By law, an employer is required to notify the Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Branch of a serious incident by the means of communication available. Serious Incident Alerts include descriptions of the actual serious incidents reported to WSH Branch and are provided to raise awareness and initiate preventative actions as appropriate.
The following four incidents occurred on Manitoba construction projects in July 2022:
- A public patron was walking along their house next to a fenced-in excavation (approx. five feet deep), when the sidewalk collapsed, causing the neighbour to fall in. Excavations pose high risk to workers AND public. Review best practices with our virtual toolbox talk.
- Workers were providing maintenance on a condenser unit when a worker missed a step in the shut down procedure and received electrical shock.
It is critical to lockout/tagout and ensure equipment is de-energized prior to conducting maintenance. - A worker was cutting a six-foot-long board on an unguarded table saw. As the worker reached around the back of the saw to grab the material, their hand made contact with the saw blade.
Guards should always be in place and in working order — refresh your knowledge on tablesaw safety procedures. - A jobsite was flooded 12 feet due to excavation. No workers were injured.
Excavations pose flood risk, especially if the site is below the water table/exposed to adverse weather. It's critical to have an emergency plan in place.
To view previous serious incident reports, click here.
If you have concerns about the potential for a similar incident occurring on YOUR jobsite, speak to a CSAM safety advisor. Call 204-775-3171 in Winnipeg or 204-728-3456 in Brandon.