Description
The Workplace Safety and Insurance System includes workers, employers, the agencies—Workers’ Advisers Program (WAP), Workers’ Compensation Appeals Tribunal (WCAT), Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) and the Workers’ Compensation Board of Nova Scotia (WCB)—and others who provide services in the System.
Our vision is safe, healthy workplaces for Nova Scotians, and sustainable safety and insurance services.
Our mission is to work together to help keep people healthy and safe at work, to insure against loss and to support workers’ rehabilitation. We strive to be fair, open and responsible in everything we do.
Our strategic goals are to:
- improve outcomes for workers and employers;
- improve service delivery;
- ensure effective governance of the System; and
- ensure financial sustainability of the System
Workers' Advisers Program
The Workers' Advisers Program is a legislated provincial government service. We are independent from the Workers' Compensation Board, and provide legal services to claimants under the Workers' Compensation Act.
At the WAP, we are responsible for the development, implementation and maintenance of a program to advise, assist and represent eligible injured workers who have been denied benefits under the Workers' Compensation Act.
Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) - Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration
The OHS Division operates within the Safety Branch under the Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration. Our proposed mission statement is to establish, promote and enforce clear standards to reduce occupational injury and illness.
The objectives of the OHS Division are to work with our partners to reduce the incidence of injury and illness of employees, improve the understanding of occupational health and safety standards by all workplace parties, and improve health and safety conditions in the workplace by means of research, education, inspection, investigation and enforcement of legislation.
Workers' Compensation Appeals Tribunal
The Workers' Compensation Appeals Tribunal ("WCAT" or "the Tribunal") was created under the Workers' Compensation Act in February, 1996. We are an external appeals agency, independent of the Workers’ Compensation Board.
The Tribunal hears and decides appeals from hearing officers—the final level of appeal at the Workers' Compensation Board. Appeals may be taken by workers or employers and may involve claims-related issues or employer assessment matters. We also have exclusive jurisdiction to determine whether the Act bars a right of action against employers.
Workers' Compensation Board of Nova Scotia
The Workers’ Compensation Board of Nova Scotia (WCB) is committed to keeping Nova Scotians safe and secure from workplace injury. We are proud to protect about 20,000 Nova Scotia employers and more than 395,000 workers across the province. WCB sets the standard for workplace injury insurance by informing and inspiring Nova Scotians in the prevention of workplace injury. If an injury occurs, we support those whose lives it touches by championing a timely return to safe and healthy work.