Manitoba Company Penalized $45,000 for Workplace Injury Incident

Throughout my career, I've witnessed the profound impact that competent supervisors have on creating and maintaining safe work environments. These individuals:

• Possess a wealth of knowledge regarding regulations and standards;
• They are meticulous when identifying and assessing potential hazards and risks; 
• Their exceptional communication skills enable them to effectively convey safety instructions and expectations to their teams; and
• They go above and beyond by cultivating positive safety cultures within their crews through coaching and mentoring.

I've also unfortunately seen the detrimental effects that non-competent supervisors can have on their crew's safety and well-being. In fact, a recent judgment serves as a stark reminder of the consequences that can arise from inadequate supervisory familiarity with safety hazards:

• A Manitoba company was fined $45,000 by the Manitoba government for a serious workplace injury. 
• The incident occurred when a steel column fell, causing severe injuries to a worker's foot.
• The company pleaded guilty to charges under the Workplace Safety and Health Act, acknowledging their failure to ensure that all workers, especially supervisors, were well-versed in safety hazards.

This unfortunate event highlights the critical importance of competent supervisors who possess the knowledge and skills to proactively identify, mitigate, and communicate safety risks. It underscores the need for companies to prioritize the development and training of their supervisors to maintain a safe work environment.

The Canadian Centre of Occupational Health and Safety does a great job highlighting several key competencies that supervisors require. These include:

• Effectively directing and organizing work;
• Informing workers about actual or potential hazards; 
• Ensuring they are aware of and complying with the applicable laws and regulations;
• Providing safety instruction and training to workers;
• Addressing worker concerns;
• Enforcing compliance to work methods, procedures, and required safety equipment; and
• Taking every precaution reasonable to protect workers.