What to expect if you're injured at work

If you are injured at work, get medical attention immediately if you need it. Make sure your employer knows about your injury. You, your employer and your health-care provider file separate injury reports. Ask your employer for a form or file online or call the Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Boards (WCB). The injury reports arrive at the WCB online or by phone, fax or mail.

What to do if you’re injured at work

There are three ways to file a Worker’s Initial Report of Injury (W1) form:

• Online: the fastest and easiest way to file
• By phone: Call the WCB at 1.800.787.9288 and a WCB representative will take your information and complete the form for you.
• By mail: The W1 form is available online for download. Once you’ve filled it out in pen, keep a copy for your records. Mail the signed copy of the W1 form to the WCB at:

Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board
200-1881 Scarth St.
Regina, SK S4P 4L1

Workers, employers, health-care providers and the WCB all have a role to play in the recovery and return-to-work process following a work injury. Learn about your responsibilities in the return-to-work process.

The chart below provides a general outline of the claims process. Timelines and benefits will vary with individual circumstances.

Claims with no time off work (no time loss)

No earnings loss benefits are paid.

Even if you don’t take time off work because of your injury, you need to tell your employer about your injury. If you needed medical attention:

• You must fill out and send us a Worker’s Initial Report of Injury (W1) as soon as possible.
• Your employer must also send the WCB an Employer’s Initial Report of Injury (E1) within five days of being told about your injury.
• The WCB sends letters to you and your employer advising you whether your claim is accepted or denied.
• Your care provider will bill the WCB for their services.
• If you pay for any medical items, prescriptions or travel expenses because of your injury, keep your receipts. If your claim is accepted, list these receipts in a letter (or on a Worker’s Expense Statement (W6)), attach a copy of your receipts and mail the documents to the WCB. The WCB will issue you a cheque for the expenses covered. Keep your original receipts for 12 months.
• The WCB generally receives the receipts and issues payment to you within three days. Sign up for direct deposit to avoid delays and receive your benefits sooner.

Claims with time off work (time loss)

Earnings loss benefits are paid.

• If you’re off work after the day you were injured, the WCB needs these forms:
  • Worker’s Initial Report of Injury (W1)
  • Employer’s Initial Report of Injury (E1) sent to the WCB by your employer within five days of being told you were injured.
  • Physician’s Initial Report (PPI) sent to the WCB by your care provider. This is to let the WCB know that a care provider looked at your injury and prescribed appropriate care. The form also lists your current work restrictions.
• The WCB gathers information from you, your employer and your care provider to validate your claim and make sure:
  • You’re a worker of the company.
  • You were injured at work.
  • You can’t work because of your injury.
    The WCB will also verify how much you were earning before your injury.
• Using this information and the rules set out in The Workers’ Compensation Act, 2013 (the Act) and WCB policies, the WCB assesses whether or not to accept your claim in a process called adjudication.
• The WCB sends letters to you and your employer advising you whether your claim is accepted or denied. If you disagree with the decision, you can ask to have it reviewed.
• If the WCB accepts your claim and if you lose time from work because of a work injury, the WCB looks at replacing lost earnings based on medical reports.
• You receive your first earnings loss payment, as well as letters to you and your employer explaining action on your claim. If you sign up for direct deposit when you submit your W1 form, or if you have a claim history and your direct deposit information is on file, your first payment will be through direct deposit. The first payment on a straightforward claim is generally made within 14 days if the necessary information is received promptly.
• Medical and travel expenses can also be paid. You mail receipts to the WCB for medical items, prescriptions and travel expenses that are a result of your injury.
• The WCB issues payment to you for allowable medical and travel expenses.
• The WCB pays your care provider for their services. Payment will go to either you or your employer, depending on whether your employer prefers to continue paying you.
  You continue to send your receipts for medical items, prescriptions and travel expenses to the WCB.
  The WCB issues payment to you for allowable medical and travel expenses.
• The WCB continues to pay your earnings loss benefits usually every two weeks until you are back at work.
• The WCB continues to pay your care provider for their services.
  All parties are responsible for maintaining communication throughout the claims process.
  The WCB reviews your medical treatment and fitness for employment.
• You, your employer, your health-care provider and the WCB plan your return to work. Most time loss claims are short term, with workers returning to work soon after the injury.
• The WCB continually reviews claims to determine ongoing responsibility. Once you recover from your accepted injury, your benefits will end. If your recovery is delayed, your claim is reassessed as long term and your claim is assigned to a customer care facilitator team.
• You maintain contact with your employer, your care provider and your WCB case manager.
  The WCB keeps you, your employer and your care provider informed by letter about the status of your claim.
  All parties are responsible for maintaining communication throughout the claims process.

Please note: Conversations with the WCB are summarized and recorded in your file.