A comprehensive analysis of the program of Saskatchewan workers ' compensation is set to get underway at the beginning of next year.
Employment relationships and the workplace safety Minister Don Morgan said the Review Committee, announced Wednesday, will consult with workers and employers before making suggestions for improvement. The Government said that the intention is to keep the current Workers ' Compensation Act, fair and in line with the general objective of occupational safety.
Public hearings will begin in early 2011 and interested parties are invited to participate.
"It's a healthy process to go through," said Morgan, adding the biggest concern in his role as Cabinet Minister responsible for the security of the work is the accident rate "unacceptably high".
"We're still the second highest of Canada, therefore, one of the things I'm going to look at when the recommendations coming forward is what kind of things that can and should be done that will continue to move us on how to make workplaces safer," Morgan said.
Morgan said that an item, which the Government wants to see considered is the possibility to expand coverage for accidents at work for firefighters that getting cancer of the esophagus.
"I actually asked them to include in its deliberations, if we do not decide to do something with it earlier," Morgan said Wednesday.
A group of firefighters arrived to the legislature of Saskatchewan this autumn to lobby for the change, claiming that the link between the occupation of firefighting and esophageal cancer should be recognized in the legislation. Firefighters said a series of other provinces already implemented in their respective acts that cancer.
Interested can tell their experiences with the workers ' compensation program and make suggestions for reform through the audition process, Morgan said.
Periodic reviews of the program are required by law. The last review was carried out in 2006 with the final report submitted to the Government in July 2007.
Roslyn Kunin, a former President and long-serving Board member of WorkSafe BC, chairs the revision Commission, which has equal representation of employers and workers organized.
The Government said that people who want information on how to do a presentation can go to www.lrws.gov.sk.ca/workers-compensation-act-review.
It is hoped a final report within a year.
The Government is not required to act on the results of the review, Morgan said, "but we want to look closely to all of them to see if they are beneficial or practical. I think it would be wrong-advised not to want to spend them ".
Copyright (c) the Regina Leader-post
No comments:
Post a Comment