Unpaid practicum students eligible for workers’ comp coverage: WorkSafeBC

WorkSafeBC has released a fact sheet around coverage for practicum students enrolled in post-secondary institutions.
If students are enrolled in an approved practicum program — but are not being paid for their practice work experience — the school is acting on behalf of the employer (the Ministry of Advanced Education). Should students experience a work-related illness or injury while doing their practicum, they are eligible to seek compensation, and would submit their claims to WorkSafeBC.

Claims process:
• The student completes a Worker’s Incident and Injury Report (Form 6) and submits it to WorkSafeBC.
• The college, university or approved post-secondary institution completes an Employer’s Report of Injury or Occupational Disease (Form 7) and submits it to the Ministry of Advanced Education.
• The Ministry countersigns the Form 7 and submits it to WorkSafeBC.

To find out more about the eligibility and the scope of coverage for practicum students, see the Ministry of Advanced Education document, WorkSafeBC Coverage for Post-Secondary Students Deemed to be Employees of the Crown. It’s a good idea to review this document before the practicum begins, said WorkSafeBC.

If the students are participating in a paid work experience or practicum program, they are still eligible for WorkSafeBC coverage. But the post-secondary institution is not the employer. In this case, the health-care facility where the work is taking place is the employer. And, it’s up to that employer to help students process their claims.