Published on: March 31, 2020

Richmond, B.C. — WorkSafeBC is continuing to provide services to both workers and employers during the COVID-19 pandemic. While WorkSafeBC offices are closed to visitors, staff are available to help workers and employers by telephone and online. In addition, WorkSafeBC’s prevention activities continue.

Occupational health and safety

• WorkSafeBC is continuing to support workers and employers during the COVID-19 situation. Workers or employers who have questions or concerns about workplace health and safety can call WorkSafeBC’s Prevention Information Line, toll-free, at: 1.888.621.7233. The line can be reached 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• WorkSafeBC’s prevention team is continuing to conduct inspections and provide education and consultation services to employers, including those related to COVID-19 exposure risks, and general occupational health and safety requirements. The prevention team is practising physical distancing measures when on site or in the community.
• A new guide called Preventing exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace has been released for employers. This guide contains questions employers should ask themselves to better understand the health and safety concerns in the workplace raised by COVID-19.
• During this unprecedented public health challenge, WorkSafeBC is providing online resources to help workers and employers stay safe. These resources are available at: covid-19-updates.

Support for injured workers

• Workers can continue to report a workplace injury or disease during this time, and can do so online or by phone. WorkSafeBC is continuing to register, adjudicate, and make payments on new time-lost claims.
• For workers with an existing claim, WorkSafeBC is continuing to pay approved wage-loss and pension benefits as scheduled.
• Health care expense reimbursements continue as they can be submitted through WorkSafeBC’s online services portal.
• Workers who have filed a claim can use WorkSafeBC’s online services to manage their claim.
• Workers can call WorkSafeBC’s Claims Call Centre at 1.888.967.5377 for assistance.

Quarterly premium payment deferred without penalty

• For businesses that report payroll and make payments on a quarterly basis, WorkSafeBC is postponing the payment deadline for Q1 2020, without penalty, until June 30, 2020.
• This deferral is being made in light of the uncertainty and challenges many employers are facing during the COVID-19 outbreak. This deferral is also available to Personal Optional Protection (POP) coverage holders.
• For employers that are able to make their quarterly payment by April 20, 2020, they can make payments online.
• Employers who report payroll on an annual basis do not need to report their 2020 payroll or pay their 2020 premiums until March 2021.

Review Division

• For any party that disagrees with a decision made by WorkSafeBC on a claim, assessment, or health and safety enforcement matter, they can continue to request a review of the decision from the Review Division.
• WorkSafeBC’s Review Division is continuing to receive requests for review and is completing as many decisions as possible during the COVID-19 outbreak. However, in-person hearings are not being conducted during the COVID-19 situation. WorkSafeBC will be contacting anyone with oral hearings scheduled to discuss next steps.
• More information is available here.

As more information and resources about COVID-19 become available, WorkSafeBC will continue to update the COVID-19 section of the website. Additional news from WorkSafeBC and workplace health and safety resources can be obtained by following WorkSafeBC on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.

About WorkSafeBC

WorkSafeBC engages workers and employers to prevent injury, disease, and disability in B.C. When work-related injuries or diseases occur, WorkSafeBC provides compensation and support to people in their recovery, rehabilitation, and safe return to work. We serve approximately 2.4 million workers and 245,000 employers across B.C.

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For more information, contact:

Media Relations, WorkSafeBC
Email: media@worksafebc.com
Tel: 604.276.5157