December 2022

FRANÇAIS | ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ

Sprains and strains can happen to any worker, but those who perform regular, physical job tasks are especially at risk. Construction workers, nurses, and heavy equipment operators are examples of jobs where workers are more susceptible to sprains and strains.

In 2021, the most common causes for strains and sprains in workplaces across the Northwest Territories and Nunavut were overexertion (28%), bodily reactions (14%), and falls on the same level (11%). During that period, more than 61% of overexertion incidents resulted in a sprain or strain injury.

Those who work behind a desk are not immune to sprains and strains! The ergonomics of a workstation can prevent these injuries. Neglecting ergonomics will lead to bad posture, which could result in sprained ligaments or strained muscles and tendons. 

As an employer, you can take a few steps to mitigate the risks of sprains and strains in the workplace:

• Make sure your staff has access to suitable personal protective equipment when they have to carry heavy or awkward loads.
• Provide to each worker with a workstation that can be adapted with ergonomics.
• Ensure workers receive training to mitigate workplace hazards (don’t forget to clearly identify risks!).
• Workers who stand for long periods of time must be provided with relief devices, like anti-fatigue mats or footrests.

To learn more about preventing sprains and strains this winter, see WSCC’s latest Safety Spotlight.

Working on or travelling over frozen water is a common practice in the north. It’s such a common part of life in the north that during the long winter, it can be easy to forget basic safety measures.

Before you send workers out onto a surface that was liquid only a few weeks earlier, make sure you follow a few precautionary steps:

• Complete a hazard assessment: Every worker involved should know what the hazards are and how to minimize them. Clear rescue procedures and emergency plans must be communicated to anyone working on ice.
• Thickness is the way to success: If possible, test the thickness of ice to ensure it can support the weight of the vehicle or machinery that will be used. Ice strength can be influenced by factors such as cracks, air temperature over the past few days, and exposure to sun.
• Colour is one possible indicator: The colour of the ice is one factor that can help you evaluate its strength. Usually, clear blue ice is the strongest. White, opaque ice has air in it, and its strength will depend on its density. If it’s grey, stay away! Grey ice indicates the presence of water due to thawing, meaning you cannot rely on the surface to support a load.
• Keep your distance: When driving on ice, maintain a distance of 30 meters between vehicles. And forget about what you’ve always been told about seat belts: don’t buckle up when you are driving on ice. Finally, slow down when water depth and ice thickness decreases.

Click here to learn more about basic safety when working on or near ice surfaces.

The deadline for submitting Annual Payroll Report (APR) is February 28, 2023. You can submit your APR as early as January 1, 2023.

Don’t forget that you have to submit an APR even if you are reporting zero (0) payroll. Any submissions received after February 28 will receive a penalty equal to 15% of your previous year’s assessment.

Review your Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Questions – Safe Workplace Program

Your company’s status in the Safe Workplace program will be determined by your answers to the OHS questions in your APR. The person who manages OHS for your company should provide the answers to the OHS questions. The complete set of OHS questions is in Section 4 of the Guide to Completing Annual Payroll Reporting.

For support answering the OHS questions, contact us today. If you need technical support with WSCC Connect, see the WSCC Connect Help page or contact the Help Desk toll-free at 1-844-238-5008.

This year, the average provisional assessment rate will hold at $2.40 per $100 assessable payroll.

While the average base rate remains unchanged, most employers will see their rates rise or fall, based on the claims experience of their industry group or ‘subclass’.

In setting Assessment Rates, the WSCC considers what is sustainable for claim costs, reflective of industry experience, responsive to claims experience trends, and fair to employers.

Injury prevention, and improvements in return to work outcomes to reduce claims costs, are what make the biggest difference in the rates employers pay. The WSCC is working to support employers to create and maintain strong safety programs and improve return to work outcomes.

Employers can access their individual subclass or group rates for all industries for the upcoming year through WSCC Connect. You can view current and historical rates by Class & Subclass and by Specific Industry.

Deadline:

Personal Optional Coverage

Due on December 31, 2022

Reminder: Business owners, partners, registered directors, or self-employed people do not automatically receive WSCC coverage through their employment. If this is your situation and you want to receive the same benefits as other workers in case of workplace disease or injury, you need to sign up for WSCC’s Personal Optional Coverage.

The deadline to submit your 2023 Personal Optional Coverage is December 31, 2022. Coverage must be renewed each year. The coverage period can be from one month up to one full year. 

Click here to view and fill out the Personal Optional Coverage form. The completed form can be sent to either our Nunavut or NWT office, by email or by fax: 

• NWT: 1-800-661-0792 or employer@wscc.nt.ca

• NU: 1-877-404-4407 or employernu@wscc.nu.ca

WSCC Office Closures

WSCC Offices will be closed on Thursday, December 22, and will reopen on Tuesday, January 3, 2022.

To report a serious workplace injury or incident, call 1-800-661-0792.

To report unsafe work, use our online Report Unsafe Work service on WSCC Connect.