Workers compensation administrative functions

One common responsibility of safety professionals that can create conflict in unionized as well as nonunion operations is that of workers compensation administration. In theory, the management of the safety and health function in most operations is a proactive activity, e.g., prevention of injuries and illnesses. Workers compensation administration is a reactive activity resulting from the injury or illness already having taken place and the monetary compensation for the injury or illness. Although the safety function and the workers compensation are linear in nature, resulting from a cause and effect, these functions are substantially different and can create opposition and conflict in both unionized and nonunion operations when both functions are managed by a safety professional. 

In some jiuisdictions, the government compensation and rehabilitation authorities, and the occupational health and safety authorities, have been merged. In British Columbia, for example, the workers compensation prentimns fund the occupational health and safety administrative function. 

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