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Part of Farm and ranch workplace legislation

Workplace insurance: Farm and ranch

WCB or private insurance coverage is required for farm and ranch operations with six or more waged, non-family workers who have worked at least six consecutive months as of January 31, 2020.

Overview

WCB provides no-fault insurance coverage in the event of a work-related injury. Protection is provided to workers and employers regardless of who caused the work injury.

WCB insurance coverage is mandatory for most employers and workers in Alberta. It is the only insurance that offers protection from lawsuit for all parties covered by WCB.

Extending coverage to the farm industry will provide owners, workers and their families with liability protection and financial support in the event of a workplace injury or death.

Who is affected

Coverage for farm operations with paid employees is mandatory as of January 1, 2016. Operations must register with WCB.

Unpaid workers, family members and children will not be covered under WCB unless an owner chooses to opt them in to protect the farm from liability in the case of an accident, and provide coverage for medical assistance and income replacement.

These family exclusions apply in the case of farms and ranches that are:

  • a sole proprietorship where the owner is a family member
  • a partnership in which the only shareholding partners are family members
  • an incorporated company, where the only shareholders are family members

Estimated cost

Rates are based on the risk and size of an operation. A large operation with many workers would pay higher premiums than a small farm.

As a general guideline, the typical rates would apply per $100 of insurable earnings:

  • $1.75 - Agri-tourism farms, greenhouses and market gardens, mushroom producers, bait farms
  • $1.80 - Apiaries, fishing and fish or fur farms, goat and sheep producers, hog producers, poultry and egg producers
  • $2.31 - Forage & peat moss processing, hay and grain and crop farming, harvesting and baling-custom
  • $3.05 - Beef producers, dairy farms, elk and bison producers, feed lots, livestock auctions and stockyards, llama and alpaca producers, riding academies and horse stables

Source: WCB Farming coverage

Please contact the WCB to get an accurate quote and to register your operation.

Workers' Compensation Board (WCB)
Toll free: 1-866-922-9221
Email: [email protected]

Publication

Contact

Connect with OHS:

Phone: 780-415-8690 (Edmonton)
Toll free: 1-866-415-8690

Employment Standards:

Phone: 780-427-3731 (Edmonton)
Toll free: 1-877-427-3731

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