposure are adjudicated on a case-by-case basis. WorkSafeBC will look at details such as whether the worker has a diagnosis of COVID-19, their symptoms, and their employment activities.
If you believe your employee contracted COVID-19 while at work, you should file a Form 7 to determine if the employee is eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. When do I report a case of COVID-19 to WorkSafeBC?
Report it if it meets the specific criteria. As shown in the examples, if your employees are at significantly greater risk than the general public of contracting the virus while at work, and the employee loses time from work after contracting the virus, report the claim to WorkSafeBC. However, if your employees are not at greater risk than the general public of contracting the infection, you do not need to file a report unless WorkSafeBC requests a report.