November 28, 2019
Province Introduces Workplace Safety and Health Amendment Act That Would Streamline and Strengthen Programs and Services
The Workplace Safety and Health Amendment Act would reduce duplication, strengthen penalties for serious workplace infractions and improve the efficiency of services, Finance Minister Scott Fielding announced today.
“We want to make sure workplaces are safe for workers as safety is a priority for this government,” said Fielding. “These amendments would ensure Manitoba remains a safe and healthy place to work, as well as a competitive and attractive place to do business.”
The bill would strengthen deterrents for the most serious contraventions and would better align Manitoba with other jurisdictions. First offence maximum penalties would increase under the act to $500,000 from $250,000 and to $1,000,000 from $500,000 for a second or subsequent offence.
The amendment would improve mechanisms for collecting penalties levied by the courts for purposes of educating the public on workplace injury and illness prevention. The proposed bill introduces new provisions that would prevent frivolous or vexatious appeals from being forwarded to the Manitoba Labour Board.
Proposed amendments would remove unnecessary duplication between SAFE Work Manitoba and the province. The responsibilities of the chief prevention officer (CPO) position would continue to be carried out by SAFE Work Manitoba, and the CPO position eliminated.
The changes proposed in The Workplace Safety and Health Amendment Act stem from the legislated five-year review of the act.
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