Understanding WHMIS: Employer & Employee Rights and Responsibilities

Every day, Canadian workplaces handle products that could harm health or safety if not managed correctly.

The Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) is the national standard that ensures these hazards are clearly identified, labelled, and communicated – so everyone in the workplace knows how to work with them safely. More than a legal requirement, WHMIS is a shared commitment to preventing injuries, illnesses, and fatalities.

WHMIS aligns with the Globally Harmonized System (GHS), a United Nations framework for classifying and labelling chemicals.

The goal of WHMIS is to create uniform guidelines for classifying hazardous products, creating standardized labels, and adopting a globally accepted format for Safety Data Sheets (SDSs). This ensures workers have access to clear, accurate, and practical safety information – no matter where they work in Canada.

Controlled Products and WHMIS Requirements

Under the Hazardous Products Regulations (HPR), controlled products – also referred to as hazardous products – may include pure substances, tested mixtures, or untested mixtures.

WHMIS requires that these products be properly labelled, have an up-to-date SDS available, and be part of a workplace education and training program.

Responsibilities of Employers and Employees

WHMIS compliance is a shared responsibility.

Employer responsibilities include:

• Identifying and assessing hazards related to hazardous materials
• Providing WHMIS training to workers
• Ensuring hazardous products are correctly labelled and accompanied by SDSs
• Conducting regular safety inspections
• Addressing concerns related to hazardous materials
• During inspections, demonstrating that a WHMIS program is in place, showing where SDSs are stored, confirming that hazardous products are labelled correctly, and providing training and education records

Employee responsibilities include:

• Participating in WHMIS training
• Following safe work procedures
• Using personal protective equipment (PPE) when required
• Reporting unsafe conditions or incidents involving hazardous materials
• Applying information from labels and SDSs to work safely

Rights and Training Under WHMIS

Workers have the right to:

• Receive hazard information and training
• Be provided with PPE when required
• Ask questions about workplace hazards
• Refuse unsafe work without penalty

WHMIS compliance requires both education and training. Education covers general knowledge such as how WHMIS works, hazard classes, labels, and SDSs. Training is workplace-specific, covering safe handling, storage, and disposal of hazardous products, along with emergency procedures.

Making WHMIS Work

A WHMIS program is only effective when all parties take an active role. This means completing required training, following established safe work procedures, using control measures such as PPE, and staying informed about potential hazards. 

By fulfilling their responsibilities, employers and employees work together to create a safer workplace where hazardous materials are handled with care and compliance.

The WHMIS Certification program offered by Userve meets all education requirements under both the 2015 and 2022 WHMIS standards, and can be completed by employees online in around an hour.