KITIMAT DRAFT Report

Background
The cost of disability including direct costs such as short-term disability, long-term disability,
total permanent disability and Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) costs as well as indirect
costs such as lost productivity, overtime pay, temporary help and unhappy customers, continues
to climb for BC organizations. Employers have embraced disability management programs (early
return-to-work programs for example) in response to these rising costs and increased legislative
requirements.
But despite supportive cost data and buy-in from employees/unions and a variety of third parties,
workplace return-to-work programs are experiencing mixed successes. Too often these programs
are too narrow in focus, time limited, inconsistent with human rights legislation and many barriers
to return to work are not properly identified or removed.
Historical Perspective
Foreword
There was a time, not that long ago, when workers injured at work were expected to stay at home
and remain off work until they were completely recovered and able to do the full functions of
their job. That ideology changed in the early to mid eighties and the new mentality gained more
momentum as the courts continued to unravel the meaning of the duties under human rights’
legislation.
There were a number of reasons for the change in attitudes. One reason was the amendment
and enforcement of human rights’ legislation as well as in some jurisdictions, the introduction of
statutory re-employment obligations.
The advancement of a body of medical evidence supporting, that for a majority of musculoskeletal
injuries, the best rehabilitation was aggressive physiotherapy and a reintegration into modified
or transitional duties or transitional work. Physicians were of a consensus that for these types of
injuries, excessive bed rest and passive therapy only served to prolong recovery and lead to the
acceleration of degenerative conditions.
DRAFT
Perhaps the most significant reason was, although the economy was generally good, employer
costs regarding insurance and workers’ compensation premiums were spiraling through the roof.
Situational assessment
District of Kitimat 1