This site will look much better in a browser that supports web standards, but it is accessible to any browser or Internet device.

WorkSafeBC

banner image
 Legislation Governing Workplaces in B.C.
 
Workers' Compensation in BC

Workers' compensation laws were introduced in BC in 1917 to:

  • Give workers the right to compensation for injuries on the job
  • Give employers immunity from lawsuits filed by injured employees

The laws protect both employees and employers. The system is supported financially by employers who pay regular premiums.

More information about the history of workers' compensation in BC is available online.

Workers Compensation Act

The Workers Compensation Act (WCA) created WorkSafeBC (the Workers' Compensation Board of B.C.) and sets out WorkSafeBC's jurisdiction and its authority to make regulations, inspect workplaces, issue orders, and impose penalties. More information about the history and mandate of WorkSafeBC is available online.

The WCA also explains the rights and responsibilities of employers and workers with respect to health and safety. Excerpts and summaries of the WCA are available online.

Occupational Health and Safety Regulation

The Occupational Health and Safety Regulation (OHS Regulation) sets out legal requirements that must be met by all workplaces under the inspectional jurisdiction of WorkSafeBC. This includes most workplaces in B.C., except mines and federally chartered workplaces such as banks, interprovincial and international transportation, telephone systems, and radio, television, and cable services.

You can view and search the OHS Regulation on our web site.

Section 115 of the Workers Compensation Act requires employers to keep a copy of OHS Regulation as well as the WCA itself readily available for review by workers.

 
 

You can return to the Top of this page