For aspiring professionals and employers within Ontario, WHMIS training is vital. This is government-mandated training that teaches workers how to deal with hazardous materials that they might encounter during their workday. The legislation states that all employers with hazardous materials in the workplace are required to provide this training for their employees, but doing so can be somewhat completed. Let’s discuss what you should know about WHMIS training in Ontario.

Requirements for WHMIS Training in Ontario

First, we’ll begin with a brief discussion of the requirements for WHMIS training in Ontario. The list below is a partial one, and it should be understood that each workplace will have specific topics that apply to them based on the industry in which they are located, the specific hazardous materials used within the workplace, and other specific requirements. However, some of the more commonly applied WHMIS training requirements in Ontario include the following:

• What is WHMIS and why is it important – One of the things that must be addressed here is why WHMIS training matters in the first place, and what it i
• Chemicals – Most hazardous materials covered in WHMIS training in Ontario will pertain to chemicals, whether cleaning related, manufacturing related, automotive related, or something else. WHMIS training should explain chemicals and the effects they can have on your health. It should also address common ways that chemicals enter the body
• Hazard Types – There are many different types of hazards out there, and it is important that WHMIS training in Ontario educates employees on how to recognize them. These range from corrosion to explosion to fire to poison and more, and should be communicated through labeling on the product
• Safety Data Sheets – The WHMIS training program should teach employees how to read safety data sheets/material safety data sheets, where these sheets can be located, and the types of information that can be found on them

Again, these are just a few of the topics that WHMIS training should address. Others include general safety and protection, health and protective gear use, disposal and safe handling of hazardous materials, and more.

How Does WHMIS Training in Ontario Work?

Now that you know a bit more about what WHMIS training should look like, it’s time to understand how the process works. First, understand that the process will vary depending on whether you’re an aspiring professional looking to get your certification before applying for a position, or an employer looking for a partner to help you get your team WHMIS certified for compliance with government regulations.

For aspiring professionals, you have the choice of taking a self-led online course or participating in an instructor-led, classroom-based course. Taking your WHMIS training in Ontario online is quickly becoming the preferred choice. Online WHMIS training comes with a with a lower cost, greater convenience, and the ability to complete your coursework on your own schedule.

For employers, the choice is more about finding a trusted partner to provide your employees with WHMIS training in Ontario. While the law says that employers can create their own training programs, that is sometimes difficult and time-consuming.

Working with a trusted WHMIS provider that delivers online courses can ensure that you have access to WHMIS 1988 and WHMIS 2015 compliant courses that your employees can complete from the office, from their home, or anywhere else they have an Internet connection.

WHMIS Certificates in Ontario?

Online WHMIS training in Ontario typically results in the issuance of a WHMIS certificate. This is a printable certificate that you earn when you complete the course (or when your employees complete the course). Certificates can be printed out and added to employee files to ensure that if the legislative authorities audit the company, you can prove compliance with WHMIS training requirements.

What Happens After WHMIS Training?

What happens next? Does this certification ever expire? When do you need to recertify?

There is currently nothing in the legislation that clearly outlines how often a worker needs to take WHMIS training. There is also no indication on how long the WHMIS training lasts before it expires, once they do.

So does that mean that WHMIS training doesn’t expire? Definitely not.

Just because a clearly defined expiration date for WHMIS training can’t be found in the legislation, it doesn’t mean that workers only need to take WHMIS training once.

Please see the following article to learn more about How Often Workers Requires WHMIS Training in Ontario: Does WHMIS Training Expire?