The Incident
In October 2022, a plumber employed by Lockhart Plumbing and Heating in Brandon, Manitoba died after being exposed to hydrogen sulphide (H2S) gas while clearing a residential sewer line. The toxic gas, which smells like rotten eggs at low concentrations but becomes odourless at lethal levels, overcame the worker during what should have been a routine job.
In November 2025, Lockhart Plumbing and Heating was fined $5,000 — a penalty many safety advocates consider grossly inadequate for a preventable workplace death.
What Went Wrong
Hydrogen sulphide is produced by the decomposition of organic matter and is commonly found in sewers, septic tanks, and confined spaces. At concentrations above 100 ppm, H2S paralyzes the olfactory nerve, meaning workers can no longer smell the gas even as it reaches lethal levels. At 500-1000 ppm, a single breath can cause immediate collapse and death.
The worker was not adequately protected against this well-known hazard of sewer work.
How WHMIS Training Could Have Helped
Hydrogen sulphide exposure is one of the leading causes of workplace chemical deaths in Canada:
Skull and Crossbones Pictogram: H2S is classified as acutely toxic — the skull and crossbones pictogram signals that exposure can cause death. WHMIS training ensures workers understand that this pictogram means "this substance can kill you."
Health Hazard Pictogram: Chronic low-level H2S exposure can cause serious long-term health effects including neurological damage. The health hazard pictogram covers these risks.
SDS Section 8 — Exposure Controls: The Safety Data Sheet for H2S specifies the occupational exposure limits (OEL), required atmospheric monitoring, and mandatory respiratory protection. A WHMIS-trained worker would know that entering a sewer without gas detection equipment is never acceptable.
Gas Detection: WHMIS training covers the importance of atmospheric monitoring before entering any space where toxic gases may accumulate. Portable H2S monitors are inexpensive and can save lives.
Confined Space Awareness: While confined space entry has its own regulatory requirements, WHMIS training provides the foundational knowledge about toxic atmospheres that makes confined space procedures meaningful.
A $5,000 fine for a preventable death. The real cost of inadequate training is measured in human lives, not dollars.
Source: Winnipeg Sun, November 28, 2025