This privacy statement for workers explains the information that the Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission (WSCC) collects about claimants.
We're committed to protecting your privacy and the confidentiality of your personal information. The WSCC collects your information to administer and enforce the Workers' Compensation Acts of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut and is subject to the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Acts of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
Collection of Your Personal Information
Information about you is collected directly through various channels from a number of sources – you, your employer, your health care provider or vocational rehabilitation service provider, and others – as required for the following purposes:
Administrative — We ask you to provide identification information such as your name, address, home telephone number, and date of birth. This information is required to administer your claim(s) including communicating with you, matching records to the correct claim(s) and issuing benefit payment(s).
When a claim is registered, your social insurance number is collected to identify you and to issue income tax information statements as required by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and the Income Tax Act (ITA).
Financial — Information such as your weekly, monthly or annual income allows us to determine the rate of your wage loss benefits, and must be confirmed by your employer, pay stub or official CRA documents.
Sources of income replacement such as social assistance, employment insurance and private insurance may require you to report to the WSCC to avoid duplication of payments and/or benefit-related debts. Your bank account number may be requested if direct deposit is an option or is required.
Medical — Information such as your treating health professionals' reports, prescription medicine details, physiotherapy treatment dates, information from hospital visits or other related treatment information are collected to help us determine your eligibility for benefits. It also helps to establish the type of additional assistance you or your health care provider might need to ensure that you receive quality health care. Section 25 and 30 of The Workers' Compensation Acts require treating health professionals provide the WSCC with health information related to your claim without your consent.
Fraud and Non-compliance — Administrative, financial and medical information may be collected in the course of a criminal or other investigation for fraud or non-compliance.
Use, Retention, and Disclosure of Your Personal Information
Case Management and Benefit Administration
WSCC staff and contracted providers working on your claim have access to your personal information. All claim file information is considered to be confidential and access to your information is on a need-to-know basis.
Like many public and private organizations today, the WSCC uses the services of external companies to provide claimants with services and treatment. For example, an external service provider may provide vocational rehabilitation services. In those types of situations, contractual agreements are in place to protect your personal information.
Your information is stored in paper form or electronically. You have the right to access your claim file through the Workers' Compensation Acts. As well, through the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Acts you are able to request the correction of any errors or inaccuracies that you may identify.
When you make a claim for compensation your employer can be provided with information about what caused your claim and what the status is of your claim.
Return to Work and Recovery
After you make a claim for compensation and begin to recover from your workplace injury, your employer is provided with progress reports about your recovery including updates about your functional abilities, return to work plans and any vocational rehabilitation you have received.
Your personal information may be shared with your treating health care professionals to ensure that appropriate medical and return to work resources are available to you.
Research and Prevention
The WSCC may contract third party researchers to conduct surveys into workplace injury and illness, and the quality of our products and services. Your name and telephone number may be disclosed to these third party researchers so that they are able to contact you to get your permission to participate in such a survey.
Enforcement
In order to protect the workers' compensation system against abuse, personal information may be collected during an investigation of fraud or non-compliance. Information may be shared with other government bodies, police and the courts as required and legally authorized.
Reviews
There may be times, such as during a review of a WSCC decision by you or your employer, where confidential information including personal health information related to your claim may be disclosed to your employer without your consent if it is determined to be relevant to the issue under review. This is in accordance with the Workers' Compensation Acts and the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Acts.
Under the Workers' Compensation Acts, the employer and employer's representative have a duty of confidentiality not to disclose information obtained from the WSCC.
Obtaining and Correcting Your Claim File Information
It's easy to obtain a copy of your claim file: simply write to your claims services contact, such as your Case Manager or Claims Representative. You can also request a copy of your claim file by calling the WSCC's general enquiry line and asking to speak to a WSCC Claims Staff member.
If you have problems receiving a copy of your claim file, you may contact the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy (ATIPP) Coordinator through WSCC's general enquiry line.
If you believe your record is inaccurate, you may request that the information be corrected by contacting the WSCC Representative responsible for your claim.
Updating Your Personal Information
If your personal information changes, such as your address or work status, you must contact the WSCC Representative responsible for your claim. Our Claims Representatives can also make address changes for you when you call the WSCC's general contact line.
WSCC Privacy Policies
For additional Information about the WSCC's policies related to the collection, use and disclosure of personal information, please see the following policies in the WSCC Policy Manual:
- 07.01, Access to Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission Information
- 07.04, Personal Information Privacy Protection
Contact Information
To obtain a copy of your claim file, update your personal information, or find out more about the collection, use or disclosure of your personal information, contact your Claims Representative, or Case Manager, directly, or call one of the WSCC's general contact phone numbers.
Concerns or matters relating to privacy can be directly addressed to WSCC's Access to Information Coordinator.
You may also contact the WSCC in writing at:
Access to Information Coordinator
Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission
P.O. Box 8888, Yellowknife, NT
X1A 2R3
The WSCC reserves the right to revise this document.