It is the responsibility of the employer to report serious workplace incidents immediately to the Workplace Safety and Health Branch (WSH), as required by Manitoba's Workplace Safety and Health Regulation, Part 2.7.
You can contact Workplace Safety and Health 24 hours a day, seven days a week to report a serious incident, injury or fatality:
1-855-957-SAFE (7233) (toll-free in Manitoba)
204-957-SAFE (7233) (in Winnipeg)
Select ‘Option 1’
The employer must also ensure that first aid is provided to victims, 911 is called for medical aid and the scene of the incident is secured to preserve evidence.
The employer must provide WSH with the name and address of each person involved in the incident, the name and address of the employer and each person who witnessed the incident, the date, time and location of the incident, the apparent cause of the incident and other information regarding the incident that WSH may inquire about.
If an employer is made aware of new information concerning the incident, the employer must notify WSH immediately.
What is a serious incident?Part 2.6 of the
Workplace Safety and Health Regulation defines serious incidents as when:
- a worker is killed while performing his duties
- a worker suffers:
- an injury from electrical contact
- unconsciousness as the result of a concussion
- a fracture of his/her skull, spine, pelvis, arm, leg, hand or foot
- amputation of an arm, leg, hand, foot, finger or toe
- third degree burns
- permanent or temporary loss of sight
- a cut or laceration that requires medical treatment at a hospital (as defined in The Health Services Insurance Act)
- asphyxiation or poisoning
- there is a collapse or structural failure of a building, structure, crane, hoist, lift, temporary support system or excavation
- there is an explosion, fire or flooding
- there is an uncontrolled spill or escape of a hazardous substance
- there is a failure of an atmosphere-supplying respirator
An employer must ensure:- an incident investigation is conducted as soon as reasonably practicable after victims have been treated and the scene secured
- the co-chairpersons of the committee, the worker representative, or a worker that is not associated with the management of the workplace must be included in the investigation process
- persons involved in the investigation are trained and qualified
- corrective actions are communicated to the workers to prevent recurrence of the serious incident and follow-up is conducted to determine whether the corrective actions are working and if further improvements need to be made
- records pertaining to the investigation are preserved
Check out our Shop Talk, safe work procedure and bulletin on reporting serious incidents. (Below the FAQs are more resources related to reporting serious incidents.)
