Industry Code: 86414
This industry includes businesses that employ any one of a group of professionals and scientists operating outside the industries of professional engineering, and architectural services. This industry is for businesses whose services are restricted to consulting/research services and providing reports or recommendations on the material researched.
These environmental, agricultural, geological and geophysical professionals provide the service of advising clients, consulting with clients, and analyzing information for the client, based on information obtained from sampling, experiments and visual inspections, selling their knowledge and expertise to clients on a contract basis.
Also included in this industry are businesses which provide seismic data processing services.
Operation Details:
Environmental and agricultural professionals in this industry include agriculturists, biologists, micro-biologists, chemists, ecologists (study of relations of living organisms to the environment and to each other), conservationists, nutritionists, forestry specialists, horticulturists, and wildlife specialists.
Environmental fieldwork performed in this industry includes activities such as scraping algae from rocks, sampling water, inspecting trees, aerial reconnaissance (process of obtaining information about the position, activities, resources, etc.), determining the number and size of animals, taking soil/vegetation/crop/feed samples and inspecting terrain. Generally, the only equipment used for this fieldwork is hand-tools.
Wildlife biological studies may include studying and reporting the behavioral and migration patterns of wild animals. An aerial survey may be carried out first to locate the animals, and then follow-up work on the ground is done to provide information to assist in creating reports on the number and size of animals and their behavioral patterns. Lab work may be carried out to support the field work. Generally, reports are written up on the findings of the lab work.
Agrology and agronomy services are included under this industry on an optional basis as of January 31, 2020. See Underwriting Considerations for further details. The studies carried out in this industry may be in the area of forestry management, road development, pipeline right-of-way, land usage, land reclamation, agricultural soil fertility, animal nutrition, horticultural crops, hydroponics (growing of plants not in soil but in water which contains the necessary nutrients) and recreation planning.
Geologists base their studies on the geometric history of the earth's formation as recorded in rocks. Geologists analyze and evaluate drill cuttings, gas samples and core samples for fossils.
Geophysicists base their studies on the physics of the earth and its environment. Geophysicists offer consulting services to seismic operators, whereby they analyze and evaluate data from seismic operations.
The clients of businesses in this industry are usually involved in the oilfield or mineral exploration and production industries. Both are involved in locating new oil, gas and mineral sites, investigating the economics of proposed projects' mapping strata and physical properties of an area, as well as monitoring the progress of projects.
The equipment used by geologists is usually limited to a microscope, hammer and office equipment. Geophysicists use drafting and basic office equipment.
Seismic data processing, which is also referred to as "mapping", involves the transfer of seismic data (recordings of underground formations) into readable form with the use of computer systems, plotters and transcribers.
Underwriting Considerations:
Agrology and agronomy services were mandatory from January 1, 2016 - January 30, 2020 due to farming legislation changes. As such, when these services are the sole or primary activity of the business, farming/ranching coverage rules apply. (ie. mandatory coverage for waged non-family workers, waged family members may be optional/mandatory depending on whether partners/shareholders are family members.) Effective January 31, 2020, employers with six or more waged non-family workers can choose to have their workplace insurance coverage under the Workers’ Compensation Act or through a private insurance provider. Employers are not required to have workplace insurance if they have five or fewer non-family workers, or hire workers for less than six consecutive months.
This industry is for businesses whose services are restricted to consulting/research services and providing reports or recommendations on the material researched. Consulting/research, in conjunction with product sales or the provision of other services, would be classified in the industry which best covers the overall business being conducted.
Wildlife control which consists of activities such as blasting beaver dams, setting traps, moving animals to a new location and sometimes shooting the animals are classified in Industry 01403 - Fishing/Fish or Fur Farms.
Businesses providing a timber management service (e.g. planting seedlings, timber cruising, block layouts, cone picking, log scaling, stand tending, and regeneration surveys) for mills, or the Alberta Government, are classified in Industry 03902 - Timber Management.
Businesses involved in supervising land reclamation projects are classified in Industry 40604 - Mobile Equipment Operations.
Businesses that provide coal and mineral test hole logging services are classified Industry 86405 – Geophysical Survey excluding Seismic.
Businesses providing geophysical surveys are classified under Industry 86405 – Geophysical Survey excluding Seismic; or Industry 09200 – Seismic Survey, depending on the nature of the business.
Businesses that provide general land surveys are classified under Industry 86401 - Survey - Land/General.
Industry Custom Pricing: Waiving Cost Relief Option
This industry has chosen to participate in Industry Custom Pricing effective January 1, 2012. Costs related to the aggravation of a pre-existing condition will not be removed from the experience record of employers classified in this industry. In return, the levy to fund retroactive cost relief has been removed from the industry rate, resulting in a reduction in WCB premium rates for the industry.
Premium Rate History:
Activities:
Agricultural Consulting and Research
Biological Consulting
Environmental Research and Consulting Services
Forestry Consulting Services
Horticultural Consulting and Research Services
Wildlife Research
Geological Services
Geophysical Services
Seismic Data Processing
Seismic Mapping (excl. data acquisition)
Agrology Services
Agronomy Services
Rate Group History:
The industries in this rate group were reviewed in detail in 1995 with changes implemented in 1996.
The effect was the consolidation of industries covering specific professional services related to consulting, evaluating, analysis and design (e.g. engineers, architects, and geologists) under one rate group.
Industry 86411 - Geological/Geophysical Services was consolidated into this industry on January 1, 2011.
