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SMALL BUSINESS MONTH - SUPPLEMENT TO THE WINNIPEG FREE PRESS - THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2016
REPORTING WORKPLACE INJURIES KEY TO RECOVERY, RETURN TO WORK
W hen a worker is injured on the job, who should notify the Workers Compensation Board (WCB) of Manitoba? Not sure? You’re not alone. In a 2015 omnibus survey, only 27 per cent of Manitobans said they believe a worker should report a workplace injury to the WCB while 34 per cent said they think it’s an employer’s job. Additionally, many workers aren’t even sure whether or not they’re covered by the WCB in the first place. Confused yet? That’s why the WCB is running an awareness campaign to remind Manitobans to report workplace injuries to the WCB. “Employers and workers need to be aware of their rights and responsibilities when someone is injured at work so that the workers’ compensation system in Manitoba can do what it’s supposed to do,” says Warren Preece, director of communications at the WCB. The campaign ads highlight what to do if you’re hurt at work as well as the benefits of reporting injuries to the WCB: expanded healthcare services, paying wages while the worker is off work and getting workers back to health and work sooner.
“We want all parties – employers, workers and healthcare providers – to let us know there’s been an injury,” Preece explains. “When injuries are reported promptly, workers can return to health and work more quickly and we can minimize the disruption to their lives and to Manitoba workplaces.” Also new this year, the WCB has launched an interactive online tool that helps workers find out if they are eligible for WCB coverage. The tool, available at www.wcb.mb.ca/campaigns, helps workers identify in which industry they work and whether or not they are eligible for benefits if they’re ever hurt on the job. “Everyone has a responsibility within the workers’ compensation system. We want to make sure every Manitoban knows theirs,” Preece adds. For more resources on how to report an injury – including web videos in seven languages – visit www.wcb.mb.ca/campaigns. To request free workplace posters, brochures or other information on how to report an injury, email wcb@wcb.mb.ca. ❚
Employers and workers need to be aware of their rights and responsibilities when someone is injured on the job in Manitoba.
YEARS
Here to Help Since 1916
Report Workplace Injuries to the WCB
We’re here to help connect injured workers to healthcare, cover lost wages and plan for a faster, safer return to work. Employers must report workplace injuries to the WCB within five business days.
204.954.4100 | 1.855.954.4321 | wcb.mb.ca
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