WHMIS Roles and Responsibilities 4

Question 1

Under WHMIS, which level of government is primarily responsible for regulating hazardous products sold in Canadian workplaces (the 'product' side)?

Accepted Answer

The federal government

Answer

The federal government regulates the product side of WHMIS — labeling and SDS requirements for suppliers — through the Hazardous Products Act and Hazardous Products Regulations.

Question 2

Which level of government is responsible for enforcing WHMIS requirements in most workplaces (the 'workplace' side)?

Accepted Answer

Provincial and territorial governments

Answer

Provinces and territories enforce WHMIS in most workplaces through their occupational health and safety legislation, except for federally regulated industries.

Question 3

An employer delegates WHMIS training to a supervisor. Who remains ultimately legally responsible for ensuring that training was adequate?

Accepted Answer

The employer

Answer

Employers can delegate training tasks but retain ultimate legal responsibility for ensuring workers receive adequate WHMIS training.

Question 4

A worker discovers that the SDS for a chemical they use daily is three years old and has not been reviewed. What should the worker do?

Accepted Answer

Report the outdated SDS to the supervisor or employer so it can be updated

Answer

Workers should report concerns about outdated or inadequate safety information to their supervisor or employer, who has the obligation to obtain current SDSs.

Question 5

Under WHMIS, what must an employer do if a worker's WHMIS training is found to be inadequate after a workplace incident?

Accepted Answer

Retrain the affected worker and review the training program for all workers handling similar products

Answer

Following an incident revealing training gaps, employers must retrain affected workers and review their overall WHMIS program to prevent recurrence.

(WHMIS) Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System Practice Test

(WHMIS) Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System Practice Test

WHMIS Roles and Responsibilities 4