Coverage – Volunteer Firefighters
PRO 17/2024

Effective date: October 1, 2024

Application: Claims for volunteer firefighters from Saskatchewan municipalities

Policy subject: Employer coverage and registration

Purpose:

To provide guidelines for injuries to volunteer firefighters.

BACKGROUND

POL 17/2024, Coverage – Volunteer Firefighters, outlines when Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) coverage can be extended to volunteer firefighters.

PROCEDURE

  1. The respective Saskatchewan municipality is designated as the “employer”. The employer will be responsible for maintaining records of volunteer firefighters participating in emergency situations and training and will also be responsible for reporting all injuries to the WCB.
  2. In the event of a reported incident or injury, the WCB will verify with the respective Saskatchewan municipality that the worker is registered as a volunteer firefighter with their municipality.
  3. The injury claim will be adjudicated and managed as any other injury claim in determining the extent of disability, monitoring of medical treatment, determining fitness for employment (pre-injury or suitable) and determining post-injury earnings capacity.
  4. When the injury claim is in relation to a presumptive cancer listed in The Workers’ Compensation Act, 2013 (the Act), Operations staff will review to determine whether the worker’s period of service or employment meets the prescribed minimum period of service (see POL 16/2024 – Injuries – Firefighters). If the minimum period of service or employment has not been met, Operations staff will adjudicate the claim on its merits.
  5. Claims for firefighters diagnosed with cancer will be managed by the Extended Services team who will provide support services to the worker.

Policy references

Legislative Authority

The Workers’ Compensation Act, 2013

Sections 2(1)(ii)(ii), 20(2)(b), 27, 28(1), 81
The Workers’ Compensation Miscellaneous Regulations 3(gg).

Document History

(1) POL and PRO 04/2006, Coverage – Volunteer Firefighters (effective February 1, 2006 to September 30, 2024).

(2) July 12, 2017. Policy and procedure review completed.

(3) May 1, 2015. References updated in accordance with amendments to The Workers’ Compensation Miscellaneous Regulations (Bill 28).

(4) January 1, 2014. References updated in accordance with The Workers’ Compensation Act, 2013 (Bill 58).

(5) March 27, 2007. Policy and procedure review completed.

(6) Board Directive 25/74, Coverage – Volunteer Fire Brigade (effective April 15, 1974 to January 31, 2006).

Complements

POL 17/2024 Coverage – Volunteer Firefighters

POL 16/2024 Injuries – Firefighters

PRO 16/2024 Injuries – Firefighters

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Two people signing documents

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