Workers’ Compensation programs are largely administered by provincial and territorial governments in Canada. The Labour Program is responsible for claims that involve federal government employees – both inside and outside of the country – who are injured on the job, become sick from an occupational disease or are slain while on duty. They also administer claims submitted by certain merchant seamen and federal penitentiary inmates.
What is a work-related injury?
A work-related injury is one where an employee is injured while on the job or become ill because of their work. If the injury or illness leads to death, the employee’s dependents may be entitled to compensation. For the purposes of the Government Employees Compensation Act, the place where an employee is usually employed is the place where the employee is appointed or engaged to work.
Who is covered under workers’ compensation for work-related injuries?
- Federal Government Employees: are covered under the Government Employees Compensation Act (GECA). Employers are responsible for working with federal and provincial authorities to ensure that claims are processed quickly and properly, and to ensure a safe and timely return to work.
- Survivors of a Federal Government Employee: if the employee is killed by a violent act at work, survivors may be eligible for a guaranteed supplementary income benefit under the Public Service Income Benefit Plan administered by the Labour Program.
- Employees Travelling in Canada or Abroad: are covered by Section 6 of the Government Employees Compensation Act, as long as they are engaged in work for their department or agency at the time of the injury, except if they depart from their itinerary for personal reasons.
- Locally-engaged Employees: are usually foreign citizens hired by the federal government. Theyt are covered by Section 7 of the Government Employees Compensation Act, which provides support services in Canadian offices overseas, such as embassies and consulates.
- Merchant Seamen: are covered under the Merchant Seamen Compensation Act, which is administered by the Labour Program. It may also provide financial assistance for surviving dependants if a work-related injury results in the death of the seaman.
- Federal Inmates: that are injured or become ill while serving a sentence or on day parole may qualify for compensation under the Compensation Program for Federal Penitentiary Inmates, which is administered by the Federal Workers’ Compensation Service and Correctional Service Canada
For more information on worker’s compensation, please visit the Government of Canada: Workers’ Compensation website.
Adapted from: Government of Canada: Reporting work-related injury or illness: Federal government employers : Report an injury or illness
Work Conditioning Helps People Safely Return to Work
Injured workers are typically referred to physiotherapy as a conservative and cost-effective way of treatment. Upon completion of physiotherapy, these workers may meet the treatment goals but still may not be able to safely return to work due to deconditioning (being out of shape).
Work conditioning programs, which often simulate the demands of a given job description, are designed to help injured workers:
- Recover their strength
- Recover their strength
- Improve endurance
- Increase flexibility & mobility
- Improve cardiorespiratory fitness
- With personalized interventions that decrease the odds of re-injury upon return work
Work conditioning programs consist of individualized, full-body, intensive training with a focus on activities that are similar to the physical demands required by a worker’s particular occupation. They help close the gap between injured workers meeting the treatment goals and actually being able to safely return to work. Work conditioning programs help reduce the probability of re-injury by not only getting workers in shape to return to work but also teaching them proper ergonomics and other injury prevention techniques.
You Can Choose Who Treats Your Work-Related Injury
Did you know that you can choose where you go for your physiotherapy treatment and work conditioning? Many times, workers’ comp physicians will refer you to physiotherapy at one point or another in your recovery process. They generally will refer you to a therapist within their network. But, you have the right to go to a therapist that you choose. Action Physiotherapy has years of experience treating work-related injuries and re-conditioning workers after physiotherapy. We will work closely with your employer and workers’ comp physicians to assure that you receive the best care so that you can safely return to work.
Call us today to find out why physicians choose Action Physiotherapy to rehabilitate and properly condition workers for their return to work.
