WHMIS Rights and Responsibilities 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under WHMIS, which of the following best describes a worker's 'right to participate'?
- The right to refuse overtime work
- The right to be involved in identifying and resolving workplace health and safety issues (Correct answer)
- The right to choose which hazardous products to work with
- The right to receive a pay increase for hazardous work
Correct answer: The right to be involved in identifying and resolving workplace health and safety issues
The right to participate means workers can be involved in workplace health and safety activities, including identifying hazards and resolving related issues.
Question 2: An employer discovers that a supplier's safety data sheet (SDS) is missing key hazard information. What is the employer's responsibility?
- Discard the product immediately
- Use the product only after hours to reduce worker exposure
- Contact the supplier to obtain a complete and accurate SDS (Correct answer)
- Allow workers to decide if they want to use the product
Correct answer: Contact the supplier to obtain a complete and accurate SDS
Employers must ensure they have complete SDSs for all hazardous products and must contact suppliers if information is missing or unclear.
Question 3: Under WHMIS, a worker has the right to refuse work that they believe is dangerous. Who determines if the refusal is justified?
- The worker's union representative alone
- A government health and safety inspector if the matter is not resolved internally (Correct answer)
- The employer, without worker input
- A third-party private arbitrator
Correct answer: A government health and safety inspector if the matter is not resolved internally
If a work refusal cannot be resolved internally between the worker and employer, a government health and safety inspector is called to investigate and make a determination.
Question 4: Which party is primarily responsible for ensuring that workplace labels are applied to hazardous products that have been transferred into smaller containers?
- The product supplier
- The employer (Correct answer)
- The transport carrier
- The end-user worker
Correct answer: The employer
When a hazardous product is transferred into a different container in the workplace, the employer is responsible for applying a proper workplace label.
Question 5: A new chemical product arrives with a label but no SDS. What must the employer do before allowing workers to use it?
- Train workers verbally on the hazards
- Obtain the SDS from the supplier before the product is used (Correct answer)
- Post a general warning sign near the product
- Allow experienced workers to assess the risk themselves
Correct answer: Obtain the SDS from the supplier before the product is used
WHMIS requires that an SDS be available for all controlled products before workers are permitted to handle or use them.
Question 6: Under WHMIS, how long must an employer retain an SDS after a hazardous product is no longer in use at the workplace?
- 1 year
- 30 days
- 30 years (Correct answer)
- 5 years
Correct answer: 30 years
Employers must retain SDSs for hazardous products for 30 years after the product is no longer used, to protect workers who may develop delayed health conditions.
Question 7: A worker feels they have not received adequate WHMIS training for a new hazardous product introduced to their worksite. What right can they exercise?
- Demand extra pay until trained
- Request that the employer provide the necessary training before they handle the product (Correct answer)
- Transfer the task permanently to a colleague
- File a lawsuit immediately
Correct answer: Request that the employer provide the necessary training before they handle the product
Workers have the right to receive education and training before handling any hazardous product, and can request this training from their employer.
WHMIS Rights and Responsibilities 2
Under WHMIS, which of the following best describes a worker's 'right to participate'?