This webinar, Psychological injuries in Alberta construction, explores how the Workers' Compensation Board of Alberta (WCB) captures psychological injuries, the current state of psychological injury claims in Alberta construction, and how employers can create supportive return to work environments after a psychological injury claim.
CEO Mark Hoosein of the Alberta Construction Safety Association (ACSA) hosts WCB's specialists in conversation. Note: The recording will be available until November 29, 2024.
This webinar is the second in a 3-part series on psychological health and safety (PHS) in the Alberta construction industry, continuing the conversation from the ACSA 2023 Conference. This series includes:
- Webinar 1: Understanding PHS, with Alberta OHS. Watch it here: czcams.com/video/fNMzNVEm69c/video.html
- Webinar 2: Psychological injuries in Alberta construction, with WCB Alberta.
- Webinar 3: Bridging PHS and employee mental health, with Opening Minds. Register here: youracsa-ca.zoom.us/webinar/register/8917217647534/WN_B_9hB-dTTBGi4q_VVvORaA
Given some connectivity issues during webinar 2, below are transcripts for these sections.
Navigate to a specific section:
00:00 Opening
02:52 Panelists’ roles
04:25 WCB’s role in psychological health and safety
07:12 Principle of no-fault compensation for workers
08:00 WCB’s claims for general workplace issues
08:53 What are psychological injury claims?
10:10 - 10:45
“In the context of WCB Alberta, a "primary" or "pure" psychological injury refers to a mental health condition that is the direct result of a workplace incident or environment, without an accompanying physical injury. These are identified and recorded at the time of the claim registration. This data is crucial for employers, and it can be accessed in the Employer Portal through dashboards and reports to assist them in the ongoing management of their claims.”
11:58 Types of psychological injury claims
13:37 Psychological injuries in Alberta construction
15:50 Alberta construction statistics
16:23 - 17:00
“The multifaceted nature of workplace injury trends in Alberta highlights the complexity of occupational health and safety, especially when considering the diverse experiences across age and experience levels in the workforce.
For those companies who are able to obtain their COR certification this not only reflects a commitment to physical safety but also encompasses psychological well-being, underscoring the importance of preventative measures.”
18:19 How WCB supports workers and employers
22:09 Ways to minimize lost time
22:29 - 23:36
“It's important to recognize that while some employees may benefit from time away from work to address psychological issues, others may find value in maintaining their work routine and connections.
Support for employers and for employees dealing with psychological injuries can take many forms, including access to treatment, modified duties, and a supportive work environment. Employers who foster a culture of understanding and acceptance can not only aid in the recovery of affected workers but also mitigate the financial impact of mental health claims.
For employees, this comes down to co-workers looking out for and checking in on each other, especially when you notice someone withdrawing or suddenly acting differently.”
23:38 WCB resources
25:24 - 25:44
“We have developed a Traumatic Psychological Injury (TPI) care model for those injuries that may be more complex and require extra support. The TPI model looks to partner specialized clinical professionals with the employee to help them gain the skills and tools needed to move forward in a positive direction.”
26:26 - 27:00
“Recently we engaged with safety associations about how the Cognitive-Psychosocial job demand analysis (CPJDA) can be used in employee orientation to help them understand the psychosocial and cognitive demands of the job supporting a psychologically safe work environment. A link to this tool can be found on our WCB Alberta website and Millard Health offers a course on how to develop them.”
27:16 - 27:40
“Starting in September we are offering an in-person half-day seminar (Sept 24th in Calgary and Sept 25th in Edmonton). Our goal in this session is to increase our employer’s understanding of mental health injuries in the workplace, discuss WCB’s adjudicative process, and explore ways to support a safe and timely return-to work for an employee who is coping with a psychological injury.”
28:02 Final comments
29:46 Q&A
53:45 - 54:32
“In the simplest terms, the length of a claim does not impact an employer’s rates.
Employers are classified in either our small or large business pricing plans depending on their assessable earnings, or payroll.
For small business employers we track the volume of lost time claims that have occurred in the first 5 of the past 6 years. The costs on the claim or duration of time they are open are not relevant.”