What is WorkSafeNB and do I need to check if my concrete contractor has it?

WorkSafeNB is New Brunswick's workplace safety and workers' compensation authority — and yes, you should absolutely verify that any concrete contractor you hire has valid WorkSafeNB coverage before work begins on your property. This protects you from potential liability if a worker is injured on your job site.

WorkSafeNB is a provincial Crown corporation that administers the Workers' Compensation Act in New Brunswick. It provides no-fault insurance coverage for workers injured on the job and sets safety standards for workplaces across the province. When a registered employer has WorkSafeNB coverage, injured workers receive wage replacement, medical care, and rehabilitation through WorkSafeNB — without the need to sue the employer or the homeowner.

Here is why this directly affects you as a homeowner: if a concrete worker is injured on your property and the contractor does not have WorkSafeNB coverage, you could be held personally liable for the worker's injuries and lost wages. This is not a hypothetical risk — concrete work involves significant physical hazards, including excavation, heavy equipment, working with heavy forms and reinforcement, and the physical demands of placing and finishing concrete. Injuries happen, and without WorkSafeNB coverage, the injured worker's recourse may extend to you as the property owner.

Verifying WorkSafeNB coverage is straightforward. Ask your contractor for their WorkSafeNB account number and verify it yourself at the WorkSafeNB website (worksafenb.ca) using their Clearance Letter system. A clearance letter confirms that the contractor is registered and in good standing with their WorkSafeNB account — meaning their premiums are paid and their account is active. Request a clearance letter dated within the past 30 days before work starts.

Under New Brunswick's Workers' Compensation Act, most businesses employing workers in the construction industry are required to register with WorkSafeNB and pay premiums based on their payroll. A legitimate, established concrete contractor will have this coverage as a standard part of doing business. A contractor who cannot or will not provide a WorkSafeNB clearance letter is a red flag — either they are not properly registered, or their account is in arrears.

Note that sole proprietors with no employees may be exempt from mandatory WorkSafeNB registration (they can purchase optional personal coverage), but any contractor with employees or subcontractors working on your site must be registered. For any concrete project involving more than one person — which is most pours larger than a small sonotube — WorkSafeNB coverage should be confirmed. New Brunswick Concrete recommends verifying this for every project, regardless of size.