WHMIS 2015 FAQ

WHMIS stands for Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System. It is Canada's national standard for communicating information about hazardous products in the workplace. WHMIS 2015 aligns with the Globally Harmonized System (GHS).

Any worker who works with or may be exposed to hazardous products needs WHMIS training. This includes workers in manufacturing, healthcare, labs, retail, janitorial, construction, food service, and many other industries.

Yes. WHMIS training is a legal requirement in all Canadian provinces and territories. Employers must provide training specific to the hazardous products in their workplace.

There is no fixed renewal period. Training must be updated whenever new hazardous products are introduced, work conditions change, or new hazard information becomes available. Many employers require annual refresher training.

The three pillars of WHMIS are: hazard product labels (supplier and workplace), Safety Data Sheets (SDS, 16-section documents), and worker education and training.

WHMIS 2015 uses 9 GHS pictograms. Each is a red diamond-shaped border (square on a point) with a black symbol on a white background, representing different types of hazards.

An SDS is a 16-section document that provides detailed information about a hazardous product including its hazards, safe handling, storage, PPE requirements, first aid measures, and emergency procedures. SDSs must be accessible to all workers.

A supplier label is applied by the manufacturer/importer and includes full hazard information. A workplace label is applied by the employer when a product is transferred to another container and needs at minimum: product name, safe handling info, and a reference to the SDS.

'Danger' (for more severe hazards) and 'Warning' (for less severe hazards). A product can only have one signal word on its label.

Products purchased by consumers for personal use are not covered by WHMIS. However, if those same products are used in a workplace, WHMIS does apply. For example, household bleach at home is a consumer product, but bleach used by a janitorial worker at a school is covered by WHMIS.

No. ExamCanada provides free practice questions for studying WHMIS concepts. Official WHMIS certification must come from an employer or an approved training provider. Our practice tests help you prepare for the concepts you will be tested on.