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- WorkSafeBC & ICBC Information
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- WorkSafeBC & ICBC Information
- WorkSafeBC
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The Physician Guide to WorkSafeBC Registration and Insurance Coverage can help answer questions doctor's may have about what requirements and options there are to help protect yourself and your staff. To determine whether you need to register with WorkSafeBC, you can compete the physician registration form and email it to
General information
- All occupational health and safety concerns and incidents should be reported to WorkSafeBC. View critical incident reporting information.
- This Workplace Safety document template can be used to help educate and train staff on safety protocols in the clinic.
Sick note or fit note? A simple approach to restrictions and limitations
May 2023
The health benefits of a timely and safe return to work after an injury or illness are well known.[1,2] Community family physicians are in a unique position to facilitate their patients’ recovery, and one way to do this is to use a fit note instead of a sick note.
A sick note usually states: “My patient is not able to work.” Unfortunately, a broad statement of inability to work can be discouraging and may become a barrier to recovery. In contrast, describing retained abilities in a fit note is recovery focused and useful for considering modified duties. It helps the physician speak to medical concepts and allows those with return-to-work expertise to do the rest.
Hand-arm vibration syndrome in the workplace
April 2023
Hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) is a condition caused by exposure to hand-arm vibration, primarily from the use of vibrating tools. Exposure occurs most commonly in a workplace setting.
Prolonged contact with a vibrating tool or surface can result in exposure to vibration over a broad frequency range. The exposure action value is the daily amount of vibration exposure above which employers are required to act to control exposure. For hand-arm vibration, the exposure action value is a daily exposure of 2.5 m/s2A(8).
Assessing tinnitus and disability
March 2023
From a workers’ compensation standpoint, assessing tinnitus poses challenges. The subjective nature of tinnitus makes measurement difficult, and the medical literature related to tinnitus and disability does not lend itself to meta-analysis. However, a systematic review of the literature allows us to address several relevant questions:
- How do we evaluate tinnitus causality?
- How do we fairly represent the evidence for impairment and disability due to tinnitus?
- What is the evidence that tinnitus, by itself, causes measurable disability?
- What is the evidence for treatment?
FAQs about expedited surgeries and billing the expedited surgery premium
January/February 2023
What is an expedited surgery?
A surgery is considered “expedited” if it is performed within 40 business days from the date a surgeon receives written approval for surgery from a WorkSafeBC board officer.
It is important for surgeons to mark this date in Teleplan by invoicing for fee code 19326 and using the approval date as the service date.
WorkSafeBC and your patients with workplace injuries: Frequently asked questions
December 2022
Q: How do I initiate a WorkSafeBC claim for a patient with an injury or disease I think might be related to the workplace?
A: Your initial examination and treatment start injured workers on the path to recovery. As the patient’s physician, you are an important partner in that process. When your patient comes to you for initial treatment of a work-related injury or disease, fill out a Form 8. Please complete and submit the form as soon as possible after treating an injured worker for the first time; the sooner the claim is registered, the sooner your patient can receive applicable health care and wage loss benefits.
Evidence-Based Practice Group answers clinical questions
October 2022
A critical component behind WorkSafeBC’s mission to provide workers with appropriate medical treatment and rehabilitation on their road to recovery and return to work is assessing the breadth of medical and health technology information available. Within the greater Policy, Regulation, and Research Department, a dedicated team specializes in just such medically relevant topics.
The Evidence-Based Practice Group, headed by Dr Craig Martin, was established in 2002 and is mandated to address the many medical and policy issues that WorkSafeBC officers and clients—such as surgeons, medical specialists, and rehabilitation providers—deal with on a regular basis.
Are you covered? Physicians and WorkSafeBC insurance
September 2022
WorkSafeBC, also known as the Workers’ Compensation Board of British Columbia, is a provincial agency dedicated to promoting safe and healthy workplaces across BC. WorkSafeBC partners with workers and employers to prevent work-related injury, disease, disability, and death. Its services include education, prevention, compensation, and support for injured workers, and no-fault insurance to protect employers and workers.
If you’re a physician in BC, you may be required to register with WorkSafeBC. You are required to register if:
- You employ workers (e.g., medical office assistants or clinic staff).
- You operate through an incorporated company. The incorporated company is generally considered to be the employer, and you, the physician, are considered the worker.
Tips for billing Initial Expedited Comprehensive Consultations (19911)
July/August 2022
Some physicians report significant delays or denial of payment for their Initial Expedited Comprehensive Consultations (19911). According to recent data from WorkSafeBC, a top reason for this is missing or illegible consult reports.
When your 19911 is submitted to WorkSafeBC, the system automatically searches for proof of a consult report. If the system is unable to find such a report, the 19911 is reviewed manually by WorkSafeBC, which may result in payment delays. If WorkSafeBC is unable to find the appropriate consult report, it may result in a payment rejection.
Family medicine resident rotations at WorkSafeBC
June 2022
When a worker gets injured, their family doctor plays a key role in their recovery. Every year, WorkSafeBC offers a unique opportunity to 20 to 30 family medicine residents in their second year of residency at the University of British Columbia. The year-2 family medicine residents complete a 1- to 4-day rotation with WorkSafeBC that introduces them to the claims process and services, offers practical sessions with rehabilitation programs, and presents them with the basics of primary care occupational medicine. It is a just-in-time opportunity to reach family medicine residents before they graduate and start practising.
Post-acute-COVID-19 Visiting Specialist Clinic
April 2022
As an additional support for workers referred to post-COVID-19 recovery clinics in the community, the WorkSafeBC Visiting Specialist Clinic (VSC), in collaboration with Claims and Rehabilitation Services and Medical Services, has established a worker-centred post-acute-COVID-19 clinic to provide workers with the support they need more quickly.
Engaging community physicians on COVID-19 prevention in the workplace
March 2022
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, WorkSafeBC has continued to deliver its essential services across the province. Those include prevention services to help ensure workers remain safe.
Every year, we focus our prevention efforts on high-risk work activities in health care and community social services worksites under our high-risk strategy. With the pandemic, we’ve had to shift our focus to also include reducing the risk of workplace COVID-19 transmission.
Gathering your feedback: Are you interested in joining our WorkSafeBC Medical Advisor Seminar Series?
January/February 2022
The November 2021 article from WorkSafeBC (BCMJ 2021:63;392) included information about our just-in-time assistance and accredited outreach to physicians and their offices. We also have internal committees planning continuing professional development; WorkSafeBC Medical Services employs or contracts more than 90 family physicians and specialists, as well as a consultant dentist and chiropractor, known internally as medical advisors and medical specialists. As one element of our internal continuing professional development, we organize a monthly noontime seminar on a variety of topics related to workplace injury and disease. The seminars are accredited for Mainpro+ and MOC Section 1 credits. Our seminar series presenters include community and WorkSafeBC practitioners/consultants. Topics from the past 2 years are provided in the Box.
- All occupational health and safety concerns and incidents should be reported to WorkSafeBC. View critical incident reporting information.
- ICBC
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ICBC: Information for doctors
- Fee Guide: Physicians can search for relevant ICBC fees using the Doctors of BC Fee Guide (login required)
- ICBC Enhanced Care Coverage – Five things doctors need to know
- ICBC Enhanced Care resources for your patients (PDF)
- ICBC announces new Enhanced Care coverage regulations
- ICBC information for doctors about treating patients with injuries sustained in a car crash
- ICBC Consent to Sharing Information form for patients
For general claim queries, contact the Health Care Inquiry unit at 604-587-7150 (Lower Mainland) or 1-888-717-7150 (Toll-free) or email