ee : AUBIN el hace te cot caddie Bi sean! Brae: " d i 1 The Workers’ Compensation Board was created in 1917, and | as part of the “historic trade-off between workers and. employ- ers’’, companies were given pro- tection from being sued in the courts by injured workers, while - employees were given compensa- tion for injuries that occurred on. the job, according to Blake Williams, Director of the Workers’ Advisory office in the. Ministry of Labor. But one in- jured worker says the Workers’ Compensation Board is nothing . but ‘‘a form of protection for large corporations from legal recourse for their own in- competence,”’ Williams was in Terrace last week meeting with injured workers dealing with the WCB. He explained at a public meeting April 7 that his office was not a part of WCB, but existed to help injured workers. He also ex- plained how the WCB works, although he said such a complex system could not be completely covered in one evening meeting. The process begins with First Aid Reports completed by the worker, the employer, and a doctor. A Claims Adjudicator investigates and makes a deci- “Einstein”, a one-man play starring topher Terrace’s R.E. M. Lee Theatre April 23 at 8 p.m. The play porti his accomplishments and the painful decisions he was fo ings of the di forces In the universe. The event come tickets are on sale at Erwin’s. Jewellers. Socioty,.an BLAKE WILLIAMS: Office exists to help injured workers. sion whether or not the claim is allowed, depending on factors such as whether the worker is in- cluded in the WCB Act and if the injury arose out of the employment. The claim may be allowed, but for medical aid on- ly, or wage loss compensation may be paid. If workers are unhappy with the decision, they may seek clarification, request reconsideration, or ask for a management review. — And this is only the first of a series of steps and decisions and officials an injured worker sees. There’s also Rehabilitation Con- Chris sultants, Disability Awards Of- — ficers and Senior Pension Of- ficers. Then the Review Board, the Commissioners and a Medical Panel, and medical ex- aminations with three doctors or rehabilitation assessments in Richmond may be involved. Ap- peals regarding decisions can be made along the way, but they are limited by time: sometimes 90 days, sometimes 60. Finally, the Supreme Court may make rulings affecting whether an in-- jured worker receives a cheque in the mail or not. The approximately 20 workers at the meeting asked about specific problems and policies. One worker said he waited six years to have an operation ap- proved, another said his opera- tion wasn’t approved in 1977 and now he has difficulty walk- ing and even sitting. One man said his adjudicator failed to tell him an important piece of infor- mation and when he heard about © it over two years later, he was told he was too late. One was told he didn’t need a raise in his pension because he once owned a small business, Williams answered questions Britton and written by Gabriel ‘Emanuel, will be staged at rays the great physicist at age 70, reflecting on his lifa, rced to make as he attempted to understand the work- 8 to Tarrace through the afforts of the Terrace Concert SUNDAY: Terrace Athletics Assn. DOORS OPEN AT. 4:30 P.M. - Terrace’s Bingo Place Lucky Dollar Bingo Palace 4818 Hwy. 6 West _- MONDAY: Terrace Minor Hockey _ TUESDAY: Kermodes or Jaycees WEDNESDAY: Terrace Blueback Swim Club THURSDAY: 747 Air Cadets ‘FRIDAY: Parapelegic Assn. . SATURDAY: Parapelegic Foundation Regular Games EVERYONE WELCOME! (Age 14 years and up) Thank youl Have a Nice day! -Terace Review — Wednesday, April 13, 1988 15 clearly and thoroughly, noting form numbers, decision num- bers, Board policies and powers, relevant sections of legislation, and recent court decisions. ‘‘How are lay people, or- dinary laborers, supposed to - dispute decisions put together by a group of Jawyers?’’ an injured worker’s wife asked during an interview with the Terrace Review.“‘How do you fight the system without your own army of lawyers?” She has been fighting the WCB on behalf of her husband and family for seven years, and asked not to be identified. She said. they and other families had waited up to two and a half years between ap- peals. ‘‘] sent my kids to school with a piece of bread for lunch. I fed them three days in a row on rice. Workers’ Compensation says my husband’s medical problems since 1983 are not related to his earlier work in- jury. He’s ready to give up.”’ Her husband was suicidal for a few ‘years, she said. He couldn’t support his family, he couldn’t fish or garden, go shop- ping or dancing, or take part in family activities. ‘The mental strain of not being able to pro- vide for a family you love and wish to provide for, is torture,” The injured worker admits he’s bitter. ‘‘This is supposed to tbe an honest Christian democ- racy. It’s beyond me to figure out their criteria, And there’s no future fighting these people — they seem to be a power unto. themselves.’’ When asked how he would fix the system if he had the power, he said they should return to the original charter which was a straight-forward safeguard for injured workers, and that an in- dependent adjudication board should be set up, with labor lawyers as well as community members including ‘‘a few com- passionate human beings,” Come onin and try out the best in Bridgestone sales and service. And don't miss allthe Grand Opening Specials! 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