Young Workers

Workers Compensation Board of Prince Edward Island

Young Workers

Did you know that young workers, aged 15-24, are among the highest risk groups for workplace injury?

It is important for everyone - young workers, employers, coworkers, parents and teachers - to understand the importance of workplace safety. The WCB has information and services to help.

The Work Out Loud campaign provides tips for you, as a young worker, to own your safety at work and make a safe place for everyone around you.
Resources are available for you, as an employer of young workers to support, train and supervise your young workers to do their jobs safely.
The WCB offers youth education services to provide training and education to anyone with a stake in young worker safety. We also provide resources for teachers and additional support in the form of in-person delivery of classroom presentations and workshops.

High School Programs, Contests and Awards:

The OHS Leadership Program offers P.E.I. high school students in Gr. 11 or 12 the opportunity to become a leader in occupational health and safety. Watch for more information on the program in September.

We also run a yearly P.E.I. High School Contest in the winter with cash prizes to be won!

Graduating this year? Consider applying for the Safety Matters Award

The Safety Matters Award of $500 is awarded to a Prince Edward Island student who is graduating high school and has demonstrated an understanding of occupational health and safety principles, and has taken the initiative to apply them in school or in a workplace.

Application Deadline: May 1, 2018
To apply for this award, complete the application form and have an adult sponsor complete the sponsor reference form.

Fillable PDF application forms must first be downloaded, then modified and saved before printing.

Veuillez noter : Nous acceptons les formulaires remplis en français

Application forms: English/ French

Safety Matters Award Information poster: English/ French

January 17, 2019

Revised WCB Policies

To reflect amendments to the Workers Compensation Act, a number of WCB policies have been revised:Return to Work (POL-93) has been updated to reflect the legislative change to exclude the employer of a volunteer firefighter from re-employment obligations. Survivor Benefits (POL-12) has been updated to reflect the change in the lump sum payment for the death of a worker.Occupational Disease (POL-65) has been updated to reflect presumptive legislation for claims filed by firefighters and fire inspectors with specific types of cancer. Impairment (POL-89), has been revised to reflect the amended definition for impairment. In addition to physical impairment, the new definition recognizes impairment resulting from psychological conditions and ongoing symptoms, such as chronic pain. The changes are noted in the History section at the end of each policy. The WCB thanks all stakeholders for their feedback in the legislative consultation process.

December 31, 2018

Presumptive Coverage for Firefighters & Fire Inspectors

As of January 1, Prince Edward Island firefighters and fire inspectors will have presumptive coverage for specific types of cancer and heart injuries as a result of amendments to the Workers Compensation Act. “This coverage will offer much needed care to many firefighters who may encounter serious health problems resulting from the valuable work they did to protect their communities,” said Stuart Affleck, Chair of the Workers Compensation Board. “The legislative and regulatory changes ensure that if a firefighter or fire inspector develops specific diseases or heart injury, it will be presumed that it is work related." Eligible firefighters include fire inspectors, and full-time, part-time and volunteer firefighters who are members of a fire department or brigade. “Our hope is that no firefighter suffers from cancer, especially one that is related to their service,” says Gerard McMahon, President of the PEI Firefighters Association. “However, thanks to the PEI Government, this new legislation gives us peace of mind that if a firefighter is diagnosed with a prescribed cancer and meets service criteria, they will be eligible for WCB benefits.” The presumptive coverage is based on the following principles:Specified injuries or diseases are presumed to be work-relatedPresumption would apply to firefighters who experience a heart injury (i.e., heart attack, cardiac arrest or arrhythmia) within 24 hours of responding to an emergencyPresumption would apply to specific types of cancers, provided the firefighter had been exposed to the hazards of a fire over the minimum cumulative period of employment, as indicated below For primary site lung cancer, the presumption applies only if the firefighter has been a non-smoker for 10 consecutive years prior to the initial diagnosis. The Amendments to the Workers Compensation Act will come into effect January 1, 2019. Type of CancerMinimum PeriodType of CancerMinimum PeriodPrimary site brain cancer10 yrsPrimary non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma20 yrsPrimary site bladder cancer15 yrsPrimary site testicular cancer10 yrsPrimary site colorectal cancer15 yrsPrimary site ureter cancer15 yrsPrimary site esophageal cancer25 yrsPrimary site breast cancer10 yrsPrimary leukemia5 yrsMultiple myeloma15 yrsPrimary site lung cancer15 yrsPrimary site prostate cancer15 yrsPrimary site kidney cancer20 yrsPrimary site skin cancer15 yrs

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