Follow the Law

All farms in Manitoba fall under safety legislation, with the vast majority falling under Manitoba’s WSH Act and Regulation

Safety Legislation applies on your farm. Remember that safety is not optional – it’s the law.

Most Manitoba farms employ anywhere from 1-10 workers and family members, including seasonal and temporary hires. Over 90 per cent of Manitoba farms are owned and operated by families.

As a farm owner, you know that your workers and family members are your number one resource. You care about what happens to them.

Compliance with legislation is one way to ensure you manage your risk and that all family members, employees, contractors, and visitors to the farm are protected.

The Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health Act and Regulation has applied to farms in Manitoba since 1977. There are no exemptions from safety and health legislation for Manitoba farms.

Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health Act and Regulation (2022)

FAQ about Manitoba Safety and Health Laws

What is the purpose of safety and health law?
What is in the WSH Act and Regulation?

The Act is broader in scope and more general than regulations. It provides a framework while regulations provide more detail. The Act sets out the objects and purpose and defines who is responsible for what, and it applies to everyone.

The Regulation has 44 separate sections. Within each section there are many individual regulations. The majority of the 44 sections apply in whole or in part to farms. Each regulation is very specific.
Who is responsible for following the WSH act?
The Act places a duty on every person in a workplace to “comply with this Act and the regulations”. This duty applies to:
- Owners
- Employers
- Supervisors
- Workers
- Self Employed Persons
- Contractors
Do only certain commodity types fall under the Workplace Health and Safety Regulation?
Does the operating arrangement of farms change the application of safety legislation?
All farms fall under the legislation irrespective of whether they are operated by:
- Sole Proprietor
- Partnership
- Family Corporation
- Non- Family Corporation
- Any other operator arrangement
How is safety legislation enforced?
What could happen if your farm is not in compliance with the Safety and Health Act and Regulation?
- Safety and Health Officers can issue improvement orders and stop work orders.
- Workplace Safety can impose administrative penalties up to $5000
- Workplace Safety can recommend prosecutions. If found guilty through prosecution, either a corporation or and individual can be fined up to $250,000 for a first offence. If the person found guilty is an individual (as opposed to a corporation) he or she can also be sentenced to up to six months in jail.
Is there other legislation that pertains to safety and my farm?
The Criminal Code Bill C-45
- In 2004, Bill C-45 was an amendment to the Criminal Code. This amendment now imposes criminal law duty on employers and management to maintain a safe workplace. It applies to both provincial and federal workplaces.
- There are no maximum fines established. Individuals who are convicted can be sentenced to a term of imprisonment up to 10 years if the incident results in bodily harm and life imprisonment if the incident results in death.
The Employment Standards Act (Manitoba)
- Although this legislation is primarily about things like hours of work, minimum wage, termination of employment, and similar items, there are some provisions that you should be familiar with before employing young people on your farm.
- Persons under the age of 13 cannot be employed
- Persons aged 13, 14 and 15 must take the Young Worker Readiness Course and provide the employer with a copy of their certificate before they commence work
- Persons under the age of 16 cannot work alone
- There are restrictions on what tasks persons under the age of 18 may be involved in