Changes to Act Allow WSIB to Address Construction Executive Officers in Rate Framework

As a result of amendments made to the Workplace and Insurance Act (WSIA), the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board now has the ability to establish policies that address executive officers in construction in its new classification system similar to the way they are treated in the current system.

In the current system, one executive office (EO) from a construction company who is not on the tools and not exposed to the risks of the construction industry can be exempted from participating in the provincial compensation system.  All other EOs from that construction company who are not on the tools and who are not exposed to the risks of the construction industry can apply to the WSIB to be classified into Rate Group 755, a special rate group for non-exempt executive officers in construction. The current premium rate for RG 755 is $0.13. 

Policies will be established by the WSIB in the near future to create a place in the new classification system for non-exempt executive officers in construction.  The new classification system is based on the North American Industries Classification System (NAICS) which doesn’t have an industry code for non-exempt executive officers in construction.  We anticipate that the rate for non-exempt EOs in construction will continue to be very low but perhaps not as low as $0.13.

This is a win for the construction industry and is something COCA advocated for strenuously along with others and for which we can take significant credit. 

The new classification system will be implemented by the WSIB on January 1, 2020.