WCB Introduces Safety Matters@Work, Experience Counts Program - November 2004

The Workers Compensation Board has introduced a new program for 2005 called Safety Matters@Work, Experience Counts. The Experience Counts program is one of a number of WCB’s Safety Matters@Work initiatives. These initiatives focus on protecting PEI workers and employers through accident prevention and workplace safety efforts. The Experience Counts program ties the WCB focus on workplace health and safety to employer classification and rate setting.

Carol Anne Duffy, Chief Executive Officer of the Workers Compensation Board, said “the new program came about as a result of WCB working with PEI employers and Employer Council Inc. (ECI) members on an independent review of employer classification and rate setting systems. Employer input clearly indicated that they wanted to see a classification and rate setting system which increased the accountability of employers for workplace safety and a system which rewarded employers faster for positive accident prevention and workplace safety results.”

The Chair of Workers Compensation Board, Jim Lee, stated “that the Board has approved an average employer assessment rate of $2.33 per $100 of assessable payroll for 2005. This reduces the average rate from $2.39 in 2004 and from the 2005 preliminary rate which was set at $2.35.” Lee also explained that “based on employer feedback the Board has extended the implementation of the Experience Counts program from a five year transition plan to seven years. This means that in cases where some employers see assessment rate increases under the new program, these increases will be limited to 5% instead of 10% each year.” Projections for 2005 indicate that approximately 70% of employers will see a decrease in their 2005 assessment rate over their 2004 rate, while approximately 30% will see an increase.

Jim Lee explained that “the Board is fully committed to the new Safety Matters@Work, Experience Counts program as compensation system stakeholders recognize that accident prevention and workplace safety is key to our success in protecting PEI workers and employers today and into the future. The program incorporates accountability for safety into the process for setting employer assessment rates. By considering safety performance, compensation system costs are shared more fairly among Island employers.” Lee added that “the Board will also foster effective communications on the new program for all employers and that this communication will include an offer to work one-on-one with employers who are at risk of a greater increase in their assessment rate over the seven year transition period.”

For more information contact Mark Barrett:

Tel: (902) 894-0362
Email: mabarrett@wcb.pe.ca