Registering for workplace insurance coverage has benefits and is in many cases a requirement in B.C.

Generally, you require coverage if you:

• Employ and pay workers on a regular, casual, or contract basis
• As a homeowner, hire an individual to work in or around your home for a certain period of time (e.g., child care, lawn services)
• Come from another province or country to do work in B.C.
• Work in the commercial fishing or trucking industries
• Own an incorporated company that is actively engaged in business

If you are self-employed and do not hire any workers or unregistered contractors, you do not need to register or pay premiums. You may be eligible to purchase optional coverage to cover lost salary and medical expenses if you are injured on the job as a result of your work.

For more information about who needs coverage, visit worksafebc.com/insurance.

Benefits of WorkSafeBC insurance coverage

WorkSafeBC insurance coverage is a no-fault insurance system that protects both the employers who pay for it and the workers who receive benefits:

Employers

WorkSafeBC collects insurance premiums from employers and registered firms. In return, the employer or registered firm receives the following benefits:

No-fault protection

Your insurance protects you from lawsuits by workers who are injured on the job. This means that workers give up the right to sue you in the event of a workplace injury, in exchange for your covering the cost of health care and rehabilitation services as well as wage loss benefits.

Tools and expert advice

We provide resources and consultation to help you with injury prevention, workplace safety, and disability management and return to-work programs for injured workers.

Collective liability

Like other types of insurance, the costs of claims are shared by those in your industry, so you never have to bear the full cost of a claim.

Workers

Every worker in B.C. is automatically covered for any work-related injury, illness, or disease. When workers suffer work-related injuries, illnesses, or diseases, we offer benefits and services that include compensation and support for their recovery, rehabilitation, and safe return to work.

WorkSafeBC insurance will protect a worker from a lawsuit by another worker who is injured on the job.

Who does and doesn't need coverage?

All employers are legally required to have WorkSafeBC coverage unless the employer is exempt. An employer is a person or firm that hires workers or unregistered subcontractors. An employer can be a self-employed proprietor, partnership, corporation, society, or other type of legal entity.

Whether you need coverage depends on the type of business you operate and whether you hire and pay workers.

Workers versus independent contractors

A worker is employed on a full-time, part-time, casual, or contract basis and is paid on an hourly, salaried, piecework, or profit-sharing basis. Equipment is supplied, and the work schedule is set by the employer.

Workers can also include the following:

• Each child of a proprietor or partner who is paid by the firm • The spouse of a partner who is working for the partnership and is paid
• A spouse, child, or other family member of a firm owner for whom earnings are reported for income tax purposes

An independent contractor performs work under a contract with another person or contractor and exists as a business outside of that contract. Independent contractors are paid for the entire job; supply their own tools, equipment, and major supplies for the job; and determine their work schedule by agreement.

Subcontractors

If you contract out any of your work, ask your subcontractors whether they carry their own WorkSafeBC insurance coverage. If they do, ask for their account numbers. If they don't, you may be required to provide coverage for them.

To determine whether or not a subcontractor is registered with us and is in good standing, you can obtain a clearance letter by visiting worksafebc.com/insurance or by calling the Employer Service Centre at 604.244.6181 in the Lower Mainland or 1.888.922.2768 toll-free in Canada.

Who is not required to register?

Individuals are not required to register if they are:

• Partners or proprietors if the business is unincorporated (even if the operation includes the proprietor's spouse) and they don't hire any workers or unregistered subcontractors
• Independent operators who are neither employers nor workers

To find out if you need to register, visit worksafebc.com/insurance.

Personal Optional Protection (POP) coverage

Proprietors and partners in a partnership who operate an independent business are not automatically covered under the Workers Compensation Act. If eligible, proprietors and partners can purchase Personal Optional Protection (POP) coverage, which is optional workplace disability insurance. POP will pay health care, wage-loss, and rehabilitation benefits if you are injured at work.

What if I don't register when required?

It is against the law to avoid registering when you are required to do so. If you are required to register and do not, and one of your workers is injured, you could be fined and charged the total compensation costs of the injury plus retroactive insurance premiums.

How to register

To register, visit worksafebc.com/insurance. The online registration process should only take about 20-30 minutes. (See "Information you will need to register" below.)

To avoid unnecessary delays, provide complete details of your business on the application form. An assessments officer may contact you if the information is not clear; however, an incomplete or illegible application may be rejected.

OneStop Business Registry

The OneStop Business Registry is a service that allows you to register with several public agencies in one step, using your business number from the Canada Revenue Agency. This service includes the following:

• WorkSafeBC - registration number
• Canada Revenue Agency - goods and services tax (GST), payroll deductions, import-export accounts
• Ministry of Finance - provincial sales tax and hotel room tax • BC Registries and Online Services - registration for a sole proprietorship or general partnership
• Participating municipalities - municipal business licences Visit onestop.gov.bc.ca to register your business.

Information you will need to register

Make sure you have the following information ready when you go to register:

• The complete legal name of your business or, if you are registering under a partnership or proprietorship, the legal names of the business owners
• Your incorporation number, date, and jurisdiction if you operate a limited company
• Your business number from the Canada Revenue Agency, if you have one
• The makes and models of any major equipment you use to generate revenue
• A detailed description of your business, including products produced, services provided, materials and equipment used, processes, and so on
• An estimate of your payroll if you employ workers or pay yourself for work performed
• The start date of operations and start date of your first worker, if applicable
• Names, social insurance numbers, birth dates, and contact information of the proprietor, all partners, or all active shareholders
• An email address and contact information for your business