March 28, 2007

Construction sector not a hotspot for claims fraud

Peter Mitham

correspondent

Despite the number of workers active in the booming B.C. construction sector, fraudulent or suppressed injury claims are no more a problem than in any other sector, WorksafeBC says.

Though the provincial workers’ compensation organization doesn’t break down the stats sector by sector, WorksafeBC spokesperson Scott McCloy said evidence suggests that the number of new and transient workers flowing into sectors such as construction hasn’t translated into more abuse of the system.

“We haven’t seen that,” he said. “We’re not seeing more fraud or potential fraud. Most people are honest.”

WorksafeBC handles approximately 150,000 claims a year, of which about 15 per cent are related to construction activities. In 2006, the board investigated 532 claims for suspected fraud. The tally is down from seven years ago, McCloy said, when approximately 1,200 claims were investigated.

“We’re doing fewer surveillances,” he said.

WorksafeBC recently solicited bids for the provision of surveillance services from private firms. It hopes to contract 35 private investigators to investigate potentially fraudulent claims, or to verify the authenticity of claims. The number doesn’t represent an increase in the number of investigators, however.

“We’re just maintaining the status quo,” McCloy said.

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