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Commercial building

Buildings where people are coming and going from can have slip hazards on carpets and items that may fall on workers and customers when attempting to get them down.

Storage rooms contain risks that can cause injuries, such as high clutter and housekeeping issues. Holes in concrete floors, damaged handrails and poor lighting and ventilation issues can also affect workers’ and customers’ safety and health. Inspections for hazards are required in all workplaces. According to the Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health Act, under Duties of Owners, every owner of a workplace shall ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that the land or premises used as a workplace that is under his or her control is provided and maintained in a manner that does not create a risk to the safety or health of any person.

The examples above would also include the public coming into a building.

Other areas of concern for workers in a commercial building could be the level of risk related to:

  • hazards and wearing personal protective equipment
  • storage of materials, equipment, machines and tools
  • musculoskeletal injuries
  • working alone or in isolation
  • harassment
  • violence in the workplace
  • entrances, exits, stairways and ladders
  • fall protection
  • confined spaces (general requirements)
  • fire and explosive hazards
  • roof work
  • Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS)
  • asbestos
  • electrical safety (general)

Legislation

The following are examples of parts of the Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health Regulation (WSH Regulation) that employers must be in compliance with to ensure the safety of workers in a commercial building:

  • Part 2 of the WSH Regulation requires that the employer eliminate or control risk. This process can be done by performing a field-level risk assessment to determine the level of risk within a hazard.
  • Safe work procedures must be developed to control risk. Risks have to be controlled through methods described in Part 2.1(1), (2) and (3) of the WSH Regulation.
  • A workplace safety and health committee or representative must inspect the workplace at least every 90 days.

Manitoba’s Workplace Safety and Health Act (WSH Act) and associated regulations are in place to protect the safety and health of workers in Manitoba. Here is a link to the document: Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health Act and Regulation.

Related links

Health and safety topic list