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Regulation Review: Part 1

Workers in Manitoba have legislated regulations to help keep us safe, day in and day out – no matter what job we do. These regulations are a part of the framework for building safe workplaces in Manitoba. 

The Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health Act and associated regulations are in place to protect you – the worker – from workplace hazards and the risks they present. Manitoba Regulation 217/2006 is a 44-part document containing requirements and guidelines for workplaces, including site-specific rules and other valuable information to prevent harm from coming to workers.  

Over the coming months, Safety Check will profile one part of the Regulation each issue to help remind you of its specifics and keep safety top-of-mind for all of Manitoba.  

This month, it’s Regulation Part 1 – an introduction to the Regulation, including definitions of important terms found within the document and an outline of matters that relate to the Regulation as a whole.  

Foremost, Part 1 provides blanket statements and provisions that apply to the whole of the Regulation and all its parts. The following summarized statements are aimed to ensure you understand the Regulation easily and completely.  

  • When notifying the Workplace Safety and Health Division or Director of a workplace safety and health matter, notice may be given verbally or in writing unless the notification is of a fatality, serious injury or dangerous occurrence.  
  • Where a tool, machine or other thing is required to meet a publication, code or standard, the publication, code or standard must be the most recent edition at the time the tool, machine or thing was manufactured. 
  • When a person is required to perform work in accordance with the requirements of a publication, code or standard, the person must perform the work in accordance with requirements of the most recent edition.
  • Compliance with another publication, code or standard must be acceptable to the director.
  • The requirements of the Regulation prevail where there is inconsistency between it and any other document. 
  • Certification by a professional engineer must be in writing and signed and sealed. A copy of the certification must be readily available. 
  • Provisions of this regulation that apply to employers and workers also apply to those who are self-employed. 
  • Provisions that apply to workers also apply to employers who perform work or other services. 

For a more detailed introduction to the Regulation, read Part 1 in full.