WorkSafeNB has developed a summary document that highlights key changes.
Anyone who wants to use PPE certified by an alternative standard setting agency other than CSA or other agencies cited in the regulations is responsible to confirm that the equipment provides equal or better protection. Determining equal or better protection may not be straight forward but a good place to start could be to ask the supplier or manufacturer. Contacting CSA or other standard setting agencies cited in the regulation may also provide the required information. If alternate PPE is used, the employers or users must be able to provide evidence that the equipment provides equal or better protection.
The only marking requirement for suppliers is to include the word “first aid” 
or the symbol for “first aid” on the first aid kit container. Unfortunately, this will not be enough to determine if the kit meets the CSA requirements. As a purchaser, you can ask for a CSA-compliant kit and if you are not sure it meets the regulation, compare its contents with the CSA standard requirements.
First Aid kits that meet the CSA standard are widely available from safety equipment suppliers, first aid training agencies and online.
Automatically approving standards is also known as “ambulatory incorporation by reference.” This is when a standard with no mention of date of issue or specific version is referenced in a regulation. An advantage of ambulatory incorporating by reference is that drafting regulations can be more flexible because the regulation:
One disadvantage is that there would be little or no stakeholder consultation before the standards come into effect. While the New Brunswick government is committed to stakeholder consultation, changes are being considered with limited ambulatory incorporation by reference that could allow some stakeholder consultation before adopting a revised standard.
A PPI assessment is a medical examination to determine and measure the extent of the permanent impairment. It begins with a complete review of the claim file and is followed by a thorough physical examination of the compensable injury.
The PPI assessment determines impairment, not disability.
An impairment is objective and ratable, whereas a disability is based on numerous non-medical factors such as motivation, transferable skills, geography, job demands, etc.
Once adequate healing time and physical rehabilitation is complete, a medical review will determine if and when you qualify for this assessment. Your condition must be stable and have reached maximal medical improvement.
There is a regulated timeline that must be followed to achieve maximal medical improvement and for the physical impairment to stabilize. This can vary from six months to 24 months.
For example: A shoulder could be assessed 18 months following shoulder surgery.
WorkSafeNB must have accepted the injury as being work-related.
A permanent physical impairment rating is not provided for psychological or mental impairment when there is no physical injury. Pain and suffering are only considered when they directly affect impairment of the body’s function.
Pre-existing/personal conditions do not qualify for a PPI assessment.
A PPI assessment is conducted by a WorkSafeNB-approved medical examiner, certified by the American Board of Independent Medical Examiners (ABIME).
The physician must be independent and cannot be your current or past treating physician.
The medical examiner gathers general background information from you about your health and your compensable injury.
Then a physical exam is conducted in relation to your injury by using tests for motion, strength and sensation. These tests are not strenuous and are performed in a way to avoid discomfort.
It is important for the medical examiner to conduct as thorough a physical exam as medically appropriate for an accurate assessment. This usually takes between 20-60 minutes to complete.
