What is WHMIS Training?

There are many different types of workplace injuries that happen all the time. But most of them can be avoided with the right training and education. If employees undergo WHMIS training, which is one form of training for employees, they will be able to avoid many workplace injuries.

WHMIS stands for Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System. All chemicals and gases found in the workplace are included in these hazardous materials. This system helps to avoid injury and ensure protection of the environment. The way that people handling hazardous chemicals are kept safe is by teaching them how to handle and dispose of dangerous materials and how to read safety labels.

Workers can protect their health and the health of the workplace by getting WHMIS training. There are many workplaces that use different kinds of chemicals. The side effects of different kinds of chemicals are not the same. The reason why these chemicals have different handling requirements is because they damage that they can cause are also different. Although workers are taught how to handle hazardous materials, it is not everything to WHMIS training. Employees are educated in different situations including how to avoid contact with chemicals but also how to deal with exposure to toxic chemicals that can cause respiratory and other health problems. Dealing with materials that have to be cleaned and disposed of in specific ways it also included. With this training, employees will know how to keep out of danger and they will know what to do when they are faced with a potentially dangerous situation.

The basics across all WHMIS regulations remain the same. It involves labelling dangerous materials. There is a regulation of continuous training on labels and potential hazards. Part of WHMIS is the MSDS or maintenance of material safety data sheets.

If a workplace contains or use products that have WHMIS symbols and labels, then their employees need to have training. Under federal regulations, it is the employers who are legally required to provide the training for their employees. Only employees exposed to these materials and are likely to come in contact with them have to be trained. Employees who dont find themselves in these situations dont need the training. YOU need to be trained as a new employee even you are already WHMIS certified. This is because training is specific to the workplace.

The two parts of the WHMIS training are the general and the site-specific training. In general training, employees are educated on labeling and symbols on hazardous materials and substances. Employees need to know how to read the labels.

This general training can also be taken online. This training keeps employees updated on WHMIS regulations and labels. But this does not cover the site-specific training of the WHMIS.

Training in your specific workplace is site-specific training. It describes what substances are being used and how to handle them safely. Here employees learn how to dispose of chemicals and how to deal with emergency situations.

With WHMIS training, you ensure the safety and well-preparedness of employees to perform their daily duties.