WSIB premiums drop 2.1% next year for construction employers

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Ontario Construction News staff writer

Ontario’s construction employers will see their average rates drop by 2.1 percent starting in January while the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) holds average premium rates at current levels for other employers across the province in 2023,

WSIB announced its planned premiums for next year on Oct. 20. The average premium rate for all Ontario businesses will remain steady for 2023 at $1.30 for every $100 of insurable payroll.

“We are doing our part to support Ontario businesses as they recover from the pandemic while improving outcomes for people who have been injured to have a safe, timely and lasting return to work,” said board president and CEO Jeffery Lang. “I am very proud that we are able to hold premium rates to a 20-year low.”

Offering the lowest average premium rate in 20 years builds on the support the WSIB provided businesses during the pandemic, including the first-ever surplus rebate for safe businesses earlier this year. That rebate resulted in more than $1.2 billion injected back into Ontario’s economy.

“Our government is driving generational change at the WSIB to deliver for people injured at work while also keeping costs low for Ontario businesses,” said Monte McNaughton, minister of labour, immigration, training and skills development. “Working together, we will be taking more action in the coming months to support safe employers and put workers and their families first.”

In 2023, the WSIB is also offering smaller businesses enrolled in the Health and Safety Excellence program double their rebates for every topic completed, plus $1,000 toward implementing their health and safety plan.

Ontario businesses will be able to access their individual 2023 premium rate statements on the WSIB’s website starting November 1, 2022 with paper copies mailed later in the month.

Rate changes for construction sectors under new model:

  • Residential Building Construction: $2.63 (2022) to $2.47 (2023)
  • Infrastructure Construction: $2.12 (2022) to $1.81 (2023)
  • Foundation, Structure and Building Exterior Construction: $4.12 (2022) to $3.60 (2023)
  • Building Equipment Construction: $1.70 (2022) to $1.50 (2023)
  • Specialty Trades Construction: $2.36 (2022) to $2.16 (2023)
  • Non-residential Building Construction: $1.79 (2022) to $1.55 (2023)

The WSIB says the decision to freeze rates for 2023 builds on the support it has provided businesses during the pandemic, including the first-ever surplus rebate for safe businesses earlier this year. That rebate resulted in more than $1.2 billion injected back into Ontario’s economy.

1 COMMENT

  1. […] Ontario’s construction employers will see their average rates drop by 2.1 percent starting in January while the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) holds average premium rates at current levels for other employers across the province in 2023. Read more here. […]

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