Effective date: April 1, 2011
Application: All claims on and after the effective date.
Policy subject: Decision making - Injuries
Purpose:
To establish guidelines for claims where injuries are sustained while travelling for or attending medical aid or return-to-work programming as required by a work injury.
Return-to-Work Programming, in this context, means Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) sponsored programs aimed at assisting an injured worker in a return to suitable employment. These may include, but are not limited to, academic or technical training, work assessment, training on the job, job search programs, or employment skills development workshops.
Home community means the city, town, village, hamlet, First Nation’s community, etc., in which the worker’s permanent place of residence is located (within the limits or boundary). If residing in a rural area, the worker’s physical home address is considered the home community.
This travel and attendance can place the worker at additional risk, which can be considered part of the effects of a work injury.
The Workers’ Compensation Act, 2013
Sections 20(2)(b), 103, 111
(1) May 1, 2021. Housekeeping changes to update resident community to home community and its definition, and to remove reference to normal pre-injury travel requirement, as per POL 04/2021, Travel Expenses – General.
(2) March 1, 2021. Housekeeping change to include cost relief when a worker is undergoing treatment for which WCB is responsible as per POL 03/2021, Second Injury and Re-Employment Reserve.
(3) January 1, 2014. References updated in accordance with The Workers’ Compensation Act, 2013 (Bill 58).
(4) POL 15/87, Injury Occurring while Travelling for Medical Aid and at the Place of Treatment (effective April 8, 1987 to March 31, 2011).
(5) POL 12/90, Injury Occurring While Travelling in Connection with and/or Participating in Board-Sponsored Vocational Rehabilitation Programs (effective March 29, 1990 to March 31, 2011).