Alberta first responders get added coverage
Posted Nov 3, 2012 8:20 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The province’s police officers, firefighters and paramedics now have greater coverage for post traumatic stress disorder after MLA’s from all parties gave unanimous approval to Bill 1 this week.
Under the bill, first responders have been given presumptive coverage, meaning any of workers in those professions who develop the disorder are presumed to have done so on the job.
According to the Calgary Herald, the onus is on the Workers Compensation Board to disprove the claim and present evidence that the condition is not work-related.
The bill passed late Thursday night, but not without debate as to whether it should cover other professions, such as correctional officers, social workers and emergency health-care workers.
