Worksafe BC Denies Claimants Due Process Part 3
Channel: WCBs are failing Injured Workers
Date: 2015-01-31

Twitter Worksafe BC issues @Worksafe_BC
Blog Worksafe Experience Blog http://sios.ca/worksafe/worksafe.xml
For too long WorksafeBC/WCAT have denied due process when dealing with claims from injured workers.
They have many rules, regulation, procedures etc purporting to deal with claims fairly and appropriately.  Rules, regulations and procedures that are only applied when it suits Worksafe/WCAT's purpose to deny a legitimate claim.
Injured workers have enough stress to deal with when injured, they do not need the stress and bullying tactics Worksafe/WCAT contributing to an already stressful situation.  Worksafe/WCAT practise state sponsored bullying.
The Worksafe/WCAT process is broken and does not work for the worker, employer or the public.  Appeals to the Minister responsible for  Worksafe/WCAT are pointless – the advise from the Honourable Shirley Bond's Office - trust the process.  The  Worksafe/WCAT process is similar to if one is accused of a crime the police and crown prosecutor investigate the charge – add faux facts to support their accusations then convict the person and sentence them to death at the conclusion of the investigation – evidence from the accused is not to be considered and to considered as clutter impeding the process to convict and punish.
Yes death is the result for some when Worksafe/WCAT denies a claim. A woman I knew, injured at work and her obvious injuries denied was so devastated by the refusal of a fair assessment of her claim essential gave up life and her health rapidly spiraled down hill resulting in her death.  Of course hers and other similar deaths do not show in  Worksafe/WCAT records.  That's 1 untimely death I personally know of in the last 4 years.  How many more are there, how many more have suffered unspeakable anguish and hardship because of worksafe/WCAT?
Worksafe knows they are a world class organisation.  I know that because their report into their bungling of the investigation into the sawmill fires in 2012 that resulted in 41 injuries and 4 deaths says they are a world class organisation.  They even provide an evaluation to support their claim.  If one applies a simple metric to the evaluation they rate a bit better than 50% barely a pass - one would expect a world class organisation would do better than that especially when they get to rate themselves. Examples of their self assessment The rules are widely known and understood. 75% One would assume if the rules were understood it would start with they themselves following the rules.  The same generous self assessment for “The regulator is respected by industry and labour and trusted by the general public” 75%.  (Pages 62-63 of WorkSafeBC Review and Action Plan status report released July 01, 2014) I have not found one employer that is satisfied or expressed respect for Worksafe BC. When they hear how much profit Worksafe made in 2013 above the amount needed to set aside for future liabilities $800 million they are shocked and wonder why they have to pay such high premiums and incensed when they learn how much the senior executives absorb of their premiums for themselves. 
The WorkSafeBC Review and Action Plan status report  makes 43 recommendations for changes at worksafe,The changes are primarily specific to their inadequate investigation process – a broken process, other parts of Worksafe are as or more broken.  It is time for a full investigation into Worksafe, an investigation be the people – not hand picked friends of Worksafe and the Minister responsible.
Who Worksafe polled to arrive at their ratings does not include  people I know.  Even with their creative assessment of them selves they could only muster a bit better than 50%.  But they are a world class organisation and doing a good job – we know that because they tell us they are.
The WCAT portion of the Worksafe/WCAT group continues the misrepresentation of the fairness and openness of the system when they claim to be independent of Worksafe.  They can't be be when Worksafe pays their operating costs including their wages.