Does your job involve hazardous materials? Do you directly handle or transport HAZMAT? If you do, it’s about time you get trained and certified for the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS). In Canada, all businesses that handle HAZMAT in anyway are required to ask its employees to train in the WHMIS – or even provide training themselves.
Thunder Bay First Aid is a top-tier provider of training programs in Canada, including WHMIS training. The Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) training program we offer trainees is available monthly as classroom and online programs. You can sign up for the training program belowor in person during our office hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is WHMIS and why do I need to get training for it?
The Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) is used all over Canada to regulated how hazardous materials are handled and transported. Having a job that deals with HAZMAT is incredibly risky, not just for the handler but also the public. To promote public and occupational safety, Canada’s federal government along with numerous business organizations created the WHMIS. Federal legislations in Canada require WHMIS training along with the implementation of the system all over the country, not just in Thunder Bay, Ontario.
What laws require WHMIS training in Canada?
The following federal legislations implement WHMIS and training in Canada:
- Hazardous Products Act – Requires suppliers of HAZMAT to provide labels, safety data sheets, and WHMIS training to employees
- Controlled Products Regulation (1988) – Defines what a “controlled product” is
- Ingredient Disclosure List (1988) – Lists all chemicals that are required to be on the label and safety data sheet (though the list is not finite)
- Hazardous Materials Information Review Act (1987) – Established the Hazardous Materials Information Review Commission, responsible for ruling on claims of exemption
- Hazardous Materials Information Review Regulations (1988) – Established criteria of exemption, required fees, and appealing to the Commission
Is the WHMIS program at Thunder Bay First Aid a certification course?
Yes, they are. Both classroom and online WHMIS courses grant students WHMIS training credentials upon completion of the program. The system has three major concepts: labeling, material safety data sheets (MSDS), and WHMIS training.
The WHMIS classroom course is a four-hour program that costs 49.99 dollars. There are six units worth of lectures and laboratory sessions.
The online WHMIS course is three hours long and costs 29.99 dollars. In the online program, there are six modules to complete. After every module is a short test that the student needs to pass to move on to the nexy module.
How do I get certified for WHMIS training?
Before we award training credentials to students, they need to pass the certification test with a grade of 80 percent or better, plus complete attendance to all the lectures. WHMIS credentials from Thunder Bay First Aid do not expire and certified trainees are not required to retake training / take refreshers every few years.
Thunder Bay First Aid office hours are from 8am to 5pm. You can visit us during those times to sign up for a WHMIS course in person, or to get your credential.