This industry includes businesses that employ any one of a group of professionals and scientists operating outside the industries of professional engineering, and architectural services. This industry is for businesses whose services are restricted to consulting/research services and providing reports or recommendations on the material researched.
These environmental, agricultural, geological and geophysical professionals provide the service of advising clients, consulting with clients, and analyzing information for the client, based on information obtained from sampling, experiments and visual inspections, selling their knowledge and expertise to clients on a contract basis.
Also included in this industry are businesses which provide seismic data processing services.
Premium Rate History:
Activities:
Agricultural Consulting and Research
Biological Consulting
Environmental Research and Consulting Services
Forestry Consulting Services
Horticultural Consulting and Research Services
Wildlife Research
Geological Services
Geophysical Services
Seismic Data Processing
Seismic Mapping (excl. data acquisition)
Agrology Services
Agronomy Services
Operation Details:
Environmental and agricultural professionals in this industry include agriculturists, biologists, micro-biologists, chemists, ecologists (study of relations of living organisms to the environment and to each other), conservationists, nutritionists, forestry specialists, horticulturists, and wildlife specialists.
Environmental fieldwork performed in this industry includes activities such as scraping algae from rocks, sampling water, inspecting trees, aerial reconnaissance (process of obtaining information about the position, activities, resources, etc.), determining the number and size of animals, taking soil/vegetation/crop/feed samples and inspecting terrain. Generally, the only equipment used for this fieldwork is hand-tools.
Wildlife biological studies may include studying and reporting the behavioral and migration patterns of wild animals. An aerial survey may be carried out first to locate the animals, and then follow-up work on the ground is done to provide information to assist in creating reports on the number and size of animals and their behavioral patterns. Lab work may be carried out to support the field work. Generally, reports are written up on the findings of the lab work.
Agrology and agronomy services are included under this industry on an optional basis as of January 31, 2020. See Underwriting Considerations for further details. The studies carried out in this industry may be in the area of forestry management, road development, pipeline right-of-way, land usage, land reclamation, agricultural soil fertility, animal nutrition, horticultural crops, hydroponics (growing of plants not in soil but in water which contains the necessary nutrients) and recreation planning.
Geologists base their studies on the geometric history of the earth's formation as recorded in rocks. Geologists analyze and evaluate drill cuttings, gas samples and core samples for fossils.
Geophysicists base their studies on the physics of the earth and its environment. Geophysicists offer consulting services to seismic operators, whereby they analyze and evaluate data from seismic operations.
The clients of businesses in this industry are usually involved in the oilfield or mineral exploration and production industries. Both are involved in locating new oil, gas and mineral sites, investigating the economics of proposed projects' mapping strata and physical properties of an area, as well as monitoring the progress of projects.
The equipment used by geologists is usually limited to a microscope, hammer and office equipment. Geophysicists use drafting and basic office equipment.
Seismic data processing, which is also referred to as "mapping", involves the transfer of seismic data (recordings of underground formations) into readable form with the use of computer systems, plotters and transcribers.
Underwriting Considerations:
Agrology and agronomy services were mandatory from January 1, 2016 - January 30, 2020 due to farming legislation changes. As such, when these services are the sole or primary activity of the business, farming/ranching coverage rules apply. (ie. mandatory coverage for waged non-family workers, waged family members may be optional/mandatory depending on whether partners/shareholders are family members.) Effective January 31, 2020, employers with six or more waged non-family workers can choose to have their workplace insurance coverage under the Workers’ Compensation Act or through a private insurance provider. Employers are not required to have workplace insurance if they have five or fewer non-family workers, or hire workers for less than six consecutive months.
This industry is for businesses whose services are restricted to consulting/research services and providing reports or recommendations on the material researched. Consulting/research, in conjunction with product sales or the provision of other services, would be classified in the industry which best covers the overall business being conducted.
Wildlife control which consists of activities such as blasting beaver dams, setting traps, moving animals to a new location and sometimes shooting the animals are classified in Industry 01403 - Fishing/Fish or Fur Farms.
Businesses providing a timber management service (e.g. planting seedlings, timber cruising, block layouts, cone picking, log scaling, stand tending, and regeneration surveys) for mills, or the Alberta Government, are classified in Industry 03902 - Timber Management.
Businesses involved in supervising land reclamation projects are classified in Industry 40604 - Mobile Equipment Operations.
Businesses that provide coal and mineral test hole logging services are classified Industry 86405 – Geophysical Survey excluding Seismic.
Businesses providing geophysical surveys are classified under Industry 86405 – Geophysical Survey excluding Seismic; or Industry 09200 – Seismic Survey, depending on the nature of the business.
Businesses that provide general land surveys are classified under Industry 86401 - Survey - Land/General.
Industry Custom Pricing: Waiving Cost Relief Option
This industry has chosen to participate in Industry Custom Pricing effective January 1, 2012. Costs related to the aggravation of a pre-existing condition will not be removed from the experience record of employers classified in this industry. In return, the levy to fund retroactive cost relief has been removed from the industry rate, resulting in a reduction in WCB premium rates for the industry.
Rate Group History:
The industries in this rate group were reviewed in detail in 1995 with changes implemented in 1996.
The effect was the consolidation of industries covering specific professional services related to consulting, evaluating, analysis and design (e.g. engineers, architects, and geologists) under one rate group.
Industry 86411 - Geological/Geophysical Services was consolidated into this industry on January 1, 2011.