November 2022

FRANÇAIS | ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ

It’s that time of the year again. It’s getting darker and snowy – the perfect conditions for causing slips, trips, and falls. 

Painful sprain and strains are often caused by slips, trips, and falls, which happen more frequently during winter months when walking surfaces are slippery. These accidents are a major source of workplace injury in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut each year.

By taking a few precautions, you can avoid a fall that might hurt your extremities and your ego.

• If the sidewalks or streets are covered with ice, use cleats or other traction devices on your footwear.
• Take your time when you walk! Avoiding rushing will allow you to focus on the conditions.
• Take shorter strides - it will be easier to maintain your balance.
• Be careful when carrying things outside - by keeping one hand free, you’ll have an easier time to keep your balance or break a fall.
• Wear footwear that is made for extreme cold weather. Regular footwear often loses traction in extreme temperatures.

To learn more about preventing sprains and strains this winter, visit WSCC’s Safety Spotlight. You can also find useful information about avoiding slips, trips, and falls on our website.

Cold temperatures are also back. It’s vital to dress for the temperature when working outside to avoid frostbite and hypothermia.

It doesn’t take long for extreme cold to become a hazard. It only takes 30 seconds for exposed skin to freeze with a 48 km per hour wind. Exposed skin and the tissues below can develop frostbite, meaning blood circulation is affected. Severe cases of frostbite can lead to the development of gangrene and even amputation.

When your body temperature drops below 35°C, hypothermia sets in. This condition can quickly become life-threatening, and you must seek medical help immediately.

Avoid cold temperature injuries by:

• Wearing appropriate clothing and personal protective equipment (PPE). For example, by wearing several layers of clothing instead of just one thick layer, air is captured between your layers, and acts as an insulator. Your first layer (the one that is the closest to the skin) should be synthetic material. 
• Make sure you cover your head by using a hat, a hood, or a balaclava. 
• Check that your footwear and socks are rated for cold weather, as toes can freeze quickly. 
• If your clothing gets wet in temperatures at or below 2°C, change into dry clothing immediately.

To learn more about the best practices to reduce the risk of cold weather injuries in the workplace, see WSCC’s Thermal Conditions Code of Practice. 

Deadline:

Payroll Estimate Revision

The deadline to report your 2022 payroll revisions to avoid penalty is November 30. Significant changes (25% or greater) in your payroll estimate must be reported to avoid penalty.

Visit WSCC Connect to report any changes or to find more information about payroll revision. If you have any questions on revising your payroll, contact Employer Services in the Northwest Territories at 1-800-661-0792 and in Nunavut at 1-877-404-4407.

Reminder: Annual Payroll Report

Submissions open January 1, 2023 – February 28, 2023

The deadline for employers to submit Annual Payroll Report (APR) is February 28, 2023. Employers will receive an Annual Payroll Report package in early December with submission instructions. Employers can submit APR through WSCC Connect as early as January 1, 2023.

Submitting an APR is mandatory, even if you are reporting zero (0) payroll. Late submissions face a penalty equivalent to 15% of your previous year’s employer payroll assessment.

Contact Employer Services if you haven’t received your APR package in the mail by mid-December:

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

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

We're here to help! If you need assistance with WSCC Connect, see the WSCC Connect help page, or contact the WSCC Connect Help Desk toll-free at 1-844-238-5008.

Deadline:

Personal Optional Coverage

Due on December 31, 2022

Did you know: If you are a business owner, partner, registered director, or self-employed person, you are not automatically covered by WSCC benefits? That means that in case of workplace injury, you do not receive the benefits other workers would be entitled to.

WSCC offers the opportunity to sign up for Personal Optional Coverage. You can apply for 1 -12 months of coverage to give you the same benefits as other workers covered automatically under WSCC legislation. Coverage must be renewed every year. You have until December 31, 2022 to complete the 2023 Personal Optional Coverage form and return it to the WSCC.

How to apply

Fill out the Personal Optional Coverage form on our website, and send it to the WSCC office in your jurisdiction by December 31, 2022.

NWT: employer@wscc.nt.ca or Fax: 867-873-4596

NU: employernu@wscc.nu.ca or Fax: 867-979-8501

If you have any questions about the current status of your coverage, or would like more information on Personal Optional Coverage, please contact us today.

WSCC Office Closures

WSCC’s Offices is closed for Remembrance Day on Friday, November 11, and will reopen on Monday, November 14.

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.