Workers’ Comp vs. Private Insurance

While many industries are mandated to participate in provincial Workers’ Compensation insurance programs, some sectors may opt-out and secure private insurance coverage. 

Businesses in exempt industries consider private insurance alternatives for several reasons, including:

• the ability to customize coverage to better align with the risks of their business,

• achieve cost savings and/or more comprehensive coverage for similar premiums, and

• receive personalized service, expedited claims processing, quicker resolution of workplace injury cases, and reduced administrative burden.

Determining which businesses are eligible for opt-out is provincially mandated, and includes but is not limited to the following:

• Workplace Safety and Insurance Board of Ontario

  • Sole proprietor, partner, or executive officer

  • Bank, trust, and insurance company

  • Trade unions

  • Private daycare

  • Travel agency

  • Photography business

  • Barber shop and many hair salons

  • Funeral or embalming establishment

  • Veterinarian or dentist offices

  In addition, WSIB does not cover:

  • Business owners, sole proprieters, partners, and executive officers

  • Foreign diplomats

  • Competitors in individual or team sports

  • Stunt and circus performers

  For more information on Ontario WSIB exemptions, see here: https://www.wsib.ca/en/businesses/registration-and-coverage/do-you-need-register-us

• Work Safe British Columbia

  • Self-employed proprietor or proprietor's spouse

  • A partner in a partnership

  • An exempt homeowner

  • An out-of-province firm

  For information on voluntary coverage, click here: https://www.worksafebc.com/en/insurance/need-coverage/optional-coverage

• Workers' Compensation Board of Saskatchewan

  • Owners of a sole proprietorship or partnership and their spouses.

  • The farming or ranching industry

  • Farming operations are excluded, such as dairy farms and farms that raise only pigs or poultry.

  • Employers in industries excluded by Section 3 of The Workers’ Compensation Act, 2013 or by the Miscellaneous Regulations

  Click here for more information: https://www.wcbsask.com/voluntary-coverage

• Workers' Compensation Board of Alberta

  • Employers that provide professional services

  • Outworkers

  • Professional athletes

  • Coaches

  • Stuntpersons

  • Homeowners applying for their own coverage

  For all other exemptions, see here: https://rm.wcb.ab.ca/wcb.ratemanual.webserver/ExemptActivities

• Workers' Compensation Board of Manitoba

  • If you do not employ workers in Manitoba, you are not required to have WCB coverage.

  • Business owners and self-employed individuals

  • Volunteers

  • Farming, Beekeeping, Greenhouses, Nurseries, and Market Gardening

  • Law, accounting and other professional service firms

  • Recreational centres and rinks

  For more information on exempt industries, see here: https://www.wcb.mb.ca/does-my-business-need-coverage

• WorkSafe New Brunswick

  • Any employer with less than three workers

  • Fishing industry with less than 25 employees

  For more information, see here: https://www.worksafenb.ca/employers/insurance/accounts-and-coverage/

• Workplace Newfoundland

  • A proprietor or partners of a non-incorporated business

  • Persons employed at a private residence: This includes child care providers, house cleaners and home care workers

  • Persons employed by an individual in the construction or renovation of a private residence

  • Pro sport competitors

  • Commercial fishers, when engaged in off-season pursuits

  For more information, see here: https://workplacenl.ca/employers/faqs/

• Workers' Compensation Board of Nova Scotia

  • Proprietors

  • Partners in a partnership

  • Officers (for example presidents, vice presidents, secretaries/treasurers) of an incorporated (limited) company who are paid solely for attending director’s meetings

  • Work on ships or boats, where these fall under provincial jurisdiction, are largely exempt from WCB

  • The business of a florist or seedman, seed growing, gardening and horticulture; the keeping or breeding of livestock, poultry or bees; fruit growing; the picking, grading, packing, hauling, handling and storage of fruit or vegetables

  • Barbershops and shoe shine establishments

  • Undertaking and funeral directing

  • Educational institutions, surgical medical, veterinary work and dental surgery

  • Taxidermy

  • Work upon golf courses, tennis grounds, grounds used for open-air sports, games or athletics when performed by workers of the owner or occupier

  • The operation of taxicabs

  • All operations and work carried on by means of a ship, boat, or vessel of any kind, or performed by the members of the crew thereof, that are not included in the industries listed in Appendix “A” of the regulations

  • Fishing, sealing and dredging

  For more information on mandatory industries and exemptions, see here: https://employerguide.wcb.ns.ca/mandatory-industries

• Workers' Compensation Board of PEI

  • Employers engaged in farming or fishing

  For more information, see here: http://www.wcb.pe.ca

Occupational Accident insurance from Sutton Special Risk provides an affordable and customizable alternative to mandatory provincial insurance programs. Learn about our Occupational Accident plans: