2004/05 - 2006/07 Service Plan -- Ministry of Skills Development and Labour

Goals, Objectives, Strategies, and Results — Continued

Goal 3: Safe and healthy workplaces and a workers' compensation system that is responsive to the needs of employees and employers alike.

Core Business Area:: Workers' Compensation.

As an independent Crown agency, the Workers' Compensation Board (WCB) identifies and measures performance against its own major objectives. This includes measures for the recently established Review Division, which is the first level of appeal for workers' compensation matters in the revamped appeal system. Please visit the Workers' Compensation Board web site at www.worksafebc.com to view the agency's annual reports, statistical reports and strategic plan.

The data below refer to the Ministry of Skills Development and Labour workers' compensation responsibilities, which include the Workers' Advisers Office, the Employers' Advisers Office and the Workers' Compensation Appeal Tribunal.

The Workers' Compensation Appeal Tribunal (WCAT) became operational in March 2003. WCAT is the second and final level of appeal in the new system, which was introduced to ensure fair, timely and consistent decisions. WCAT has an objective of eliminating, within three years, the backlog of appeals it acquired from the Workers' Compensation Review Board and the WCB Appeal Division. Over the coming year, WCAT will develop other measurable objectives with respect to adjudication activity. These objectives and measures can only be accurately identified when the volume of appeals received from the WCB and the WCB Review Division under the new system matures and stabilizes.

The workers' compensation responsibilities of the Ministry of Skills Development and Labour are most likely to be impacted by the activities of its two primary stakeholders — the provincial government and the Workers' Compensation Board — which provide the context for the ministry's work. The prevention activities of the workers' and employers' advisers have the potential to facilitate WCB processes, but their ability to provide adequate assistance depends upon budgetary support from government. Most services to workers and employers are provided by the Board itself, and the quality of decision-making at the Board level has a significant effect on the number of appeals that proceed to WCAT. The Ministry of Skills Development and Labour will continue to monitor progress made at the Workers' Compensation Board and the Workers' Compensation Appeal Tribunal as a result of its recent restructuring, and will maintain support for the workers' and employers' advisers.

This year the ministry has removed one objective and its associated strategies from this core business area, to better focus on areas of ministry responsibility. The objective of fewer workplace injuries, illnesses and deaths is addressed by the Workers' Compensation Board and is more appropriate to its business activities.

However, as the Minister responsible for the Workers Compensation Act, Graham Bruce is currently considering the report of the Forest Safety Task Force, a task force of forest industry and WCB representatives established in August 2003 to address the unacceptable rate of death and serious injury in the forest industry, with a view to determining an appropriate course of action.

Objective 1:: Better compliance with the Workers Compensation Act and the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation by providing responsive, independent and expert advice, assistance and representation to workers and employers.

Performance Measure	2002/03 Base (actual)	2003/04 Base (estimate)	2004/05 Target	2005/06 Target	2006/07 Target
Inquiries responded to by Workers' Advisers Office¹	142,062	133,850²	130,500	127,500	126,900
Advice/assistance provided by Employers' Advisers Office³	11,231	9,500	8,500	10,000	10,500


¹	Documented brief service advice. Does not include general inquiries.
²	The 2003/04 Base (estimate) dropped significantly from the 2002/03 Base (actual) because appeals activity increased as the backlog was addressed and because changes to the Workers Compensation Act in 2002 and 2003 resulted in more inquiries to the Workers' Advisers Office.
³	Advice and assistance provided to new clients that fully addressed their needs at point of contact. This does not include general inquiries. Results in a Liability Protection Form completed and signed by an Adviser only. Distinct from a File, which generally deals with appeals.

Strategy:: Facilitate workers' and employers' understanding of the workers' compensation system, including appeal processes, by providing information and assistance to workers and employers.

Objective 2:: Decrease number of appeals filed.

Performance Measure	2002/03 Base (actual)	2003/04 Base (estimate)	2004/05 Target	2005/06 Target	2006/07 Target
Workers' Advisors Office public education seminar participation¹	257	450	290	310	350
Employers' Advisers Office information and skills development seminar participation²	4,801	4,000	3,600	4,500	4,700


¹	Individual participants. Includes injured workers, worker representatives, constituency assistants and other public groups who attend WAO seminars on using the workers' compensation system. Changes to the Workers Compensation Act in 2002 and 2003 explain the higher rate of seminar participation in 2003/04. Targets assume a modest increase due to anticipated growth in employment rates, particularly in the construction industry.
²	Individual participants. Includes employers, workers, safety committee members and professionals who attend EAO seminars on various components of workers' compensation legislation. Changes to the Workers Compensation Act in 2002 and 2003 explain the higher rate of seminar participation in 2002/03. The 2003/04 base and targets for subsequent years are based on regular levels of seminar activity in years without significant changes to the legislation.

Strategy:: Facilitate workers' and employers' understanding of the workers' compensation system, including appeal processes.

Objective 3: Increase efficiency of appeal system.

Performance Measure	2002/03 Base (actual)	2003/04 Base (estimate)	2004/05 Target	2005/06 Target	2006/07 Target
Backlog of appeals acquired from old system at implementation of WCAT¹	22,425	11,390²	5,695	0	0


¹	Over the coming year, WCAT will develop other measurable objectives with respect to adjudication activity. These objectives and measures can only be accurately identified when the volume of appeals received from the WCB and the WCB Review Division under the new system matures and stabilizes.
²	Based on last reported figures (October 31, 2003).

Strategies:: 1. Streamline appeal system.; 2. Eliminate appeal backlog.