The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board or WSIB as it is usually called is an independent trust agency operating under the Ministry of Labour. The WSIB provides no-fault collective liability insurance and access to industry-specific health and safety information to Ontario’s employers provides loss of earnings benefits and health care coverage for workers; and provides help and support for a return to work after illness covered under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act.
Is it mandatory to have a WSIB in Ontario?
WSIB coverage isn’t mandatory for everyone in Ontario. The Provincial Government decides which industries and which type of employees have to have WSIB coverage and lists them in the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act (WSAI).
Businesses required to register with the WSIB
Most businesses are required to register with the WSIIB in Ontario within 10 days of hiring their first employee. Following is the list of some of the businesses requiring registration with WSIB. A detailed list is available on the official website of the WSIB.
- Restaurants and Bars
- Manufacturing Businesses
- Trucking and Transportation
- Sales and services
- Homeowners and private residents hire a domestic employees such as a babysitter, nanny, cook, gardener, housekeeper, maid, etc.
Not registering may result in penalties, investigation and provincial offences charge or having to pay retroactive premiums.
Businesses where registration is not mandatory
There are a few industries that do not have to register. Some of them are listed below:
- Banks, trusts and insurance companies
- Private healthcare practices(such as those of doctors and chiropractors)
- Trade unions
- Private daycares
- Travel Agencies
- Clubs(such as health clubs)
- Photographers
- Barbers, hair salons, and shoe-shine stands
- Taxidermists
- Funeral directing and embalming
This is not a complete list and there are more industries that do not require to register under WSIB.
Information you need to register with the WSIB
- Company information (including address, mailing address, phone and fax numbers, copy of Articles of information and a host of other relevant details.
- Owner/executive details including names of Directors or owners of the company, address and Date of birth of the Directors/owners and other relevant information.
- Information about your employees including the date when your first employee was hired and how many people have been hired.
- Payroll information includes an estimate of insurable earnings that you will pay your employees this year.
After you have all your information with you, you can start the process of registration by going to the registration page and clicking your business type.
What you get by registering
- Protection from lawsuits: WSIB benefits replace the worker’s right to sue the employer for receiving similar benefits that the worker could claim in a lawsuit.
- No-fault Insurance: The WSIB usually does not evaluate who is at fault while determining benefits in case of loss or injury.
- Workplace Insurance Benefits for your workers: WSIB insurance replaces lost earnings, covers health care costs resulting from work-related injuries and illnesses, and supports return to work.
- Prevention and Training Programs: In order to safeguard a company’s productivity, the WSIB provides a number of training and education programs that help you prevent injuries and illness to protect against loss of earnings.
- Help in returning your workers to the job: The WSIB claim management team ensures that your worker gets effective health care and gets back to work as soon as possible.
Employers’ responsibilities under WSIB
In addition to registering within the first 10 days of hiring the first employee, employers have the following responsibilities under WSIB:
Report Incidents: Report workplace incidents to the WSIB within 3 days when the incident causes a worker to:
- Loss of time at work
- Earn less than a regular day’s pay
- Receive healthcare treatment
Keep records: Employers must keep records of the incident, how it was handled, and the time it takes a worker to recover.
Report material changes: Employers must report any circumstantial changes that affect the employer’s obligations to the WSIB within 10 days.
Have questions about the WSIB and your employer obligations?
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