The preliminary assessment rates for 2015 have been announced by WorkSafeBC.
(The rates are described as preliminary as have not yet been approved by the WorkSafeBC Board of Directors. Approval is expected by October 2014.)
The preliminary rates normally become the actual rates.
The Industrial, Commercial and Institutional Classification Unit (CU) has decreased by 4.7% — from $3.59 per $100 of payroll to $3.42 per $100 of payroll.
As predicated by COCA, there are some major challenges before us in terms of costs.
The return on the WorkSafeBC investment portfolio has increased in recent years, as a result of a bounce back from the worldwide recession that began in 2008. Investment returns in 2013 were 12.4%, up from 9.5% in 2012.
Looking forward, WorkSafeBC is predicting low investment returns due to historically low bond yields, slow-to-moderate growth in emerging economies and geo-political risks in the Ukraine and the middle east. The cost for claims is also predicted to increase.
As a result, more of the money to fund the cost of compensation claims will come from employer assessments.
The Duration of Construction claims – the average time off on claim – continues at high levels of about 72 days. This is down from the record high of 75 days in 2013, but up from an average of 50 days only six years ago.
As a result of greater competition for work, construction employers may also be more focused on securing new jobs rather than on Return to Work plans for injured workers.
We need to accelerate a safe and durable Return to Work in order to reduce our rates.
The best way to improve performance on Return to Work is to seek help from the WorkSafeBC Construction Nurse Line when you need it. The service is free (you already pay for it with your assessments).
For help with claims management in general — contact the BC Construction Safety Alliance for advice and assistance.
For help with: Return to Work; Disability Management; Claim Updates, call: 604-279-8155, or 1-877-633-6233
For help with claims management in general — contact the BC Construction Safety Alliance for advice and assistance.
Vernita Hsu is their injury management coordinator. She can be reached at 604-636-3686 or vhsu@bccsa.ca
The changes in some of the construction rate groups are shown below. All rates shown below are in dollars per $100 payroll.
Examples of preliminary rate decreases are:
|
2014 |
2015 |
% change |
|
| Crane Operation |
3.73 |
3.15 |
-15.5% |
| Floor Covering Installation |
3.99 |
3.40 |
-14.8% |
| Hardwood Floor Laying or Refinishing |
3.97 |
3.36 |
-15.4% |
| Industrial, Commercial, Institutional or Highrise Residential General Contracting or Construction |
3.59 |
3.42 |
-4.7% |
| Insulation work or fireproofing |
10.85 |
8.69 |
-19.9% |
| Low Slope Roofing |
5.37 |
5.12 |
-4.7% |
| Painting or Wallpapering |
3.98 |
3.38 |
-15.1% |
Examples of preliminary rate increases are:
|
2014 |
2015 |
% change |
||
| Concrete Cutting & Coring |
3.69 |
4.16 |
12.7% |
|
| Concrete Placing, Finishing, Surfacing or Repair |
3.67 |
4.16 |
13.4% |
|
| Concrete Pumping |
3.73 |
4.20 |
12.6% |
|
| Electrical Work |
1.99 |
2.25 |
13.3% |
|
| Finishing Carpentry |
2.81 |
3.36 |
19.6% |
|
| Framing or Residential Forming |
9.85 |
11.81 |
19.9% |
|
| Masonry |
3.63 |
4.24 |
16.8% |
|
| Plastering, Lathing or Stucco Work |
8.62 |
9.42 |
9.3% |
|
| Steep Slope Roofing |
8.99 |
10.71 |
19.1% |
|
| Structural Concrete Forming |
8.67 |
9.47 |
9.2% |
|
| Traffic Control |
5.15 |
6.16 |
19.8% |
|
The complete list of WorkSafeBC preliminary rates for 2015 is available here.