Committee Established to Review Workplace Compensation System

The Provincial Government announced today the start of the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission (WHSCC) statutory review.

“This is a significant opportunity to review the commission’s operations, and ensure they are continuing to implement the Provincial Government’s 2006 action plan,” said the Honourable Paul Davis, Minister Responsible for the WHSCC. “The process will examine compensation and health care service, overall client service, the prevention of injuries and fatalities, and the financial sustainability of this essential worker injury fund."

The statutory review, as required every five years under the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Act, provides an opportunity for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to participate in reviewing the province's workplace health, safety and compensation system. Outcomes from the last statutory review were compiled in a report and action plan titled Finding the Balance: The Report of the Statutory Review Committee on the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Act.

In keeping with past statutory reviews, Minister Davis has appointed a committee representing key stakeholders to oversee the statutory review process. Ralph Tucker has been appointed chair of the Statutory Review Committee and is the WHSCC board representative. Claude Horlick, a retired human resources practitioner, has been appointed employer representative, and Dave Burry, a fire lieutenant and local President with the International Association of Firefighters, has been appointed employee representative.

During the first phase of the statutory review, the Statutory Review Committee will undertake a comprehensive examination of the act to identify areas for improvement and modernization. In the second phase, the Statutory Review Committee will engage in consultations to consider the regulations and the broader administration of the act along with key identified issues and themes including the claim benefit ceiling, labour market re-entry, medical management, the role of stakeholders in prevention, occupational disease, and financial sustainability. The Statutory Review Committee will consider a range of consultation activities including town hall meetings and focus groups.

“The Statutory Review Committee will listen to the views of the province's workers and employers to identify potential enhancements in the system,” said Minister Davis. “These changes will allow the commission to offer better service to its clientele and further protect workers in the years to come.”

Further details on the consultations will be announced by the Statutory Review Committee in the coming weeks.

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Media contact:
Hugh Donnan
Director of Communications
Service NL
709-729-4860, 725-6511
hughdonnan@gov.nl.ca

Biographical Information

Ralph Tucker
Mr. Tucker was appointed Chair of the Board for the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission in November 2005. He has an extensive business background with more than 25 years experience in education, corporate business and public service. He is also Chair of the Board of Keyin College. Mr. Tucker has demonstrated leadership skills in administration, business partnerships, marketing strategies and human resource development.

Claude Horlick
Mr. Horlick is a member of the Newfoundland and Labrador Employers’ Council and a retired employee of Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador. His career was dedicated to human resources in the public and education sector. Mr. Horlick has experience in negotiations of collective agreements and mediation between labour and employers.

Dave Burry
Mr. Burry is a fire lieutenant with the St. John's Regional Fire Department, and is President of Local 1075 of the International Association of Firefighters. He is a member of the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour Occupational Health and Safety and Workers’ Compensation Committees and has served as Treasurer of the Workplace Improvement and Literacy Program, City of St. John's, which received a national award for excellence.

2012 01 16                              3:15 p.m.