Health & Safety
Your employer’s responsibilities after a workplace accident or injury depend on how serious the incident is, and employees may be entitled to support and compensation through the Workers’ Compensation Board if they are unable to work.
In accidents where:
A person has been killed or an accidental explosion occurred (regardless of injuries): Your employer must notify the Department of Labour and Advanced Education within 24 hours.
A fire or accident has occurred where an employee has been seriously injured: Your employer must notify the Department of Labour and Advanced Education within 7 days.
The Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) provides compensation to employees who are unable to work due to an injury on the job through workplace injury insurance. Payments to the workplace injury insurance should be made by you and your employer throughout your employment (usually as part of the deductions on your paycheque).
The WCB can provide wage replacement benefits, support for rehabilitation, return to work assistance, and other benefits where an employee is injured to the extent that they are no longer able to work.
If you have been injured on the job, the first step is to report your injury to your employer, seek medical attention, then report to the Worker’s Compensation Board. The WCB does not give a deadline for reporting a workplace injury but recommends that employees and employers should begin the claims process as quickly as possible after the injury occurs. Once the report is received by the WCB, your claim has been registered and will be investigated by a caseworker with the WCB.
If you have questions about workplace injuries or would like to file a claim, visit the Workers’ Compensation Board website or call the Integrated Service Center at 1-800-870-3331 or 491-8999.
The Halifax WAC typically does not provide legal information or advice about Workers’ Compensation Board claims. The best place to go with questions is the Office of the Worker Counsellor.