WCB accepted 65 per cent of all COVID-19 claims last year

The Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) received more than 600 claims last year related to COVID-19 illnesses, with the organization accepting 65 per cent of those applications as claimable. Saskatchewan workers submitted a total of 623 claims in 2020 related to pandemic-related illnesses, with the WCB accepting 334 claims, disallowing 279 claims, and still working to determine if 10 are valid, according to the organization’s annual report.

Of the accepted claims, 111 resulted in no time lost at work and 223 resulted in time lost. There were zero fatalities.

The WCB denied between 60 per cent and 70 per cent of pandemic-related claims because the workers did not have COVID-19 but submitted applications out of caution, CEO Phillip Germain explained during an online press conference on April 30. Meanwhile, the organization denied other claims because it determined that, while those people did have the virus, they had acquired it outside of work.

While there were claims related to COVID-19 from almost all industries in the province, most applications came from health-care workers, he added.

Highlights of 2020

“Workplace safety remains a vital piece for the Saskatchewan workers and employers, as we realize our economic growth,” said Germain.

Highlights from 2020 versus 2019 showed:

• Number of claims reported: 23,746 / 28,865;

• Number of claims accepted: 17,944 / 21,473;

• No-time loss claims: 10,788 / 13,415;

• Time-loss claims: 7,134 / 8,036;

• Workers covered: 402,306 / 433,622.

Ninety per cent of employers had zero workplace injuries last year, compared to 88 per cent the year before. However, 34 workers died at work last year, compared to 36 fatalities the year before. Most fatalities were due to occupational diseases such as asbestos or cancers, followed by traumatic impacts, motor vehicle collisions, heart attacks, and others.

The trend of workplace deaths over the years has been “quite flat,” ranging from 27 to 48 to 34 fatalities, said Germain. Even with a decrease in total workplace injuries, the number of serious injuries and fatalities has not declined.

“That is something we really struggled with over the last few years, and we can’t figure out why,” he added. “But we are working with industry and partners out there and labour to develop and implement new strategies that we believe will start to reduce serious injuries and fatalities in the province.”

Despite challenges that COVID-19 has presented, WCB continues to meet its vision of eliminating injuries and restoring abilities, said Germain.

“And when we think back not that long ago to 2008, Saskatchewan had the second-highest workplace injury rate in Canada,” he added, “… we’re (now) in the middle of the pack now, around fifth, which is huge considering every other jurisdiction has improved their injury rate as well.”

After 12 years of premium decreases, the WCB kept its 2020 premium the same as two years ago, at $1.17 per $100 assessable earnings. The organization did this, Germain said, to provide economic relief to employers during the pandemic. Even with a relatively high premium value, Saskatchewan still has the third-lowest rate in Canada.

Financial position

Last year was a good year financially for the WCB, which had a funded budget of 112 per cent, compared to 115 per cent the year before, said chief financial officer Crystal Nett. Given how the economy performed, the decline was not that significant.

WCB received $256 million from premium revenues and $77 million from investment revenues, for a total of $333 million. In comparison, those numbers in 2019 were $267 million, $277 million and $544 million, respectively. The projected premium revenue this year is $265 million and projected expenses are $363 million. After other income and losses are factored in, Saskatchewan WCB expects a deficit this year of $1.2 million.

Visit wcbsask.com for more information and to access the annual report.