Health and Safety

Workers Compensation Board of Prince Edward Island

COVID-19 Health and Safety Information for Workers

The following provides workplace health and safety information for Island workers during COVID-19. Please check here frequently for updated information.

The Workers Compensation Board (WCB) urges all workers to follow the recommendations of the PEI Chief Public Health Office during the COVID-19 crisis.

What are the symptoms of COVID-19?

People with COVID-19 may have little to no symptoms, and may not realize they have been infected, as the symptoms resemble those from a cold or flu. Symptoms may take up to 14 days to appear after exposure to COVID-19 and may include:

Fever
Cough
Difficulty Breathing

What should I do if I develop symptoms?

Employers and workers experiencing symptoms (cough, fever, or difficulty breathing), should call 8-1-1 to be screened and, if necessary, directed for testing. Do not go to the workplace. Visit the Chief Public Health Office website for up to date information.

PEI Public Health – Self Assessment
PEI Public Health – When Should I Call 811?

As a worker, what can I do to protect myself from getting COVID-19 if I have to go to work?

As a worker, you have responsibilities to protect yourself as well as others. Workers should:

Monitor and follow the recommendations of the Chief Public Health Office.
Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or use hand sanitizer if hand washing is not possible.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
Adopt physical distancing techniques.
Avoid contact with people who are sick.

Workers providing essential services, including health care, must use the appropriate personal protective equipment and protocols and take steps to minimize exposure to COVID-19 while away from work.

Cough or sneeze into your sleeve and not your hands.
Know when to stay home. Workers should follow the Chief Public Health Office recommendations for self- isolation.
Comply with the employer’s instructions around minimizing exposure to COVID-19.

Are masks mandatory?

Effective November 20, 2020, non-medical masks or face coverings are mandatory in all indoor public spaces in Prince Edward Island.

This includes, but is not limited to:

Stores and retail businesses;
Personal services and salons;
Restaurants (except when eating or drinking);
Arts, sports and recreation facilities (except during exercise or when masks cannot be worn);
Places of worship;
Government buildings where public services are provided;
Taxis and public transit; and
Workplaces that are open to the public.

Exemptions to mandatory masks include, but not limited to:

Children under the age of 2;
Children under 5 who will not wear a mask;
Anyone who cannot remove a mask without assistance; and
Valid medical reasons, such as active breathing problems (most people with underlying medical conditions can wear a mask safely).

As a worker, can I refuse work due to a COVID-19 concern?

When addressing a work refusal related to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to recognize that every refusal is assessed based on circumstances specific to the worker and their workplace. A worker can refuse work if a reasonable assessment of the risk suggests there is an immediate or imminent threat to their safety. A pandemic alone is not enough reason to refuse work. Further information on Refusal to Work can be found here.

April 01, 2021

Draft policy amendments for feedback

The Board of Directors has approved, in principle, changes to the policy, Support for Independent Living (POL-82). The proposed amendments would provide allowances for eligible injured workers to support their personal independence. The Board is also proposing that the policies, Allergies (POL-69) and Respiratory Diseases (POL-66), be rescinded as these conditions are included in the Occupational Disease (POL-65) policy. Consultation summaries are available in the Policy Consultation section of our website, where you are invited to provide feedback by April 30, 2021.

March 31, 2021

Satisfaction Survey Continues to Provide Valuable Information

The Workers Compensation Board (WCB) is pleased to release the results of the 2020 WCB Injured Worker Survey, which continues to show positive results in WCB’s service satisfaction index. The index is a composite measure of injured workers’ overall experience with the WCB, as well as their satisfaction with a variety of service dimensions including fairness, decision making and service delivery.In the fall of 2020, over 300 injured workers participated in the survey conducted by the independent research company, Narrative Research. On an alternating basis, the WCB polls its two key stakeholder groups, injured workers and employers each year to gauge satisfaction with the WCB’s services and identify areas for improvement.Similar studies have been conducted with workers every two years since 2002 and the results demonstrate that the majority of WCB clients are satisfied with their overall experience with the WCB. Results and feedback from this transparent and consistent survey has helped form many decisions and improvements at the WCB over the years.In 2020, the WCB achieved a performance rating of 76.2. This rating is on par with 2018 results and up almost 8 points since the first survey was conducted. Levels of satisfaction with service interaction remained consistent through the COVID-19 pandemic period. The main drivers of satisfaction for injured workers are: the extent of satisfaction with the claim outcome, satisfaction with the extent workers participated in the decision-making process concerning their claim, and receiving WCB service in a timely manner.“Client service continues to be a priority for the WCB and is at the forefront of many initiatives in the WCB’s Strategic Action Plan,” said WCB Chair Jim MacPhee. “Our stakeholder surveys continue to serve as an important tool to assess how we’re serving our clients and where we can improve.” When evaluating the WCB, workers reported that being treated fairly continues to be the most important factor, with 90% of workers rating this as critically important. Most injured workers agree that they were treated with respect by WCB staff, and a large proportion also agreed that staff understood their needs. “In a year of uncertainty, we were pleased to have been able to respond quickly to changes in our service delivery methods to meet the needs of our injured worker clients in a timely fashion” said Cheryl Paynter CEO of WCBPEI. “I would like to thank our staff for their efforts, in the constantly changing environment that was 2020.”The WCB will continue to explore ways to maintain and improve the high quality of service delivery to workers and employers and would like to publically thank those who took the time and thought to respond. For more information, you can view the summary report of the 2020 WCB Injured Workers Survey at wcb.pe.ca/Information/Surveys. Aussi disponible en français.

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