Employer Rights to Require Medical Examinations Before WCB Claims

A seasonal oilfield services company based in Kindersley, Saskatchewan operates field crews from March through October each year, shutting down during winter months when conditions prevent safe operations. In September 2024, the company's operations manager received reports that a field technician had been overheard telling coworkers he planned to stage a workplace injury to collect workers' compensation benefits during the off-season.

The company, which employs 35 seasonal workers across 3 remote drilling sites, now faces a dilemma. Management wants to implement a policy requiring all employees to submit to examination by a company-designated physician before any workplace injury claim proceeds to the Workers' Compensation Board. The question is whether Saskatchewan law permits an employer to impose such a pre-claim medical examination requirement, and what legal exposure the company faces if it disciplines the employee based solely on the overheard statements.

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