The flag of Manitoba flies on Monday, Nov. 1, 2021 in Ottawa. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld)
Manitoba Labour and Immigration is urging employers to strengthen safety training and hazard prevention after three companies were fined in unrelated Workplace Safety and Health Act prosecutions.
Lockhart Plumbing and Heating Ltd. of Brandon was fined following a fatal incident on October 19, 2022, when a plumber investigating a sewer odour was over-exposed to hydrogen sulfide while unclogging a drain and later died. The company pleaded guilty on May 28, 2025, to failing to provide proper information, training, supervision, and facilities for worker safety. The court issued a $5,000 fine plus a $2,500 payment to the Education Fund.
In a separate case, Kawenhowen Projects Ltd., a residential construction and renovation company, was fined after a February 1, 2023 incident in which a worker amputated a finger after coming into contact with a table saw blade lacking required safeguards. The company pleaded guilty on September 23, 2025, to failing to provide necessary machine protections. The court imposed a $20,000 fine and an additional $3,000 to the Education Fund.
Most recently, Ital-Stone Design Ltd., a custom stone-fabrication business, pleaded guilty on November 4, 2025, after a worker was injured on March 15, 2023, when a granite slab shattered during forklift transport. The company admitted to failing to provide a safe workplace and was fined $20,000, with an additional $5,000 going to the Education Fund.
The province is reminding employers to ensure workers are properly trained on hazardous substances and that all machinery is equipped with appropriate safety guards to prevent future injuries or fatalities.
