Journal of Commerce | DCN-JOC News Services | December 8, 2025
WINNIPEG — The Manitoba government is introducing stronger rules to protect workers from asbestos.
Commonly found in older building materials, asbestos becomes hazardous when it is disturbed and released into the air. Manitoba’s current regulations set basic requirements for training, inventories and safety measures, a release reads.
The new amendments go further by clarifying responsibilities, improving training and strengthening enforcement efforts by:
- ensuring anyone performing asbestos work has proper training and certification;
- requiring employers who do asbestos work to register so Manitobans can easily see who is qualified;
- setting clearer responsibilities for employers and building owners; and
- giving safety officers the tools to verify asbestos work is being done safely.
“Having stronger protection against asbestos is literally a life-and-death issue for the Manitobans whose work brings them into contact with it,” said Kevin Rebeck, president of the Manitoba Federation of Labour, in a statement. “Asbestos is Manitoba’s number one occupational killer and far too many lives have been cut short by this dangerous substance.”
Workers, employers and safety experts advised on these changes through the Workplace Safety and Health Review Committee.
“Asbestos safety is critically important in Manitoba,” said Dave Kramer, vice-president, SAFE Work Manitoba, a division of the Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba. “We support the province by ensuring workers and employers have access to high-quality training opportunities, including those offered through the SAFE Work Manitoba Training Portal. Courses and training that meet an established Manitoba training standard are SAFE Work endorsed, giving workers and employers confidence that training is credible and consistent.”
A phased transition period will give workers, employers and training providers time to prepare for the new requirements, the release adds.
Most amendments take effect on the day the regulation is registered, with certification and employer registration requirements taking effect on June 1, 2027.
More information can be found at www.manitoba.ca/worksafesafety.