Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) is reminding employers to ensure workplaces are safe and employees are provided the proper procedures to perform their duties, after two businesses were prosecuted for workplace incidents.
On April 3, 2012, a worker for Norbert’s Manufacturing Ltd. in the Rural Municipality of South Cypress was involved in a workplace incident that resulted in serious injuries. The worker was trimming aluminum step covers using a hydraulic shear. The worker was instructed to remove a physical guard that would have prevented contact with the blade of the shear. The worker’s left hand came in contact with the blade, resulting in the partial amputation of four fingers.
On Oct. 20, 2014, the employer pleaded guilty under section 4(2)(b) of the Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health Act to the charge of failing to ensure the worker was adequately trained to operate the hydraulic shear safely while performing the task of trimming aluminum steel step covers. The company was ordered to pay $50,050 in fines and surcharges.
On Aug. 27, 2012, a worker for Rakowski Cartage and Wrecking Ltd. was involved in a workplace incident that resulted in serious injuries. While feeding copper wire into a wire stripper, the worker’s left hand came into contact with the feeding rolls of the machine, resulting in serious lacerations.
On Oct. 22, 2014, the employer pleaded guilty under section 4(1)(a) of the Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health Act to the charge of failing to ensure the safety, health and welfare of the worker by not having safeguards in place on the wire stripper machine and failing to provide adequate supervision of its workers. The company was ordered to pay $18,800 in fines and surcharges.
When a workplace incident occurs, WSH investigates and can recommend prosecution if it finds the employer did not have appropriate safeguards in place, did not implement legislated requirements or did not ensure employees were properly trained. More information on WSH and the Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health Act is available online.
