Rights and Responsibilities Flashcards

Under WHMIS, what protection does a worker have if they suffer a penalty for refusing dangerous work?

Answer: They are protected from reprisal — employers cannot discipline workers for exercising the right to refuse

WHMIS and occupational health and safety laws protect workers from reprisal — employers cannot penalize, discipline, or terminate workers for exercising their right to refuse dangerous work.

A laboratory uses a chemical mixture. The employer blends two supplier products to create it. Under WHMIS, who is responsible for producing the SDS for the mixture?

Answer: The employer who created the mixture

When an employer produces a hazardous mixture in-house, they take on supplier-like obligations and must prepare an SDS and label for that mixture.

WHMIS training must be specific to the workplace. What does this mean in practice?

Answer: Training must address the specific hazardous products, tasks, and conditions present at that particular workplace

Workplace-specific training means instruction must cover the actual products, procedures, and hazards that workers encounter at their specific job site.

Which scenario correctly illustrates a supplier's WHMIS responsibility regarding confidential business information (CBI)?

Answer: Suppliers may apply for a CBI exemption but must still disclose hazard information and the ingredient's chemical properties to health professionals in emergencies

Suppliers may protect specific ingredient identities as trade secrets through a CBI exemption, but must still provide full hazard information and must disclose the ingredient to health professionals treating exposed workers.

A supervisor instructs a worker to use a hazardous product before WHMIS training is completed, claiming the deadline is urgent. What should the worker do?

Answer: Exercise the right to know by declining until adequate training is received

Workers have the legal right to refuse work with a hazardous product until they have received adequate WHMIS training, regardless of time pressure from supervisors.

Which of the following is a responsibility of workers under WHMIS?

Answer: Participating in WHMIS training and applying that knowledge to work safely

Workers are responsible for participating in WHMIS training programs and applying what they have learned to protect themselves and their coworkers.

Under WHMIS, what must an employer do if an SDS provided by a supplier is more than three years old?

Answer: Obtain an updated SDS from the supplier to ensure current hazard information is available

SDSs must reflect current hazard information, and employers should obtain updated SDSs from suppliers if documents are outdated, since hazard classifications and safety guidance can change.