WHMIS Education: Reduce the Risks of Hazardous Materials

Food preparation and service is more complex than it appears. The risks extend beyond basic food handling activities to include the use of hazardous materials, such as chemicals, used for food preparation, cleaning and sanitizing.

Not only do these substances present a threat to the safety of the staff that handle them, but they can also impact the health of customers through food contamination. The Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) is in place to prevent such incidents, and the Canadian Institute of Food Safety (CIFS) is now providing a brand-new WHMIS course to help Canadian food businesses meet the training requirements prescribed by this legislation.

Before we explore the CIFS WHMIS Course in more detail, let’s set the scene with an overview of WHMIS legislation in Canada.

WHMIS legislation

In Canada, federal and provincial legislation requires the implementation of WHMIS protocols to maintain a safe environment for staff and consumers. WHMIS guidelines apply to all industries and workplaces, including commercial food businesses, where chemicals and other hazardous materials are present. 

WHMIS legislation has been in place in Canada since 1988. Changes were made in 2015 in order to align more closely with the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) and further amendments came into effect in 2022. The current regulations focus on three key areas:

1. Labelling: Hazards must be clearly communicated with key labelling information such as product identifiers, pictograms (symbols), signal words, initial supplier identifiers and workplace labels.
2. Safety Data Sheets (SDSs): SDSs must be readily available to all staff members and include details such as chemical composition, health and safety implications, required safety precautions and record keeping procedures. These documents should also provide clear guidance regarding safe storage, handling and disposal of hazardous substances.
3. Training and education: All employees who may encounter hazardous substances in the workplace must receive both WHMIS education and workplace-specific WHMIS training. WHMIS education covers the system’s legal framework, hazard classes, labels, Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) and general safe handling principles. Employers are responsible for providing additional in-house training that applies this knowledge to the specific hazardous products, procedures and emergency protocols used at their workplace.

What happens if a business fails to comply with WHMIS legislation?

Failure to comply with the regulations outlined above can result in fines, business closure or imprisonment.

The fines imposed can be particularly damaging for small and medium-sized businesses. The government has the power to penalize offenders in the following ways:

• Federal: Fines of up to $1 million (CAD) and a maximum sentence of two years in prison.
• Provincial: Equivalent penalties and prison terms, plus potential licence suspensions and temporary business closures.

If injury or illness is caused by a breach of WHMIS regulations, the offending business may also have to manage a costly civil lawsuit.

WHMIS education

To meet legal requirements in Canada, workers who may be exposed to hazardous products must receive both WHMIS education and workplace-specific WHMIS training.

WHMIS education provides foundational knowledge of how the system works. The CIFS WHMIS Course is a government-recognized online education program that allows participants to complete their WHMIS education and earn a WHMIS Certificate while gaining the knowledge needed to understand hazardous materials in the workplace.

By completing the CIFS WHMIS Course, students learn how to:

• Identify hazardous products: WHMIS is designed to identify and classify hazardous products used in the workplace. The course teaches food industry professionals how to recognize hazard classes, understand pictograms and interpret labels.

• Understand safe handling principles: Many chemicals used in the food industry, such as cleaning agents and sanitizers, can pose health risks if misused. The course explains general safe handling, storage and disposal principles, along with how to read and apply information found in Safety Data Sheets (SDSs).

• Recognize and respond to hazards: The course helps workers understand potential risks associated with hazardous products and their responsibilities under WHMIS legislation. This foundational knowledge supports safer decision-making on the job.

It is important to note that WHMIS education must be supplemented with workplace-specific WHMIS training provided by the employer. This in-house training applies WHMIS principles to the exact products, procedures and emergency protocols used at a specific worksite.

Who Needs WHMIS training and education?

WHMIS requirements apply to any worker who may be exposed to hazardous products in the workplace. In the food industry, this commonly includes:

• Food Handlers: Those who work with food products must understand the hazards associated with cleaning chemicals, sanitizers and other controlled products used in food preparation environments.

• Maintenance workers: Employees who handle cleaning agents, degreasers and other chemical products require WHMIS education and site-specific training.

• Managers and supervisors: Leaders must understand WHMIS requirements to ensure employees receive proper education and workplace-specific training.

• Transport and delivery personnel: Workers involved in transporting hazardous products must understand hazard communication and safe handling requirements.

• Warehouse staff: Employees who store or move hazardous products must understand labelling, SDSs and safe handling principles, along with workplace-specific procedures.

WHMIS Certification process

CIFS has made it possible to obtain WHMIS Certification by following four simple steps. Additionally, the WHMIS course is online and self-paced, meaning you can learn anywhere and at any time.

1. Enroll

Head online and register for our government-approved WHMIS course here.

2. Complete the lessons

The WHMIS course is divided into seven lessons and features a variety of engaging content including interactive learning activities, informative videos and useful bonus resources that can be used in your workplace.

Lesson 1 - What is WHMIS?

Lesson 2 - WHMIS Laws

Lesson 3 - WHMIS Groups, Categories & Classes 

Lesson 4 - WHMIS Symbols & Pictograms

Lesson 5 - Product Labels

Lesson 6 - Safety Data Sheets (SDSs)

Lesson 7 - Protection Measures & Best Practices

This self-paced online education program is both convenient and easy to navigate, making onboarding and completion quick and simple.

3. Pass the assessment

After completing the learning modules, you will need to pass an assessment to demonstrate your understanding of WHMIS principles. This assessment ensures that you have retained the necessary knowledge to work safely with hazardous materials. The assessment consists of two parts:

• Quiz: At the end of each lesson, there is a multiple-choice quiz. You must score at least 70% on each quiz to unlock the next part of the course, and you have unlimited attempts to achieve this.
• Final exam: At the end of the course you will take part in a certification exam consisting of 35 multiple-choice questions. Again, you must achieve a score of at least 70% to pass the assessment and have an unlimited number of attempts to do so. 

It is an open-book exam, so you can refer to course resources and your own course notes as needed to help you answer the exam questions.

4. Become certified

Once all lessons and assessment activities have been completed to a satisfactory standard, you will receive your WHMIS Certificate of Achievement which verifies that you have successfully completed the required training and are competent in handling hazardous materials safely.

This certificate will be sent via email, enabling you to download it immediately and add it to your certification records.

Take the next step to WHMIS Certification

Ready to improve the way your business handles hazardous materials? Enroll in WHMIS education online or contact us today to discover how our WHMIS course can help preserve the safety of your staff and customers in line with WHMIS legislation.