What to do if you’re injured at work and how to file a claim

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If you are injured at work, there are three things you need to do immediately: Seek medical attention, report your injury to your employer and report your injury to the WCB using the Worker’s Initial Report of Injury (W1) form. Learn how to file a claim with the WCB and what you’ll need to file your claim. Find information specific to temporary foreign workers and workers who are injured out of province.

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3 things you must do immediately if you are injured at work

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To access our services without delay, you, a family member or your representative should contact us as soon as possible following your work injury. If you need help, ask a hospital social worker to assist you. To start a claim for you, we’ll need some information about your injury.

What qualifies as a work injury?

A work injury is the result of any work-related event that causes a need for medical treatment and/or time away from work. The Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) considers each work injury on an individual basis, but in most cases compensation applies to injuries that occur while a worker is at work, on company premises or on company business. This includes an occupational disease caused by work. Learn more about what qualifies as a work injury. 

There are three things you need to do immediately if you are injured at work:

  1. Get medical attention immediately if you need it.
    • Your employer should provide appropriate first aid and arrange transportation so you can receive treatment from a qualified health-care professional.
    • Have your health-care professional report to the WCB. Your health-care professional should identify any physical restrictions resulting from your injury and give them to you in writing.
       
  2. Report your injury to your employer immediately.
    • Let your employer know about the incident right away — within hours or less.
    • Work with your employer, your health-care professional and the WCB to set up a personalized return-to-work plan. Learn more about recovery and return to work.
       
  3. Report your injury to the WCB by completing the Worker’s Initial Report of Injury (W1) form immediately.
    • Online: The W1 form can be filled out online.
    • Email: Download and complete the W1 form online and email to forms@wcbsask.com. Please follow the following steps when submitting a form via email:
      • Fill out all empty fields online.
      • Print the form to add your signature.
      • Scan and email to forms@wcbsask.com.
      • If the form is not printed and scanned before submitting, it will not be accepted. 
      • Please submit your information saved as one of these supported file attachments and forward to us in your email. Please ensure that the maximum size does not exceed 28MB.
        • jpeg
        • pdf (excludes HEIC)
        • docx (Microsoft Word)
        • xlsx (Microsoft Excel)
        • png
        • tiff
      • By mail: The W1 form is available online for download.
        Once you’ve filled it out in pen, keep a copy for your records.
        Mail the signed copy of the W1 form to the WCB at:
        Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board
        200-1881 Scarth Street
        Regina, SK   S4P 4L1
      • By phone: Call the WCB at 1.800.787.9288 and a WCB representative will take your information and complete the form for you.

To complete the W1 form, you need:

  • your birthdate
  • your social insurance number
  • your provincial health services card number
  • your employer’s name, address and phone number
  • the name of the health-care provider who is treating your injury
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What happens next?

Workers, employers, health-care providers and the WCB all have a role to play in the recovery and return-to-work process following a work injury. 

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Participate with your employer, care provider and the WCB in setting up an appropriate and safe return-to-work plan. The plan usually includes treatment, employment services and suitable work duties.

Effective claims management must involve not only the WCB, but also employers, workers and care providers in a co-operative relationship. The WCB uses a proactive customer care facilitator system to maximize early treatment, support safe return to work and provide superior customer service.

  • Claims are immediately sorted to focus attention on injuries with complications or those of a more serious, longer-term nature.
  • Established recovery schedules, timelines and standards result in prompt treatment and return to work.
  • Medical treatment and return-to-work activities run at the same time.
  • Treatment, physical rehabilitation and return-to-work plans are continually monitored to ensure your progress to recovery and return to the workplace.
  • Be sure to stay in contact with your employer throughout the entire process.
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Submit a form

Use the WCB's secure document transfer to submit a picture (JPEG) or PDF document or submit the files by email.