What WorkSafeBC Coverage Means When You Hire Through a Staffing Agency

One of the most common questions employers have when using a staffing agency for the first time is who's actually on the hook if something goes wrong on-site. The short answer: it depends on how the workers are engaged, and that's worth understanding before you sign anything.

The general principle

WorkSafeBC requires that every worker on a job site be covered — full stop. The question isn't whether coverage exists, it's whose account it falls under. Reputable staffing agencies carry their own WorkSafeBC registration and cover workers they place under labour supply arrangements, which means the agency — not the host employer — carries that liability.

Labour supply vs. direct contract, from a compliance angle

Under a labour supply arrangement, the agency is generally the employer of record for WorkSafeBC purposes, even though your supervisor directs the day-to-day work on site. Under a direct contract, the agency is fully responsible as the contractor — your business isn't managing the workers at all.

In both cases, ask the agency directly whether their WorkSafeBC account is active and in good standing, and ask for confirmation in writing. This isn't an unusual request — any agency doing this properly will have the answer ready.

What this doesn't cover

Site safety obligations don't disappear just because a worker is covered under someone else's WorkSafeBC account. As the host employer, you're still responsible for maintaining a safe worksite, providing appropriate site-specific orientation, and ensuring supplied workers have the PPE and hazard information relevant to your site. Coverage and site safety are related but separate obligations.

What to ask before your first order

• Is your WorkSafeBC registration active, and can you confirm coverage in writing?
• Under labour supply, who provides site-specific safety orientation — you or us?
• What happens procedurally if an incident occurs on-site?

A clear answer to all three, before the first shift, is the standard to hold any labour supply partner to.