Workers' Compensation Insurance

All University of Calgary employees are covered by Workers' Compensation.  

Reporting Employee Accidents

All employee accidents must be reported on the Online Accident Reporting System (OARS). Information on Workers' Compensation Board (WCB) reporting requirements can accessed on the Staff Wellness website.

Working Outside of Alberta

If you have Alberta Workers' Compensation coverage and are temporarily working outside of Alberta, review the WCB out-of-province coverage fact sheet.

Updated: Dec. 13, 2018

Within 24 Hours of the Incident

The supervisor must complete an Online Accident Reporting System (OARS) report. The employee must complete the WCB worker report. Staff Wellness will complete and submit the WCB Employer report on behalf of the university.

Updated: Dec. 13, 2018

An Alberta student is a student who is registered and physically attending a University of Calgary campus in Alberta. These students are covered by Workers' Compensation (WCB) through the Government of Alberta. See the Alberta student coverage fact sheet for information on that coverage.

When Alberta students are involved in course/research work while travelling to other provinces or countries, they may also be covered by WCB.  

For information on distance education students, located both within Alberta and other provinces/countries, see the applicable section below.

Updated: Dec. 13, 2018

To report an injury or accident, follow the procedure below:

1. Student seeks medical attention promptly.
2. Within 24 hours, the student should report all incidents, accidents or injuries to their supervisor, instructor, or university representative.
3. Student completes an Online Accident Report Form (OARS)
4. If student is injured:
   • Student must complete the WCB student - workers report and fax to WCB at 1.800.661.1993.
   • Faculty/department must complete and fax the WCB student - employer report to WCB at 1.800.661.1993, retaining the original WCB Employer record.
5. Ambulance costs for students who suffer an injury and are covered by Alberta WCB may have their initial ambulance bill paid by Alberta Advanced Education and Technology. Ambulance invoices should be sent to AE.DeemedWorkers@gov.ab.ca

Updated: Dec. 13, 2018

All contractors and consultants performing work on University of Calgary campuses are required to be covered by Workers Compensation insurance through their own companies. Such companies are required to provide proof of coverage prior to commencing work, by supplying a Workers' Compensation clearance letter.

Exceptions

• Where contractors/consultants hired under an Independent Contractor Agreement (ICA) are self-employed individuals and:
  • do not have a WCB number
  • are not operating as a corporation
  • are not performing work as: an employer in that industry, a worker of another employer, a director of a corporation, a proprietor with personal coverage and, a partner in a partnership with personal coverage.

Such insurance may be provided through the university. Contact Supply Chain Management for further discussion. 

• Where contractors/consultants are unable to purchase Workers' Compensation, Supply Chain Management may approve use of employer's liability insurance instead. If that is allowed, then the contractor/consulting company must indemnify the university against claims arising from the injury of their employees and sub-contractors while they are engaged in work for the University of Calgary.

The requirement for proof of Workers' Compensation coverage is reflected in all University of Calgary Purchase Orders.

Updated: Dec. 13, 2018

Volunteers of the University of Calgary are eligible for WCB coverage if properly registered. More information about registering as a volunteer is available at Volunteer Registration and Management.

^{Updated: Oct 29, 2021}

If a volunteer is injured during their volunteer activities, complete the following within 24 hours of the incident:

• the volunteer's supervisor must complete an Online Accident Reporting System (OARS) report.
• the volunteer must complete the WCB worker report
• Staff Wellness will complete and submit the WCB Employer report on behalf of the university.

Updated: Dec. 13, 2018

Where employees who are resident in Alberta are required to prove that they have WCB coverage (often a term in a contract), the department may access a WCB clearance form evidencing such. 

