News Releases

Media Bulletin - Manitoba

May 24, 2019

Province Advises Employers Prosecuted for Workplace Incidents



Manitoba Growth, Enterprise and Trade is reminding employers to ensure that workplaces are safe and workers are adequately trained and supervised to perform their duties after two employers were prosecuted for violations of The Workplace Safety and Health Act and Regulations.  Because of these prosecutions, penalties totalling $120,000 were ordered by the courts.
 
On Nov. 11, 2015, a worker from Thompson-based Clarence’s Automatic Transmission and General Auto Repairs Ltd. was tasked with cutting a 55-gallon steel drum into two pieces using a hand-held angle grinder.  When the worker began cutting the drum, fumes trapped inside the drum ignited, causing an explosion that killed the worker.  Clarence Jackson pleaded guilty to failing to take reasonable measures to ensure the safety, health and welfare of his worker, and failing to develop and implement safe work procedures for welding activities and processes in the workplace.  He was ordered to pay $20,000 in fines and penalties.

On April 11, 2016, a worker from Morden-based Decor Cabinets Ltd. was manufacturing cabinet drawers.  The worker was utilizing a Dodds clamp machine to clamp drawer box components into place.  While holding the sides of a drawer between the clamps, the worker used a knee to activate the clamp lever located on the front of the machine.  The worker’s hands were pinched between the clamps of the machine and the drawer resulting in injuries to both hands.  Decor Cabinet Ltd. pleaded guilty to failing to take reasonable measures to ensure the safety, health and welfare of its worker.  The employer was ordered to pay $25,000 in fines and penalties.

On Sept. 22, 2016, a worker from Morden-based Decor Cabinets Ltd. was cleaning the interior components of a Novimat Concept L 2425 bander machine when the worker’s hand came into contact with a cutting head.  The worker sustained severe injuries to a hand and fingers.  Decor Cabinets Ltd. pleaded guilty to failing to take reasonable measures to ensure the safety, health and welfare of its worker.  The employer was ordered to pay $50,000 in fines and penalties and an additional $25,000 payable to Workplace Safety and Health to help educate the public about the importance of workplace safety and health.

More information on workplace safety and health and The Workplace Safety and Health Act is available at www.gov.mb.ca/labour/safety/index.html.

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