The Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission has been participating in Government’s Red Tape Reduction Initiative since 2005 to help improve client service and reduce administrative red tape. The Commission is pleased with the progress achieved throughout the reduction plan, reducing red tape by 8,876 counts and reaching its 34% reduction target in 2009. 

Highlights of Commission’s accomplishments include:  

• Streamlined or eliminated numerous policies, procedures, and processes to simplify the business for clients and staff. This review also ensured documentation was up to date and reflected current practice.  For example:
  • A simpler procedure was developed for expenses related to Labour Market Re-entry (LMR) and workplace modifications and assistive devices to better serve injured workers who are participating in early and safe return to work or LMR programs.
  • PRIME policies for small to medium sized employers were revised to eliminate unnecessary processes and correspondence.
  • The process for making a request for occupational health and safety research funding has been simplified.  A single process is now applied for both research and promotion/education funding. 
  • An automated system was implemented for tracking approved power line hazards trainers and the certification status of trainees. This ensures records are efficiently maintained and provides ample time for trainer and trainees to maintain their training status or renew certification training. 
  • The tendering process no longer requires contractors to submit a certificate of clearance since these are available internally.  

• Simplified or eliminated many forms.  For example:
  • The Form 13: Authorized Representative Form and the Request for Internal Review Form were simplified.
  • Several Labour Market Re-entry (LMR) Reports have been combined into one form with multiple uses. 
  • Employers Subsequent Report (Form 9) was eliminated since return to work status is now confirmed through other processes.  
  • The Employer Payroll Statement (EPS) was streamlined to remove unnecessary information and to pre-populate areas of the form.  Automated processes have increased internal efficiency.
  • OH&S Advisors and Ergonomists are no longer required to provide detailed comments on each audit question during Health and Safety Audit and Ergonomic Assessments. Audit summary comments are now used for easier reference.
  • Rather than creating new forms, the Training Provider, Trainer, and Participant Registration Forms have been revised to accommodate both power line hazards and mine rescue certification training. 

• Since 2006, the Commission has implemented and expanded web services to improve efficiency and effectiveness of client services.  On line services include:
  • Certificates of Clearance,
  • Employer account information, 
  • PRIME status and health care cost reports,
  • Employer sub-contractor lists, and
  • Submission of OH&S Committee Minutes (for a piloted group of employers).

Clients using our web services have indicated that they are user-friendly, efficient and effective. In 2010, the Commission plans to commence work on additional services, with further services planned for the future.  

• Employers have confirmed that Early and Safe Return to Work (ESRTW) Facilitators, introduced in 2007, have improved service delivery in small to medium sized workplaces by providing feedback and assisting workplace parties in identifying creative solutions to challenges related to ESRTW.

• The Commission implemented a permanent Client Service Office in March 2008 to investigate and facilitate resolution of client service concerns, identify system-wide issues, and recommend service improvements.

We have acknowledged and thanked staff for their hard work on this initiative.  

Government has advised that the Red Tape Reduction Office will continue with a long term mandate. The Commission continues to monitor its red tape count and to ensure that the principles of red tape reduction (for example, efficiency, transparency and plain language) are followed.  The Commission also conducts ongoing reviews of existing regulatory processes so as to identify improvements, redundancies or any unnecessary regulations.     The Commission remains dedicated to red tape reduction and has incorporated its principles into its operations.                                                

Leslie Galway
Chief Executive Officer