Obtain a WCB Clearance Form

1. Navigate to the WCB Clearance Request page
2. Click Start button under "I am performing work and need a clearance on my account"
3. Account Number: Type in 1420206, which is the University of Calgary's WCB number in that box
4. Click Select. 
5. Click Next.
6. For Alberta companies: type in the name of the company who is looking for the WCB Clearance Certificate and click Search. If they are in Alberta, their name should come up as an option under the Selected Account Tab. Click Select beside the correct name. It should appear in the "Selected Account" box below. Click Next
7. For non-Alberta companies: type in the name of the company who is looking for the WCB clearance certificate and click Search. The system will not find a record and will display the warning "No records could be found. Please try another search". Under the company name that was entered, a tick box will appear indicating "I cannot find the company".  Click on this box. A second drop down screen will appear which will allow you to enter the company name and address details (the company requesting the Clearance Letter).
8. Attention to: type in the name of the individual from that company who requested the clearance certificate
9. Subject line: WCB clearance certificate for XXXX (if there is a contract number or job number, add that in here).
10. You have to make a choice at this point and decide if you want to send the certificate directly to them from the WCB site, or just save a pdf copy yourself.
11. Send clearance to: If you want to send it to them directly, click Email and put in their email address. If you just want to save the PDF copy, type in your own email address.
12. Send copy to: If you want to send it directly to them, Click Email and put in your own email address so you know that it went to them and you will have a copy for your own records. If you are going to download the PDF copy, you do not need to fill this in.
13. Click View Letter PDF
14. Click OK
15. Check to ensure that the WCB Clearance letter looks okay. If you don't want to email it to yourself or the individual requesting it directly (i.e. you may need to send it along with other documents) you can just save the PDF on your computer at this point and/or print it off.
16. Close the screen.
17. If you are just saving the PDF copy, close the WCB website. If you are sending them a copy directly, click Send Letter.

^{Updated: Oct 24, 2023}

The Workers' Compensation Act of Alberta and the Workers' Compensation Regulation are both accessible online.

*Please use Firefox or Google Chrome browser. These links do not work with Microsoft Edge.

^{Updated: Jan 9th, 2024}

Alberta Distance Learner – defined as a student who is a resident of Alberta, registered at the University of Calgary, and is completing their course(s) from a location away from the UCalgary Alberta campuses with internet support. 

If the student has Canadian citizenship, they are covered by Alberta WCB during their practicum activities only while on their practicum site(s). This coverage includes practica completed inside or outside of Alberta. Students must complete the Alberta Resident Student Acknowledgement and Acceptance of WCB Coverage form prior to acceptance in the program.

If the student does not have Canadian citizenship, they are not covered by Alberta WCB. A form for students to complete prior to acceptance in the program is TBD.

Updated: Apr 16, 2020

Distance learner students that are a Resident of British Columbia, Ontario, Northwest Territories, or Nunavut and who are undertaking their practicum in their province of residency, may be covered by Workers' Compensation by registering them with Payroll at least one month prior to the beginning of their practicum.

Students must complete the Student Acknowledgement and Acceptance of WCB Coverage prior to acceptance in the program. The department must complete the Template for Departments Reporting Distance Education Students and email it, as an attachment to payrolluc@ucalgary.ca. If you require a Workers Compensation clearance letter, indicate this in your email.

Distance learner students that are a resident of British Columbia, Ontario, Northwest Territories, or Nunavut and are not undertaking their practicum in their province of residency, are not covered by Workers' Compensation. Students must complete the Student Acknowledgement and Acceptance of Student Accidental Injury Insurance Coverage prior to acceptance in the program.

Updated: Apr 16, 2020

Distance learner students who are a Resident of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, or Yukon and are undertaking a practicum in their province of residence or another province/country are not covered by Workers' Compensation. Student must complete the Student Acknowledgement and Acceptance of Student Accidental Injury Insurance Coverage form prior to acceptance in the program.

Updated: Apr 16, 2020

Distance learner students who are a resident of New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, or Quebec and are undertaking their practicum in their province of residency, are not currently covered by Workers' Compensation. If a department wishes to investigate coverage in one of these provinces, contact the Payroll department to determine if an account can be opened in that province.

Students must complete the Student Acknowledgement and Acceptance of Student Accidental Injury Insurance Coverage form prior to acceptance in the program.

Updated: Apr 16, 2020

Distance learner students who are residents of countries outside of Canada are not covered by Workers' Compensation.

Students who are undertaking Experiential Learning in countries that are not in their home country of residence, may have coverage under the Student Accidental Injury policy.  Please complete the Student Acknowledgement and Acceptance of Student Accidental Injury Insurance Coverage form prior to beginning the Experiential Learning opportunity.

Students who are undertaking Experiential Learning in their home country of residence cannot be covered with Student Accidental Injury or Workers' Compensation insurance.

Updated: Apr 13, 2021