Minister Releases Compensation Board's Annual Report

Improved performance, a positive review by the auditor general and legislative amendments are among the highlights in the 1998 annual report of the Workers' Compensation Board, tabled in the legislature today by Labour Minister Russell MacKinnon

"The overall performance for 1998 was encouraging, for both workers and employers," Mr. MacKinnon said. "There was substantial progress in terms of accident reporting and claims processing time."

The minister said the changes mean stakeholders can look forward to continued improvement in the delivery of services.

"It is a positive sign when we see the number of workers increasing at the same time as fewer time-loss accidents are occurring," said Innis Christie, chair of the Workers' Compensation Board. "We believe this indicates that Nova Scotians have grown more safety conscious and have adopted a more pro-active approach to managing workplace injuries."

Another highlight in the report was the improvement in the compensation board's funded position, the fourth consecutive year this has occurred.

"In 1995, the government agreed to contribute $23 million, payable in five equal installments of $4.6 million," Mr. MacKinnon said. "This, along with an increase in the amount of workers covered and fewer time-loss accidents contributed to this improved position.

"I want to commend and thank the board of directors for their diligent efforts towards improving the financial situation."

The board's funded percentage had risen from 50.2 per cent in 1997 to 55.7 per cent as of Dec. 31, 1998 --increasing from a low of 27 per cent in 1993.

In 1998, the compensation board received employers' accidents reports within 9.3 days, an improvement over 10.5 days it took in 1997. This faster submission of reports by employers helped the board improve the amount of time it takes to process a claim and issue a cheque to an injured worker, decreasing from 34 days in 1997 to 29.5 days in 1998. Fully 60.7 per cent of all benefit cheques were mailed to the injured worker within 15 days of their claim being registered, up from 52.5 per cent in 1997.

"This is an area where we want to see continued improvement," the minister said. "There was a marked increase in the delivery of benefits."

Copies of the report are available by calling 902-491-8100, or on the board's website at www.wcb.ns.ca .

arc May 28 1999 10:38 p.m.