PMI Assessment

WSCC physicians assess permanent impairments before a pension is implemented. Disability is defined as “restriction of ability to perform specific activities as a result of impairment.” The WSCC has its own NWT and Nunavut Permanent Impairment  Rating Guide.  It uses the American Medical Association's Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment as a resource.

Permanent impairment assessments of workers in the NWT and Nunavut are conducted at the WSCC office in Yellowknife, or in the communities at one of the Medical Advisor's scheduled clinics. For workers who live outside the NWT and Nunavut, permanent impairment assessments are usually conducted by medical advisors of the "home" province WSCC.  The assessments may also be conducted through independent medical evaluators. The medical advisors use the NWT and Nunavut rating guide to assign impairment ratings. Ratings may also be calculated using information from hand injury report forms, eye injury forms, and audiograms.

Whenever possible, the Medical Advisor recognizes significant contributors of impairments which affect disability if they are not compensable or have a pre-existing source.

• NWT and Nunavut Permanent Medical Impairment Guide (Dec, 1, 2010) - English