Canada Supervisor Health and Safety
Overview
Please review the information below and then return to the Supervisor Health and Safety Awareness course.
Applicable Laws
Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health Act and Regulation
Government Office
Workplace Safety and Health Branch (WSH)
Department of Labour, Consumer Protection and Government Services
Telephone Inquries (204) 957-7233 or toll free 1 855-957-7233 and press “1” to speak to WSH
www.manitoba.ca/labour/safety/
Rights
Of the Worker:
- To know about safety and health hazards in the workplace
- To participate in safety and health activities at the workplace
- To refuse dangerous work
- To work without being subject to a reprisal
Duties
Of the Employer:
- Ensure, so far as it is reasonably practicable, the safety, health and welfare at work of all workers
- Provide and maintain a workplace, necessary equipment, systems and tools that are safe and without risks to health, so far as is reasonably practicable
- Provide to all workers information, instruction, training, supervision and facilities to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the safety, health and welfare at work of all workers
- Ensure that all workers, and particularly supervisors, are acquainted with any safety or health hazards which may be encountered by the workers, and that workers are familiar with the use of all protective devices or equipment
- Consult and cooperate with the workplace safety and health committee or worker safety and health representative, where applicable
- Cooperate with any other person exercising a duty imposed by MB law
- Ensure that the workers are supervised by a person who is competent, because of knowledge, training or experience, to ensure that work is performed in a safe manner, and is familiar with MB law that apply to the work performed at the workplace
- Provide information, instruction and training to a worker to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the safety, and health of the worker, before the worker begins performing a work activity, performs a different work activity, or is moved to another area of the workplace or a different workplace that has different facilities, procedures or hazards.
Of the Worker:
- Take reasonable care to protect the safety and health of the worker and others who may be affected
- Use all devices and wear all articles of clothing and personal protective equipment required by the employer or MB law
- Consult and cooperate with the workplace safety and health committee or with with the worker safety and health representative
- Comply with MB law
- Cooperate with any other person exercising a duty imposed by MB law
Of the Supervisor:
- Take all precautions necessary to protect the safety and health of a worker under his or her supervision
- Ensure that a worker under his or her supervision works in the manner and in accordance with MB law
- Ensure that a worker under his or her supervision uses all devices and wears all clothing and personal protective equipment designated or provided by the employer or required to be used or worn
- Advise a worker under his or her supervision of all known or reasonably foreseeable risks to safety and health in the area where the worker is performing work
- Cooperate with any other person exercising a duty imposed by MB law
- Comply with MB law
Of the Workplace Safety and Health Committee:
- To deal with concerns and complaints respecting the safety and health of workers
- Participation in the identification of risks to the safety or health of workers or other persons
- The development and promotion of measures to protect the safety and health and welfare of persons in the workplace, and checking the effectiveness of such measures;
- Cooperation with regulators
- Development and promotion of programs for education and information concerning safety and health in the workplace
- Making of recommendations to the employer or prime contractor respecting the safety and health of workers
- Inspection of the workplace at regular intervals
- Participation in investigations of accidents and dangerous occurrences at the workplace
Workplace Safety and Health Committees
Employers with 20 or more regularly employed workers must establish a workplace safety and health committee
- There must be at least 4 members and no more than 12
- It must consist of worker representatives and employer representatives
- At least half the members must be worker representatives who are not associated with management, and must be appointed in accordance with relevant union rules
- There must be 2 co-chairs, one selected by the worker representatives and the other selected by the employer representatives
Employers with 5 or more workers where a safety and health committee is not required can designate a workplace safety and health representative
- The representative must not be associated with management
- The representative has the same duties as workplace safety and health committees
Right to Refuse Procedures
A worker may refuse to work or do particular work at a workplace if he or she believes on reasonable grounds that the work constitutes a danger to his or her safety or health or to the safety or health of another worker or another person.
The worker must promptly report the refusal and the reasons for it to his or her employer or immediate supervisor, or to any other person in charge at the workplace.
Employees cannot take or threaten a reprisal against a worker for:
- Exercising a right under or carrying out a duty in accordance with MB law
- Giving information about workplace conditions affecting the safety, health or welfare of any worker to the employer, safety and health officer, another worker or a union representing a worker, or a committee or a representative;
- Refusing to do dangerous work
- Taking reasonable action at the workplace to protect the safety or health of another person
- Complying with, or attempting to have enforced, MB law