Regulations
Workplace Safety and Health enforces The Workplace Safety and Health Act and its three associated regulations in order to ensure Manitoba’s workplaces are safe and healthy.
Inspection and investigation activity focuses on improving legislative compliance in order to reduce workplace fatalities, serious injuries and illnesses.
Workplace Safety and Health enforcement targets high-risk hazards and sectors, as well as repeated or willful non-compliance. In addition to focused enforcement, random inspections are conducted to ensure consistency throughout the province.
Employers must provide Workplace Safety and Health with certain required information that may affect the safety and health of a person at a workplace, as outlined in The Workplace Safety and Health Act and accompanying regulations.
The Workers Compensation Board promotes safety and health in Manitoba workplaces and aims to help prevent and reduce the occurrence of workplace injuries and disease. Working with its partners, the WCB promotes safe and healthy workplaces, facilitates recovery and return to work, provides compassionate and supportive compensation services for workers and employers, and ensures responsible financial stewardship.
A complete policy manual is available and may be purchased from the Workers Compensation Board.
Visit the WCB website to learn more.
Employment Standards staff help employees and employers learn about their rights and responsibilities in the workplace.
Staff can:
- answer questions
- explain the legislation
- investigate workplace disputes to ensure the legislation is being followed
- give presentations and workshops
Common employment standards issues include:
- minimum wage
- overtime
- general holidays
- vacation
- ending employment
Manitoba WSH Legislation references numerous American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and Canadian Standards Association (CSA) standards.
They offer a portfolio of over 250 construction and infrastructure standards address subject areas such as structural engineering, prefabricated structures, construction technology, products, processes, materials, and climate change resiliency. Many of these standards are referenced in legislation and construction specifications.
Purchase these standards on the CSA website.
To view these standards for free you can create an account at www.community.csagroup.org.
In Manitoba, the director of Workplace Safety and Health may approve and issue codes of practice for the purpose of providing practical guidance on the requirements of any provision of regulations under The Workplace Safety and Health Act.
Failure to observe the guidance of a code of practice is not an offence. However, where a person has been found in contravention of a provision of regulation under The Workplace Safety and Health Act, a code of practice may be used as evidence in a prosecution with respect to the contravention.
Keeping up to date on changes in legislation, standards and codes of practice is key for the heavy construction industry and to keep workers safe.
Below is a list of links to help guide you to the information about what the changes are, how to navigate the changes and what impact it makes on your company.
October 7, 2021: Changes to Manitoba’s WSH Act
March 11, 2019: View public news release of proposed WSH Amendment Act or View proposed act
October 18, 2019: View WSH Regulation Changes
October 18, 2019: View Mines Regulation Changes
November 23, 2018: View Harmonized Occupational Safety and Health Regulations
