Two businesses prosecuted for workplace incidents
Manitoba Family Services and Labour advises employers that it is their role to ensure workplaces are safe and employees receive proper training. When a workplace incident occurs, Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) investigates and can recommend prosecution if it is determined the employer did not have appropriate safeguards in place or employees had not been properly trained.
On March 23, 2009, a 45-year-old worker at Western Scrap Metals Inc. in Winnipeg was fatally injured on the job. The worker was unloading bales of recycled paper from a trailer when two bales dislodged and fell on the worker.
On Dec. 11, 2012, the employer plead guilty under section 4(2)(b) of the Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health Act to charges of failing to provide the necessary information, instruction, training, supervision and facilities to reasonably ensure the safety, health and welfare at work of all its workers.
The company was ordered to pay $72,500 in fines and surcharges.
On July 13, 2010, a building with asbestos-containing material located at 123 Regent Ave. East in Winnipeg was demolished. The owners (Nat-Al Ltd.) demolished the building, without informing WSH or the company who conducted the demolition, that it contained asbestos-containing materials.
On Dec. 13, 2012, the employer plead guilty under section 7.2(a) of the Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health Act to the charge of proceeding with the demolition of a building containing asbestos-containing material without removing the asbestos in a manner that does not create a risk to the safety and health of any person.
The company was ordered to pay $12,050 in fines and surcharges.
More information on Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health and the Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health Act is available at safemanitoba.com/compliance.
