“Having a solid funding position is important to ensure continued benefits and programs to help workers who are injured at work,” said WCB chairperson Gord Dobrowolsky. “As well, employers can be sure they are protected from lawsuits and that they will continue to have an effective, efficient compensation system.” The WCB’s 2020 results include: The workplace total injury rate (total number of new workplace injury claims reported to, and accepted by, the WCB in the year) in 2020 decreased to 4.46 injuries per 100 workers. This is a 10 per cent decrease from the 2019 total injury rate of 4.95 per 100 workers. The 2020 time loss injury rate (total number of new workplace injury claims reported to, and accepted by, the WCB in the year that resulted in time lost from work) decreased to 1.78 injuries per 100 workers, down from the 2019 rate of 1.86 injuries per 100 workers. This represents a decrease of 0.08 per 100 workers, or of 4.3 per cent, from the 2019 rate. The 202
By Mitchell Blair
Apr 30, 2021 | 2:27 PM
There was no significant increase in claims to the Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board, even considering the pandemic was in full swing last year. CEO Phil Germain says over 330 COVID-19 claims were submitted and about 65 per cent were accepted. Of the remainder, about 75 per cent didn’t have the virus. Their tests came back negative, but they had submitted a claim to be proactive. Of those that had COVID but weren’t accepted, there transmission was traced back to a source that wasn’t work related.
Germain suggests if there is any silver lining to the pandemic, it’s that it seems to have heightened the sense of managing safety in the workplace. He believes it could be a factor in 90 per cent of workplaces achieving the goal of zero injuries or fatalities last year. It was 88 per cent in 2019.
COVID-19 likely played a role in the drop in workplace injuries in 2020.
Author of the article: Heather Polischuk
Publishing date: Apr 27, 2021 • 2 hours ago • 4 minute read • Labour Relations and Workplace Safety Minister Don Morgan, left, was joined by Workers Compensation Board Chairperson Gord Dobrowolsky to announce a provincial fatalities and serious injuries strategy at the Legislative Building in Regina in December 2019. Photo by TROY FLEECE /Regina Leader-Post
Article content
While COVID-19 has added to the toll of workplace injury, the pandemic has also likely played a role in reducing the injury rate overall, says a spokesman for the Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB).
COVID-19 likely played a role in the drop in workplace injuries in 2020.
Author of the article: Heather Polischuk
Publishing date: Apr 27, 2021 • 5 hours ago • 4 minute read • Labour Relations and Workplace Safety Minister Don Morgan, left, was joined by Workers Compensation Board Chairperson Gord Dobrowolsky to announce a provincial fatalities and serious injuries strategy at the Legislative Building in Regina in December 2019. Photo by TROY FLEECE /Regina Leader-Post
Article content
While COVID-19 has added to the toll of workplace injury, the pandemic has also likely played a role in reducing the injury rate overall, says a spokesman for the Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB).
In 2020, the Time Loss injury rate decreased to 1.78 per 100 workers, a decrease of 0.08 per 100 workers, or by 4.3 per cent, from the 2019 rate of 1.86 per 100 workers. The 2020 Time Loss injury rate is the lowest rate in more than a decade. “Although the reductions in the Total injury and Time Loss injury rates are a step in the right direction,” said Minister Responsible for WCB, Don Morgan, “every workplace injury in Saskatchewan is one too many. We cannot become complacent in our efforts to make all workplaces safe.” Claims have also decreased: • Total claims accepted decreased by 16 per cent to 17,944 in 2020 from 21,473 in 2019. The total number of workers covered decreased to 402,306 in 2020 from 433,622 in 2019.