Legal responsibility
Legal responsibility, or liability, is a person's or company's obligation under the law to answer for its acts or omissions, for example by paying damages or a fine. It can arise in contract, in tort such as negligence, or under statutes and regulations.
How BC law treats it
In BC, workplace injuries are covered by WorkSafeBC under the Workers Compensation Act, RSBC 2019 c 1, which generally bars workers from suing their employer in tort. Liability to visitors for premises safety is governed by the Occupiers Liability Act, RSBC 1996 c 337.
What it means for your business
A BC business should know its main sources of liability and insure against them where possible.
Risks and common mistakes
Failing to register with WorkSafeBC as an employer can make the business responsible for the cost of a worker's injury claim.
For the full explanation, see our entry on Liability.
General information about British Columbia and Canadian law, current to October 2026. It is not legal advice.
