What is WHMIS?

WHMIS stands for Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System. WHMIS was designed to ensure the safety of employers and employees while at the workplace. In particular, the system was designed to keep workers and employers informed of the dangers and hazards associated with the chemicals and substances that they may come into contact with while on the job.

The key elements of WHMIS and WHMIS training are labeling of containers, the provision of material safety data sheets (MSDSs) and worker education/training programs.

What Acts or Regulations are applicable to WHMIS?

WHMIS legislation is incorporated into various Acts and Regulations:

Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations

Hazardous Products Act (HPA)

Controlled Products Regulations

Hazardous Materials Information Review Act

WHMIS is a national program and the basic requirements are the same across Canada. However, individual provinces and territories may have also introduced minor changes while integrating WHMIS with their occupational health and safety regulatory regime.
Provencial contacts for WHMIS.

Who needs WHMIS training?
WHMIS training is legally required for all employees who are exposed or likely to be exposed to a hazardous material or controlled product at the workplace.

How often do I need WHMIS training?
Every company must review their WHMIS program at least annually or more frequently if required by a change in work conditions or available hazard information. Reviewing your program ensures that your employees are still adequately trained and knowledgeable.

Who is responsible for WHMIS training and WHMIS education?
The onus is on the employer to ensure that his or her staff is properly trained. The responsibility to ensure workers are trained and the manner in which training is conducted rests with the employer.

To determine if your employees are adequately trained, they should be able to properly answer the following four questions:

1) Where can I get hazard information?
2) What are the hazards of the controlled product?
3) How am I protected from those hazards?
4) What do I do in case of an emergency?

If you find that your employees are not sufficiently trained, they should be retrained.It's recommended that the training be done annually.

What needs to be included in a WHMIS training program?
WHMIS training must include both general and site-specific training. General training covers such things as the regulations, labels, MSDSs, controlled products, symbols etc. YOW's WHMIS Online Course is a general course.

Site-specific training covers things like how to work safely with the controlled products used in YOUR workplace, where you keep the personal protective equipment and MSDSs and training for specific work procedures.

How is compliance to WHMIS monitored?
Compliance activities relating to WHMIS supplier labeling and MSDS requirements are conducted by Health Canada and the provincial, territorial and federal agencies responsible for occupational health and safety (OHS).

The Minister of Health Canada designates individuals nominated by these OHS agencies as inspectors and analysts for the purposes of conducting the inspection program in support of the WHMIS requirements of the HPA. The OHS agencies also conduct the compliance program for the WHMIS employer requirements established under their respective legislation.