These Disability Duration Guidelines are not intended to provide strict rules for these conditions in all workers. The Guidelines have been prepared to assist case managers and care providers in medical management of claims.

No warranty of any kind, implied, expressed or statutory, including, but not limited to, the warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose is given with respect to the contents of the Guidelines.

Injury duration may vary from these guidelines if, in the judgement of the WCB or care provider, variance is warranted:

• To meet the health care needs of the workers
  
• To fall within standards generally accepted by the health care community.

In determining the expected length of disability, the physical and other specific requirements of the job to which an injured worker is to return must be considered. Disability Duration Guidelines classify all jobs into categories based on their physical requirements - sedentary, light, medium, heavy and very heavy. These categories are accepted by occupational health professionals in both the United States and Canada.

These guidelines are specific to the injured part (e.g. fracture, tendon rupture, etc.) that take into account that the work need not lose time away from work if modified or alternate job duties are available or work duties may be safely performed using uninjured limbs, without compromising treatment.

These Guidelines cannot be used to determine the period for which benefits are paid.