When starting a business there is always a long checklist of tasks to complete — and it’s important that worker safety and workers’ compensation insurance are a part of that list. Planning ahead and completing all the required documentation early not only helps you prevent work-related injuries or illnesses, it gives you assurance that you’re covered should something happen.
In B.C., WorkSafeBC is the exclusive insurer for workers’ compensation. It’s responsible for administering work-related injury, illness, and disease compensation claims as well as promoting and enforcing workplace health and safety requirements.
Is it mandatory to register my small business with WorkSafeBC?
In B.C., you’re legally required to register your business with WorkSafeBC if you:
- Employ and pay workers or unregistered subcontractors on a regular, casual, or contract basis
- Are a homeowner and hire someone to work in or around your home (e.g., child care, landscaping)
Learn more about who does and doesn’t need WorkSafeBC coverage.
What insurance is available if I’m self-employed?
If you’re self-employed or a proprietor or partner in a partnership, you aren’t automatically covered by WorkSafeBC but may be eligible to apply for Personal Optional Protection (POP).
POP is an optional insurance plan designed to cover your income loss if you’re injured at work. While a work-related injury or illness can be devastating to both you and your family, it can take an even heavier toll if you don’t have enough insurance to cover basic living expenses.
If you’re registered for POP, you’ll receive the medical care you need to recover should you become ill or injured as a result of your work. This includes appointments with physicians and specialists if required, as well as lab and x-ray services, medical supplies, and prescription drugs.
Should you need assistance getting back to work, you may also receive vocational support, such as assessment and planning, counselling, skills development, and placement assistance.
What else should I know about WorkSafeBC?
Free health and safety advice
Gain access to expert advice on health, safety, and injury prevention to help make your workplace safer and reduce your insurance premiums. WorkSafeBC has a wealth of information available on their website, worksafebc.com, to support you in setting up a health and safety program for your business.
You can also call WorkSafeBC’s Prevention Information Line at 1.888.621.7233 (toll-free) to get help with:
- General workplace health and safety questions or concerns
- Information about Occupational Health and Safety Regulation requirements
- Reports of bullying and harassment
- Requests for a worksite consultation
Access your account information 24/7
You can access your account information, 24 hours a day, seven days a week via worksafebc.com. Whether you’re looking to report an incident, submit your payroll information, or change your address, just log on to your account on worksafebc.com whenever it’s convenient for you.
Collective liability
All the money you pay as an individual or as a business for workers’ compensation insurance is pooled together with the money of the other people and businesses in your industry. This means that all claims by injured workers are funded from this pot of money — you’ll never have to bear the full cost of a claim alone.
Discount rewards for safety
The safer you are, the less you pay. If your claims costs are low, you can earn discounts of up to 50 percent on your insurance rate. But if you have high claims costs relative to other employers or businesses in your industry, you could be liable to pay as much as a 100 percent more on your rate.
Not just about financial compensation
WorkSafeBC staff can also assist you in setting up modified work programs to help you or your employees safely return to work and productive life after an injury.
Money dedicated to workers’ compensation
WorkSafeBC doesn’t operate to make a profit, so the premiums you pay go entirely toward funding the workers’ compensation system for B.C. Any surplus funds from operations are returned to employers through rate reductions.
Review and appeal options
Don’t agree with a WorkSafeBC decision? You can appeal to the Review Division, which provides impartial reviews of decisions made by WorkSafeBC. If you still don’t agree with the decision, you can appeal to the Workers’ Compensation Appeal Tribunal, a body independent of WorkSafeBC.
Help shape WorkSafeBC policy
WorkSafeBC welcomes your input into the workers’ compensation system. To respond to an upcoming policy proposal or survey, or learn about upcoming public hearings, see the Law & Policy section of worksafebc.com or visit WorkSafeBC’s Engagement Hub.
Helpful resources
Visit the worksafebc.com to find out more about: