Manitoba Hydro and five other corporations have been fined a total of $187,000 after a number of workplace safety and health violations, the province says.

Manitoba Hydro was slapped with a $75,000 fine after pleading guilty to two health and safety charges on June 1. An investigation revealed that employees at a diesel plant near Brochet, Man., were caught using ATVs on site without proper permits.

Nordevco Associates Ltd. was also found at fault after a worker was seriously injured on the job Oct. 7, 2013. The company pleaded guilty on July 25 to failing to improve safety in the workplace in the two years since the incident. Nordevco was fined $25,550.

Terroco Drilling Ltd. was fined $20,000 after failing to secure equipment that could potentially injure workers. The charges stem from a June 17, 2010, incident that involved a worker being struck in the head by a piece of equipment that fell 13 metres. The man suffered permanent brain injuries, the province said.

Spruce Products Ltd. pleaded guilty on Sept. 25 to failing to identify hazards in the workplace. A worker at the Swan River-based company was hospitalized on May 9, 2013, after being injured while operating logging equipment. The worker recovered and the company paid $6,502 in fines and another $20,000 to the Workplace Safety and Health Branch for public education purposes, the province said.

Hi-Tec industries Inc. was also found to have violated safety rules. On April 24, 2013, an employee at the Portage la Prairie business suffered crushing and amputation injuries to both hands after an incident with an Amada press brake, the province said. The company pleaded guilty on Oct. 15 and paid a $35,000 fine.

Finally, Artur Renz was fined on Oct. 20 after failing to educate workers on how to safely install a roof truss system, and to not ensuring fall protection systems were in place. The charges resulted after an employee seriously hurt his right leg when rafters fell on and trapped him. The company pleaded guilty and paid $5,100 in fines.

The province added that any business found in violation of the Workplace Safety and Health Act may be fined for not ensuring employee safety.