The CSA standard lists three types of kits: personal, basic (for lower hazard work) and intermediate (for higher hazard work). The basic and intermediate kits come in small, medium and large sizes, based on the number of employees per shift. Schedule A of the New Brunswick First Aid Regulation cites only two types of first aid kits – a personal kit and a first aid Kit.
Going forward, when purchasing CSA kits, employers must follow the requirements of Schedule A for the number of first aid kits and CSA standard kit requirements with respect to the type and size.
To help clarify kit selection to comply with Schedule A, please see the First Aid Kit Selection Table
Furthermore, employers have flexibility in choosing a combination of kit sizes to best suit workplace needs. For example, an employer required to have two medium kits could comply by having four small kits or one large kit.
Schedule A of the First Aid Regulation lists the types of work that constitute high hazard work; however, section 4(3) of the First Aid Regulation requires employers to assess the risk employees are likely to face and provide additional first aid supplies, equipment, services and facilities in regard to those risks. The assessment will not only help you determine which additional industry specific items to include in your kits but also whether you should upgrade from a basic to intermediate kit. The CSA standard provides guidance on performing a workplace first aid risk assessment in Annex A and Annex B.
Automatically approving standards is also known as “ambulatory incorporation by reference.” This is when a standard with no mention of date of issue or specific version is referenced in a regulation. An advantage of ambulatory incorporating by reference is that drafting regulations can be more flexible because the regulation:
One disadvantage is that there would be little or no stakeholder consultation before the standards come into effect. While the New Brunswick government is committed to stakeholder consultation, changes are being considered with limited ambulatory incorporation by reference that could allow some stakeholder consultation before adopting a revised standard.
A PPI assessment is a medical examination to determine and measure the extent of the permanent impairment. It begins with a complete review of the claim file and is followed by a thorough physical examination of the compensable injury.
The PPI assessment determines impairment, not disability.
An impairment is objective and ratable, whereas a disability is based on numerous non-medical factors such as motivation, transferable skills, geography, job demands, etc.
Once adequate healing time and physical rehabilitation is complete, a medical review will determine if and when you qualify for this assessment. Your condition must be stable and have reached maximal medical improvement.
There is a regulated timeline that must be followed to achieve maximal medical improvement and for the physical impairment to stabilize. This can vary from six months to 24 months.
For example: A shoulder could be assessed 18 months following shoulder surgery.
WorkSafeNB must have accepted the injury as being work-related.
A permanent physical impairment rating is not provided for psychological or mental impairment when there is no physical injury. Pain and suffering are only considered when they directly affect impairment of the body’s function.
Pre-existing/personal conditions do not qualify for a PPI assessment.
A PPI assessment is conducted by a WorkSafeNB-approved medical examiner, certified by the American Board of Independent Medical Examiners (ABIME).
The physician must be independent and cannot be your current or past treating physician.
The medical examiner gathers general background information from you about your health and your compensable injury.
Then a physical exam is conducted in relation to your injury by using tests for motion, strength and sensation. These tests are not strenuous and are performed in a way to avoid discomfort.
It is important for the medical examiner to conduct as thorough a physical exam as medically appropriate for an accurate assessment. This usually takes between 20-60 minutes to complete.
You may refuse a PPI assessment, but then WorkSafeNB will be unable to determine if you are entitled to a PPI award.
Following your PPI assessment, a report will be sent to your claim manager and treating physician.
You can expect to receive a letter from your claim manager within 4-6 weeks with your assessment results.
If it is determined that a permanent physical impairment is the result of your workplace injury, an impairment rating percentage is assigned and used to calculate a PPI award.
A PPI award is a lump sum payment for a permanent physical impairment.
The award is based on your permanent physical impairment rating, measured using an approved rating schedule as outlined in Regulation 82-165, ‘Permanent Physical Impairment Rating Schedule’ of the Workers’ Compensation Act. This regulation directs WorkSafeNB to use other approved rating guides when necessary, such as the American Medical Association Guides to the evaluation of Permanent Impairment (AMA Guide). The award calculation is based on the rate of impairment multiplied by the maximum annual earnings for your accident year. The PPI award is not intended to be a claim settlement, compensation for loss of earnings, nor compensation for pain, suffering or loss of enjoyment of life. The percentage of permanent physical impairment is calculated based on the whole person rather than the injured part. An impairment is not a measure of pain and suffering; however, recommended ratings in the Schedule and Guides do make allowance for accompanying pain.
The PPI award will not affect your entitlement to other benefits under the Workers' Compensation Act, including loss of earnings and medical aid.
