WHMIS Regulatory Updates and Compliance 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under WHMIS 2015, which federal legislation governs the classification and labeling of hazardous products sold in Canada?
- Canada Labour Code
- Hazardous Products Act (HPA) (Correct answer)
- Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act
- Canadian Environmental Protection Act
Correct answer: Hazardous Products Act (HPA)
The Hazardous Products Act (HPA) is the federal legislation that sets the requirements for classifying and labeling hazardous products in Canada under WHMIS 2015.
Question 2: What is the main regulatory difference between WHMIS 1988 and WHMIS 2015 regarding chemical classification?
- WHMIS 2015 eliminated all supplier responsibilities
- WHMIS 2015 aligned Canada's system with the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) (Correct answer)
- WHMIS 1988 required Safety Data Sheets while 2015 does not
- WHMIS 2015 only applies to federal workplaces
Correct answer: WHMIS 2015 aligned Canada's system with the Globally Harmonized System (GHS)
WHMIS 2015 adopted the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) of classification and labeling to harmonize Canada's hazard communication with international standards.
Question 3: Which agency enforces WHMIS compliance in federally regulated workplaces in Canada?
- Health Canada
- Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) (Correct answer)
- Environment and Climate Change Canada
- Transport Canada
Correct answer: Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) through the Labour Program enforces WHMIS compliance in federally regulated workplaces.
Question 4: Under WHMIS 2015, a supplier has how long to update an SDS after becoming aware of significant new hazard information?
- 30 days
- 60 days
- 90 days
- 180 days (Correct answer)
Correct answer: 180 days
Under WHMIS 2015, suppliers must update their Safety Data Sheets within 180 days of becoming aware of significant new hazard information.
Question 5: Which WHMIS 2015 requirement applies specifically to employers, NOT suppliers?
- Applying GHS-compliant labels to hazardous products
- Providing worker education and training programs (Correct answer)
- Ensuring Safety Data Sheets are accurate and complete
- Classifying hazardous products before sale
Correct answer: Providing worker education and training programs
Worker education and training is an employer obligation under WHMIS 2015; classification, labeling, and SDS preparation are primarily supplier responsibilities.
Question 6: Under WHMIS 2015, which pictogram is used exclusively for health hazards that are specific to a target organ after repeated exposure?
- Skull and crossbones
- Exclamation mark
- Health hazard (person with starburst) (Correct answer)
- Flame over circle
Correct answer: Health hazard (person with starburst)
The health hazard pictogram (a person with a starburst on the chest) is used for serious chronic health hazards including carcinogens and specific target organ toxicity.
Question 7: When a hazardous product is decanted into a portable container for immediate use by the worker who decanted it, what WHMIS 2015 labeling requirement applies?
- A full supplier label must be applied immediately
- No label is required if the product is used up during the same shift (Correct answer)
- A workplace label is required even for immediate use
- A simplified label with only the product name is required
Correct answer: No label is required if the product is used up during the same shift
Under WHMIS 2015, a workplace label is not required for a portable container if the hazardous product is used up during the same work shift by the worker who decanted it.
WHMIS Regulatory Updates and Compliance 2
Under WHMIS 2015, which federal legislation governs the classification and labeling of hazardous products sold in Canada?