A work-related injury or illness is considered to be one that:
- Happens at work.
- Requires medical treatment.
- May or may not result in time off work.
Getting first aid or medical care is the most important thing after a workplace injury. Once your health and safety needs have been addressed, report the injury to your employer and then to the WCB by filing your claim following the steps outlined below. If you have a Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee or Safety Representative at work, you should also notify them of the incident.
Not all workplace injuries are physical. Learn what to do if you've experienced a psychological injury.
Starting the claim process
To report your injury to the WCB, please complete a Worker's Report using WCB Online Services. This is the quickest way to start the claim process with the WCB.
You also have the option to download and complete a fillable form, which you can submit to the WCB by email:
You can also get a printed copy from your employer or from the WCB. To submit a printed Workers Report to the WCB, you can mail, fax, or drop off in-person at the WCB office.
Mail
Workers Compensation Board
Worker Services
PO Box 757
14 Weymouth Street
Charlottetown PE C1A 7L7
Fax
902-368-5696
Make sure to choose the Workers Report that best matches your injury:
- Worker's Report: Form 6 - use to report injuries or illness.
- Worker's Report: Repetitive Strain - use specifically to report repetitive strain injuries.
- Worker's Report: Noise Induced Hearing Loss - use specifically to report noise-induced hearing loss.
Please note that a Worker's Report must be completed whether or not the injury or illness results in time off work.
Completing your Worker's Report
When completing your Worker's Report, be sure to:
- Provide as much detail as possible.
- Remember to sign the form. If you’re submitting your form by email, you can type your name on the fillable form as your signature.
- Submit the original Worker's Report directly to the WCB online, by email, mail, fax, or drop off in person. Do not leave the original form with your employer.
A signed Worker's Report is required to make a decision on your claim, and it must be received within six months from the date of the incident. If you need assistance filling out or submitting your Worker's Report, we can help. Please contact us.
What may seem like a minor injury at first can sometimes lead to complications that appear later. Proactively filing a Worker’s Report makes sure that there is a record of the incident in case there is a need for further treatment and medical care later on.
Filing a Worker's Report also contributes to a culture of workplace safety. It allows the WCB to track the types of work-related incidents that occur.
When visiting a health care provider for an assessment, be sure to tell them you were hurt at work. This is because the WCB also requires information about your injury from your health care provider.
Direct access health care providers
The WCB covers the costs of assessments from the following direct access health care providers for work-related injuries and illnesses:
- Physicians
- Nurse Practitioners
- Physiotherapists (if approved as a WCB service provider. View the map of direct access physio clinics across PEI)
- Chiropractors
- Psychologists (for psychologists contracted with the WCB)
- Audiologists
- Pharmacists
Assessments do not need pre-approval from the WCB. Limited treatments may also be approved for physiotherapy and chiropractic services before an initial claim decision is made.
Please note, a claim cannot be processed if you do not seek medical attention. More importantly, early access to care is proven to have a significant impact on your recovery. Your health care providers are an important resource to guide your return to work.
A reminder: when you are assessed for an injury, make sure your health care provider knows that your injury happened at work.
If you have any questions about direct access to health care providers, please contact us.
Reopening a previous claim
A worker may request that a claim be reopened based on ongoing symptoms or a return of symptoms from a work-related injury. If you’re having ongoing issues related to a previous work-related injury, or if you would like to request a claim be re-opened, please contact us.
If you are requesting a previous claim to be reopened, you must tell your employer and see a health care provider for further assessment. The WCB’s decision to reopen the claim or not will rely on medical evidence showing that your current symptoms are connected to the original workplace injury or illness.
More information about reporting an injury is available in the FAQ - How to File a Claim, the Information for Workers Guide, and in the WCB's policies.
If you can't find what you are looking for, please contact us.