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Regulation Review - Part 2

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 is profiling one part of the Regulation in each issue to help remind you of the Regulation’s specifics and to help keep safety top-of-mind for all Manitobans.  

This month, it’s Regulation Part 2 – General Duties. 

This part of the regulation outlines general safety duties that apply to Manitoba workplaces.  Some topics covered include workplace inspections,  incident notification and provisions for pregnant or nursing workers. Part 2 clarifies certain duties of workplace parties (for example, safety and health committee/representative, employer, etc.) and expands on such topics as serious incidents and investigations. 

A valuable resource for employers, supervisors and safety and health committees, Part 2 outlines the fundamentals of SAFE work procedures, Employers must develop and implement them in consultation with committees/representatives or other workers; train all workers in the safe work procedures; and ensure that workers comply with those procedures. 

It also reminds employers – in detail – of the general points summarized below.

  • Workers must have ready access to the Act, Regulations and Codes of Practice. 
  • Workplace inspections must be conducted on a regular basis and any unsafe conditions corrected.  
  • Serious incidents are defined as incidents in which a worker is killed or suffers an injury resulting from electrical contact, unconsciousness, fracture of the skull, spine, pelvis, arm, leg, hand or foot, amputation of any limb, third degree burns, loss of sight, a cut or laceration that requires medical treatment or asphyxiation or poisoning.  
  • Serious incidents also include any situation which involves structural collapse, an explosion, fire or flood, an uncontrolled spill or the failure of an atmosphere-supplying respirator.  
  • Employers must report serious incidents to the Workplace Safety and Health Division immediately and by the fastest means of communication available.  
  • Investigation of serious incidents must be undertaken by committee chairs or the employer and worker representative.  
  • Records must be maintained for the period stated in regulations and must be transferred to the new employer when an existing employer ceases to operate.  
  • Employers must maintain a clean and sanitary workplace.  
  • Control of airborne dust at a construction site must be sufficient to control risks.  
  • Protruding nails, pins or other obstructions from concrete or other surfaces must be removed or cut off.  
  • All work areas must be kept free of snow and ice accumulation.  
  • Signs at construction sites must contain a core set of information, explained in the Regulation. 

 

Read the Regulation Summary or Regulation Part 2 in its entirety for more information.