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.
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:
| Regulatory Area | Requirements | Employer Responsibility | Compliance Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Labelling | Clear hazard communication including product identifiers, pictograms, signal words, initial supplier identifiers and workplace labels | Ensure hazardous products are properly labelled in the workplace | Fines, licence suspension or business closure if requirements are not met |
| 2. Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) | SDSs must be readily available and include chemical composition, health and safety implications, safety precautions and record keeping procedures | Maintain accessible, up-to-date SDSs and ensure staff can reference them | Regulatory penalties and potential civil liability if information is missing or inaccessible |
| 3. Training and Education | Workers must receive WHMIS education and workplace-specific WHMIS training | Provide access to WHMIS education, deliver workplace-specific WHMIS training and apply WHMIS principles to site-specific products, procedures and emergency protocols | Federal fines up to $1 million (CAD), up to two years in prison, plus equivalent provincial penalties |
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:
If injury or illness is caused by a breach of WHMIS regulations, the offending business may also have to manage a costly civil lawsuit.
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.
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.
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.
Head online and register for our government-approved WHMIS Course here.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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.