12.7 Summary
If an employer is to ensure an employee’s “right to know” as describe in occupational health and safety legislation, WHMIS 2015 knowledge is an important part of that responsibility. An employee must be informed of the hazardous products they are working with, how to handle them, the PPE to be worn around them, how to store them, and the first aid to be administered in case of a workplace incident. WHMIS 2015 must be a part of every new employee onboarding session and part of every employee’s ongoing safety training.
KNOWLEDGE CHECK
Discussion Questions
- What is the difference between a workplace label and a supplier label?
- Explain the three elements that make up WHMIS 2015.
- What are the four routes of entry for a hazardous product to enter your body?
- What is the responsibility of the employer and the employee under WHMIS 2015?
- What does GHS stand for and why did Canada update their WHMIS legislation to include GHS?
Exercise
- Imagine you have 3 new hires starting work next week. Create an outline for your new hire safety orientation training session that includes everything a new worker needs to know about WHMIS 2015.
