The employer has a responsibility to ensure that every employee that works with or in proximity to chemicals be trained in WHMIS. The law stipulates that the worker training must include the importance of the information contained on manufacturer labels. These are labels that are attached to each product that is controlled. Additionally, for each product, there must be a Material Safety Data Sheet, or MSDS. The employer must train the employee in how to read the information on each sheet for each product. This training must include the safe handling, use, storage and disposal of the products and the safe work procedures associated with each. Additionally, WHMIS training must also include the emergency procedures associated with each chemical as well. The training is required to be worksite specific.
A WHMIS program has three main parts. The first part is labeling, the second part is material safety data sheets, and the third is worker education. It takes all three parts of this program working together at the worksite to make it safe. Labeling includes the labels applied to the product by the manufacturer, and the labels applied at the worksite to either replace damaged manufacturer labels or when a product is placed into smaller containers (decanted). The WHMIS label is very distinct. Although it may be any colour (except orange) and the outside of the label is cross-hatched. The second part, MSDS sheets, is the written recommendations for the safe handling, storage, use, and disposal of information. The MSDS sheets in Canada contain a minimum of nine parts with a minimum of 53 sections of information on them. The final part of a WHMIS program is competent worker education. This is training that must be worksite specific, updated before new chemicals enter the workplace, and reviewed annually. The employer should have training records of some sort to prove compliance with this requirement.
For specific information or interpretation of the legislation, please contact the Ministry of Advanced Education, Employment and Labour - Occupational Health and Safety Division. Telephone:(306)787-4496 or Toll Free:(800)567-7233
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