Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) education and training are both required in Canada, but they are not the same. WHMIS education explains how the system works, while WHMIS training applies that knowledge to specific workplace hazards. Employers must ensure workers receive both to meet legal requirements and reduce risk.
In Canada, both WHMIS education and WHMIS training are required by law. They are separate legal obligations, and one does not replace the other. Under Canada’s Hazardous Products Act, employers must ensure workers understand the risks associated with hazardous products and know how to use hazardous products/materials safely in their workplace.
The Canadian Institute of Food Safety (CIFS) provides WHMIS education, while employers are responsible for workplace-specific WHMIS training. Understanding this difference helps businesses stay compliant, protect workers and reduce liability.
WHMIS education focuses on understanding the system itself - what WHMIS is, how it works and how to interpret hazard information. It is a legal requirement under federal legislation and applies across industries.
WHMIS education covers:
WHMIS education builds foundational knowledge that applies across workplaces. It is portable, meaning that workers can transfer this knowledge from one job to the next.
CIFS delivers a WHMIS course that provides standardized education designed to ensure workers understand WHMIS before they encounter hazardous products on the job.
WHMIS training is workplace-specific. It applies WHMIS education to the exact hazards, products and procedures used at a particular job site. This training must reflect what workers actually do and the substances they handle.
WHMIS training usually includes:
WHMIS training is tailored to each workplace and therefore cannot be standardized nationally. It is the employer’s responsibility to provide their employees with the appropriate training.
| CIFS WHMIS education | In-house WHMIS training | |
| Purpose | Understand WHMIS and hazard communication | Apply WHMIS practices to a specific workplace |
| Scope | General, standardized knowledge | Job- and site-specific procedures |
| Delivery | Online education with knowledge checks | On-the-job instruction and practice |
| Responsibility | Third-party education provider | Employer |
| Portability | Yes - transferable between jobs | No - specific to one workplace |
In summary, WHMIS education teaches workers what WHMIS is, whereas WHMIS training teaches workers how WHMIS applies in their workplace.
In-house WHMIS training alone does not meet WHMIS legal requirements. Without formal WHMIS education, workers may not fully understand how WHMIS works as a system, how to read and interpret SDSs or their rights and duties under WHMIS legislation.
Without education, training often becomes task-focused rather than safety-focused. Inspectors may ask for evidence of how workers were educated on WHMIS, not just trained on tasks.
Meeting WHMIS requirements starts with the right education. CIFS supports businesses across Canada with clear, compliant WHMIS education that fits real workplaces.
The CIFS WHMIS Course gives workers a strong foundation of knowledge to support practical in-house training. This combination helps businesses meet legal obligations and improve safety outcomes.
Complete the CIFS WHMIS Course and earn your WHMIS Certificate today.
A. Yes. Employers must ensure workers receive both WHMIS education and workplace-specific WHMIS training.
A. WHMIS education is often referred to as WHMIS Certification or a WHMIS Certificate, but it covers the education component only.
Yes. The WHMIS Course is fully online and is accepted Canada-wide as a form of standardized WHMIS education.
A. Employers are responsible for providing workplace-specific WHMIS training.
A. WHMIS education is portable, but WHMIS training must be provided for each new workplace.